Roasted Carrot and Beet Salad with Couscous and Orange

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 2 servings
  • Total: 30 min
  • Active: 30 min
The jewel-tone colors of this salad make such a striking presentation! Roasted carrots, earthy beets and juicy orange segments also make this savory salad both satisfying and filling. Pair it with everything from a weekend brunch to a holiday dinner!
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Ingredients

2 bunches baby carrots (about 12 carrots), halved lengthwise

3 tablespoons olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 cup pearl couscous

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

1 Sumo mandarin orange (see Cook's Note)

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard

2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh oregano

1 teaspoon honey

4 ounces vacuum-packed cooked beets (about 2 small beets), cut into 1/4-inch-thick wedges

2 ounces crumbled goat cheese

1 tablespoon roasted sunflower seeds

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
  2. Toss the carrots with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper on a rimmed baking sheet until evenly coated. Spread evenly and roast until tender and browned in spots, about 16 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the couscous and 1/2 teaspoon salt, then stir to combine. Cover, reduce the heat to low and simmer until couscous is tender and all the water has been absorbed, about 8 minutes. Stir in the parsley.
  4. Using a sharp knife (chef's or paring), cut both ends off the orange. Stand the orange on one end and cut away the peel and white pith, following the contour of the fruit. Working over a small bowl, carefully cut in between the membranes to remove the orange segments, letting them drop into the bowl. Set aside.
  5. Whisk together the vinegar, mustard, oregano, honey, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a medium bowl until smooth and combined. Slowly whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil until emulsified. Toss in the beets, orange segments and roasted carrots until evenly dressed.
  6. To serve, spoon the couscous into a shallow serving bowl, then top with the salad. Sprinkle with the goat cheese and sunflower seeds.

Cook’s Note

A Sumo (a cross between a satsuma and a pomelo-mandarin variety) tastes very sweet with deep acidity and amazing mandarin flavor. It's also juicy without being messy. If you can't find this variety, a navel orange would be a great alternative.

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Terry B.

Loved this recipe - hot, warm or cold!  I used multi-colored full size organic carrots and cut them in 3 inch pieces and sliced each on the diagonal for a decorative effect.  Used a navel orange as suggested in the Cook's Note.  Also used 1/4 cup of roasted sunflower seeds so we could add more to our individual servings!  The yield says 2 servings.  That must mean as 2 meals.  There was enough for 6 side servings.  Goes well with chicken, beef and fish.  I made the dressing and cut the orange into segments the night before.  This makes it so much easier to put the recipe together the following night.  Yum - and so healthy!

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