Beet and Goat Cheese Salad

Ingredients

• 3 medium Bosc or Bartlett pears, (cored and sliced into wedges)
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil ((divided))
• Kosher salt
• 5-6 medium beets, (peeled and sliced into wedges)
• 1 large white onion, (peeled and sliced into wedges)
• 2 tablespoons minced rosemary leaves
• Ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup pine nuts
• 4 ounces arugula
• 3 ounces goat cheese ((chèvre), crumbled)
• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Steps

1. 1

   Get ready. Position one rack in the oven toward the middle top and one rack toward the middle bottom. Preheat to 350ºF. Line two large sheet pans with parchment paper.

2. 2

   Prep the pears. Place the pear slices in a single layer onto one of the lined sheet pans and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Sprinkle with a big pinch of salt and set aside.

3. 3

   Prep the beets and onions. Add the beet and onion wedges to the second prepared sheet pan and drizzle with 1/4 cup of olive oil. Sprinkle with the rosemary and a big pinch of salt and pepper. Use your hands to toss everything together to make sure it’s evenly coated in oil and seasonings. Spread into a single layer.

4. 4

   Roast the onion, beets, and pears. Place the sheet pans in the oven, one on each rack. Roast for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven, flip the pear slices over and toss the beets and onions. Rotate the sheet pans so the one that was on the top is now on the bottom and the one on the bottom is now on the top. Roast for an additional 15 minutes, or until the pears are tender but still hold together.

5. 5

   Finish the beets. If the pears are ready, remove them from the oven and set aside to cool. Continue roasting the beets and onions until the beets are fork-tender, about 15 minutes more. In the end, the pears will roast for about 30 minutes, and the beets and onions for about 45 minutes.

6. 6

   Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts. Add the pine nuts to a small dry pan and set on medium heat. Swirl the pan and toss frequently until the nuts are golden brown and fragrant, about 5 minutes.

7. 7

   Make the dressing. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mustard, balsamic, honey, 1/4 cup olive oil, and salt to your liking. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

8. 8

   Dress and serve. Remove the roasted beets and onions from the oven and set aside to cool for a few minutes. Spread the arugula on a serving platter. Spoon the slightly cooled beets and onions over the arugula, and pour the dressing over the salad. Tuck the pear slices into different places around the platter, nestling some into the beets. Scatter the cheese over top and sprinkle with pine nuts. Serve immediately.