I love vinaigrettes. They are tasty and super easy to make. And if you have oil and vinegar handy, you pretty much have all the ingredients you need. Lately I've been obsessed with pickled beets, so I thought I'd share a favorite vinaigrette I've been making lately.
These are my favorite pickled beets. They're called "Million Dollar Pickled Beets." They taste amazing, and I love that the ingredient list is only four items (beets, vinegar, sugar, and salt). You can use any pickled beets you prefer for this though.
Pickled Beet Vinaigrette, makes about one cup.
1/4 cup pickled beet juice (which is mostly vinegar)
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon dijon mustard (optional)
1/2 cup olive oil
salt + pepper to taste
Combine the first three ingredients in a bowl. Next, you will whisk in the oil. Do this slowly so the oil and vinegar will combine (rather than stay separate). I like to use a squirt bottle to slowly drizzle the oil in as I whisk. Taste and add as much salt and pepper as you think it needs.
See how well-combined the mixture is? That's what you're looking for here.
Also, I have a confession to make…
Sometimes I daydream about creating some kind of installation art show that's all food photos. This is either the best or worst idea I've had this week. Can't decide.
I call this one, "Beet Vinaigrette (Art)"
I put the word "art" in parenthesis so everyone knows. They might just think it's a regular food photo otherwise.
Jk. 🙂
Anyway, back to salad talk. You can serve this vinaigrette on any salad you like, but I am currently in love with spinach, pickled beets, feta cheese, and sunflower seeds. I really like feta and beets together, the sharpness of the feta pairs well with earthy, sweet pickled beets. Eat your greens so you can have a holiday cookie later—that's my motto! xo. Emma
Credits // Author and Photography: Emma Chapman. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
29 Comments
Oooooh, this sounds lovely! I have never heard of pickled beets before, but I love both pickles and beets, so I don’t see how you can go wrong 🙂 Great tip for pairing feta with pickled beets as well. Sounds like a mouthwatering combo!
Cat
http://oddlylovely.com
Oh my… this looks sooo yummi! Now I’m hungry…
http://szkorso.blogspot.ro/
I work for two art galleries, and we had a show this past spring that was all about Southern Eatin’.
xaxaaaxaxaxa i adore your sense of humor Emma. You are the best!
tsiou, from http://www.inwhirlofinspiration.com/
Hi Emma, how do you make pickled beets? I tried to make some (with salt only, no sugar) but they were very hard (almost as hard as raw ones). Do you cook them later?
Try it with lactofermented pickle brine. It has TONS more flavor than vinegar pickle brine. I love all your recipes, including this one. Pushing fermentation on folks who like vinegar pickles is my bad habit with good intentions :-).
That looks so good!
Hooray for beats. I’m glad my mum isn’t the only one who loves using beets. They’re so good. I’ve never had a beet vinaigrette. :] // http://www.itscarmen.com â–²
yum!! the beets look so good!
xx nikki
http://www.dream-in-neon.com
I have my BA in Photography. I dreamed of becoming a food photographer. My final project that was in an art instillation was all food photography. 🙂
This sounds lovely! I grew my own this year so will have to give it a try!
http://www.peonyandpeach.blogspot.com
I love a beet vinaigrette salad, the acidity from the beets just gives the salad a lot more taste and flavor…will definitely be adding sunflower seeds to the salad!
http://www.recalcitrantgirl.com
Yummy! Great idea! 🙂
This looks so delicious and easy to do.. I ought to do it! Thanks for sharing!
With love,
Vera
http://theflashwindow.weebly.com/
This has made me so hungry haha TrudyJohanna
Oooh this looks so good!!
Sofie x
Wow this salad looks absolutely amazing. I definitely need to try and make this vinaigrette – especially since I love beets!
rae of love from berlin
You work at TWO art galleries? How cool is that?!
That sounds like a show I could really get into. Food photos are my not-so-secret obsession. 🙂
-Emma
I actually didn’t make these. They are store bought. And the majority of pickled I’ve done is what’s commonly called “quick pickling” meaning it only takes hours or overnight. To pickle an entire (whole) beet you’d likely need a much longer pickling time and some canning skills for food safety. I’m not super familiar with either of those two things… so I’m afraid I’m not much help!
Have you looked at your local grocery stores to see if they carry pickled beets? For me there usually isn’t a wide selection of options but most do carry some kind.
-Emma
Lactofermented—that’s a new word for me. Off to educate myself (aka google…)
🙂
-Emma
Elizabeth, you are a gal after my own heart then. I LOVE good pictures of food. I probably would have adored your show. 🙂
-Emma
OOOO NEVER TRIED IT SOUNDS GOOD!
Winter OOTW (Outfits of the week) + IPAD MINI GIVEAWAY
So interesting! I love beets!
This salad looks so amazing! I love pickled beets 🙂
xo
Be forewarned: pickled beets won’t taste anything like pickled cucumbers (i.e., pickles) and only very minimally of actual beets.
Fortune favors the bold!
Oooh, yum! I’ve never liked salads because it’s hard to find non-dairy (I’m dairy intolerant) dressings that are good, but this sounds SUPER delicious and I might have to try it!
xo
Kristina
http://www.eccentricowl.com
yum! i love seeing healthy recipes around this tim of the year. i’ve already had so much chocolate! i need to detoxify.
Yep, two – one pays me, one gets my free time 😉
Food photos are awesome.
I use AC vinegar, brown sugar, a little water and pickling spices in my pickled beets. They are absolutely amazing. A little olive oil to the juice would make a great dressing. Thanks