Mediterranean Diet Friendly Cilantro-Lime Arugula and Roasted Beet Salad
Earthy roasted beets, peppery arugula, creamy avocado, and crunchy pepitas come together in a salad that feels genuinely restaurant-worthy without a lot of fuss. The cilantro-lime dressing — built on extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lime juice, honey, and a touch of cumin — ties every element together with a bright, slightly smoky finish that keeps you going back for another forkful. This kind of dish is a natural fit for the Mediterranean way of eating because it leans hard on olive oil, fresh produce, and plant-based fats rather than anything processed or heavy. Roasting the beets low and slow in foil is the move here: it concentrates their sweetness and makes the skins slip right off, so you get deep, jammy flavor with minimal effort. Avocado adds that satisfying richness you want in a main-course salad, while the pepitas bring enough crunch and protein to make this feel like a real meal rather than a side. Everything is whole, recognizable, and genuinely good for you — which is exactly the kind of cooking this style of eating is built around.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the salad
- 3 medium beets (about 1 lb), scrubbed and trimmed
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, for roasting
- ¼ tsp salt
- 5 oz baby arugula
- 1 large avocado, pitted and sliced
- ¼ cup dry-roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 tsp honey
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C). Place each beet on a square of aluminum foil, drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil, and sprinkle with 1/4 tsp salt. Wrap each beet tightly in the foil and arrange on a baking sheet.
- 2
Roast the beets until a paring knife slides through the center with no resistance, 40–50 minutes depending on size. Unwrap and let cool for 10 minutes, then rub off the skins using the foil or a paper towel. Cut into 1/2-inch wedges.
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