Beet Slaw With Olives & Pickled Onions Recipe

Tangy Beet Slaw With Olives & Pickled Onions Recipe

Vibrant beet slaw refines ordinary side dishes into culinary adventures waiting to happen.

Raw, crisp vegetables dance with tangy Mediterranean influences, creating a remarkably refreshing experience.

Jewel-toned roots bring unexpected excitement to your plate, challenging traditional salad expectations.

Bright colors and complex flavor profiles make this dish stand out from standard fare.

Each ingredient contributes its unique character, weaving together a tapestry of taste and texture.

Crisp, zesty components merge seamlessly, promising a delightful sensory journey that awakens your palate.

Unexpected combinations guarantee a memorable dining moment that surprises and delights.

Beet Slaw’s Bold Flavors

  • Burst with Vibrant Colors: This beet slaw transforms humble vegetables into a stunning, eye-catching dish with deep burgundy beets and bright orange carrots creating a visual feast.
  • Enjoy Quick and Easy Preparation: Minimal cooking required, simple grating technique, and no complex steps make this recipe perfect for busy home cooks seeking delicious, fast meals.
  • Celebrate Tangy Flavor Explosion: The combination of pickled onions, vinegar, mustard, and olives delivers a zesty, bright flavor profile that dances across your taste buds with every bite.
  • Embrace Healthy Make-Ahead Convenience: This slaw stores perfectly in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, offering a nutritious, make-ahead side dish that maintains its crunch and flavor intensity.

Ingredients for Beet Slaw with Olives & Onions

Vegetables:
  • Beets: Sweet root vegetable with earthy flavor, choose firm and smooth beets without blemishes.
  • Carrots: Crunchy orange vegetable that adds sweetness and color to the slaw.
  • Red Onions: Sharp-tasting allium that provides a tangy base for the marinade.
  • Parsley: Fresh herb that brings bright, clean flavor and green color to the dish.
Pickling and Seasoning:
  • White Vinegar: Acidic liquid that helps pickle and tenderize the onions.
  • Olive Oil: Rich, smooth oil that helps bind the dressing and add depth.
  • Dijon Mustard: Tangy condiment that enhances the dressing's flavor and provides emulsification.
  • Salt: Essential seasoning that balances and enhances the overall taste of the slaw.
Extras:
  • Olives: Briny, salty ingredient that adds a Mediterranean twist to the slaw.

Steps to Make Beet Slaw with Pickled Additions

Step 1: Prepare Pickled Onions

In a large salad bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard, and olive oil. Add chopped onions and let them marinate for 5-10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and soften the onions.

Ingredients:
  • Vinegar
  • Mustard
  • Olive oil
  • Onions

Step 2: Grate Colorful Vegetables

Using a box grater or food processor, grate the following vegetables into the same bowl:
  • Beets
  • Carrots

Step 3: Add Flavor Boosters

Toss in the following ingredients to enhance the slaw’s taste and texture:
  • Olives
  • Fresh parsley

Step 4: Season and Mix

Sprinkle salt over the mixture and stir thoroughly, ensuring the pickled onion marinade coats every vegetable piece evenly.

Step 5: Serve or Store

Enjoy the vibrant slaw immediately or transfer to an airtight container. The salad will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, with flavors continuing to develop.

Helpful Tips for Beet Slaw Prep

  • Protect Your Hands: Wear disposable gloves when grating beets to prevent staining your hands and cutting board with deep red color.
  • Maximize Flavor Absorption: Let the onions marinate for the full 10 minutes to ensure they develop a tangy, rich flavor that will enhance the entire slaw.
  • Grate Consistently: Use a box grater or food processor to create uniform vegetable pieces, helping the slaw mix evenly and look more appealing.
  • Adjust Seasoning Wisely: Taste the slaw before serving and add more salt or vinegar as needed to balance the earthy beet and briny olive flavors.
  • Chill for Better Taste: While delicious immediately, letting the slaw sit in the refrigerator for an hour will allow the flavors to meld and intensify.

Storing Beet Slaw the Smart Way

  • Refrigerate: Store leftover beet slaw in an airtight container for up to 4 days, keeping it crisp and fresh in the fridge.
  • Drain Excess Liquid: Before serving chilled leftovers, gently drain any accumulated liquid to maintain the slaw's vibrant texture.
  • Stir Before Serving: Quickly mix the beet slaw before enjoying to redistribute the marinade and revive its bright flavors.

Pairing Beet Slaw with Meals

  • Pair with Crisp White Wine: Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc perfectly complement the tangy, earthy flavors of the beet slaw, cutting through its richness with bright, zesty notes.
  • Match with Goat Cheese Crostini: Creamy, tangy goat cheese on toasted bread creates a delightful contrast to the crunchy, vibrant vegetables, enhancing the slaw's texture and taste.
  • Serve alongside Grilled Chicken: Lemon-herb marinated chicken provides a light, protein-rich companion that balances the slaw's intense flavors and adds a satisfying protein element to the meal.
  • Boost with Toasted Nuts: Sprinkle chopped almonds or walnuts on top to introduce a nutty crunch that elevates the dish's complexity and adds a delightful textural contrast.

Flavorful Swaps for Beet Slaw

  • Mediterranean Fusion: Replace parsley with fresh mint and add crumbled feta cheese for a Greek-inspired beet slaw that brings zesty Mediterranean flavors to your plate.
  • Spicy Southwest Kick: Mix in diced jalapeños, chopped cilantro, and a dash of cumin to transform the slaw into a bold, southwestern-style salad with vibrant heat and depth.
  • Nutty Crunch Edition: Sprinkle toasted sunflower seeds or chopped almonds over the slaw for an added layer of texture and nutty richness that complements the earthy beet flavors.
  • Winter Warmth Blend: Incorporate dried cranberries and a pinch of cinnamon to create a slightly sweet and warming version perfect for colder months, adding complexity to the original recipe.
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Beet Slaw With Olives & Pickled Onions Recipe

Beet Slaw With Olives & Pickled Onions Recipe


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4.6 from 34 reviews

  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Beet slaw with olives & pickled onions brings Mediterranean zest to your table. Crisp julienned beets mingle with briny olives and tangy pickled onions, creating a refreshing side dish you’ll crave again and again.


Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables:

  • 3 medium beets, peeled and grated
  • 1 large carrot, grated
  • ½ red onion, finely diced

Herbs and Extras:

  • ¼ cup chopped parsley
  • ⅓ cup black olives, pitted and sliced

Dressing Ingredients:

  • 4 tablespoons (60 milliliters) olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt

Instructions

  1. Prepare the pickling liquid by whisking vinegar, mustard, and olive oil in a spacious mixing vessel, creating a vibrant marinade for the thinly sliced onions.
  2. Allow the onions to luxuriate in the tangy mixture for 5-10 minutes, enabling them to absorb the zesty flavors and soften slightly.
  3. Grate fresh beets and carrots into delicate, uniform strands, ensuring a consistent texture throughout the slaw.
  4. Incorporate the grated vegetables into the marinated onions, introducing a colorful medley of earthy and sweet notes.
  5. Fold in briny olives and freshly chopped parsley, distributing them evenly to create a balanced flavor profile.
  6. Season the mixture with a sprinkle of salt, gently tossing to ensure each ingredient is thoroughly coated with the aromatic dressing.
  7. Serve immediately to enjoy the crisp, vibrant textures, or refrigerate in a sealed container for up to 3-4 days, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify.

Notes

  • Marinate onions first to infuse tangy flavor before mixing with other ingredients.
  • Grate beets and carrots to create a vibrant, colorful, and textured slaw.
  • Use fresh parsley for a bright, herbal note that complements the earthy root vegetables.
  • The vinegar-based marinade doubles as a dressing, coating vegetables with zesty goodness.
  • Refrigerate for up to 4 days, allowing flavors to meld and intensify over time.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
  • Method: Blending
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 195
  • Sugar: 6 g
  • Sodium: 290 mg
  • Fat: 18 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 14 g
  • Fiber: 4 g
  • Protein: 3 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
Liam O'Brien

Liam O’Brien

Founder & Recipe Developer

Expertise

  • Traditional Irish Dishes
  • Farm-to-Table Cooking
  • Recipe Creation
  • Teaching Cooking Skills
  • Sustainable Food Practices

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (now Technological University Dublin)

  • Program: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Hands-on training in cooking techniques, kitchen management, and exploring both Irish and international cuisines.

Ballymaloe Cookery School, County Cork, Ireland

  • Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
  • Focus: Farm-to-table cooking, emphasizing the use of fresh, local ingredients and traditional cooking methods.

Liam O’Brien is the co-founder and kitchen soul behind Good Tasting Meals, a chef who believes that cooking shouldn’t feel stressful or complicated.

He earned his culinary stripes at Technological University Dublin and polished his farm-to-table skills at Ballymaloe Cookery School. With over 15 years flipping pans and stirring up stories, Liam has worked in family cafés, bustling bistros, and everything in between.

At Good Tasting Meals, Liam brings you recipes that feel like home: cozy, simple, and full of flavor.

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