Ingredients

1 ½ pounds beets (about 7-8 medium beets)

4 teaspoons olive oil (divided)

2 tablespoons honey (divided)

¾ teaspoon salt (divided)

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 (8-ounce) goat cheese log (broken into 1-ounce chunks)

2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme (plus more for serving)

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary (plus more for serving)

1 teaspoon lemon juice (from 1 lemon)

2 mandarin oranges (peeled and segmented)

2 tablespoons finely chopped roasted pumpkin seeds

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Step 2: Rinse and trim the ends from the beets. Rub them with 2 teaspoons of olive oil and sprinkle the cut sides with ¼ teaspoon salt. Wrap the beets in two foil packets and place on a baking sheet. Roast for 40–50 minutes, or until fork-tender.

Step 3: Once cool enough to handle, peel the skins off the beets and cut them into 1-inch wedges.

Step 4: Transfer the beets to a large bowl and toss with the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon honey, ½ teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Chill until ready to serve.

Step 5: For the whipped goat cheese, combine the goat cheese chunks, Greek yogurt, remaining 1 tablespoon honey, thyme, rosemary, and lemon juice in a small food processor or blender.

Step 6: Pulse 5–10 times, then blend for 10–20 seconds, or until smooth and creamy. Avoid over-blending to prevent the cheese from becoming runny.

Step 7: Spread the whipped goat cheese on a serving platter. Arrange the roasted beets and mandarin segments on top (do not mix the oranges with the beets to avoid color bleeding).

Step 8: Sprinkle with chopped pumpkin seeds and additional thyme. Drizzle with honey if desired, then serve.

Tips & Variations

Use a vegetable peeler to remove beet skins easily once they are roasted and cool enough to handle.

For a nutty crunch, try toasted walnuts instead of pumpkin seeds.

Swap mandarin oranges for blood oranges or grapefruit for a different citrus twist.

If you don’t have a food processor, use a hand mixer or whisk to blend the goat cheese with yogurt and herbs.

FAQs

Can I use canned or pre-cooked beets instead of roasting fresh ones?

Yes, you can use canned or pre-cooked beets to save time. Just drain and pat them dry before tossing with oil, honey, salt, and pepper. Roasted fresh beets, however, have a deeper flavor and better texture.

Is it necessary to chill the beets before serving?

Chilling the beets helps meld the flavors and enhances the texture, but you can serve this dish slightly warm if preferred. Just add the chilled orange segments and whipped goat cheese right before serving.