Happy New Year friends! Are you ready for a fresh start? Now that all the holiday eating and drinking is behind us, it is time for getting back to reality. I know I am ready to get back to the gym and start eating big salads for lunch and dinner. However, I have no intention of serving myself boring salads. That is why; I am here today with a meal-worthy salad made with wholesome ingredients that will help you start the year off right.
This post is sponsored by Kroger, but all opinions are mine.

This citrusy roasted beet goat cheese salad is my take on the classic beet and goat cheese salad that you see in almost every restaurant’s menu nowadays. However, for my version, I took things up a notch and added some surprising ingredients that made it even more delicious, filling, and healthy.


About This Citrusy Roasted Beet Goat Cheese Salad Recipe:
Initially, this was supposed to be a roasted beet and goat cheese salad topped off with black-eyed peas. The idea of using black-eyed peas came from my husband, who told me that eating them in New Years is a tradition and considered as good luck here in the southern states. Then as I was researching about it, I found an article that shed some light on the meaning behind it. Below is from that article:
“…a lot of people closely associate good luck with monetary gain. That’s where the greens come in (green is the color of U.S. currency). Any green will do, but the most common choices are collard, turnip, or mustard greens. Golden cornbread is often added to the Southern New Year’s meal, and a well-known phrase is, “Peas for pennies, greens for dollars, and cornbread for gold.” …”

After reading this, I decided to turn it into a green salad with roasted beets, goat cheese, and black-eyed peas. However, even with the creamy goat cheese it tasted a little bland. It needed something sweet to balance the tartness of the peas. That is when I decided to add a few slices of Cara Cara and blood oranges I found in Kroger earlier in the week. I love oranges, but Cara Cara oranges are my favorite fruit of all times. The addition of colorful oranges into the mix of roasted beets, fresh mixed greens, crunchy walnuts, and goat cheese turned this otherwise boring salad into a meal-worthy and filling salad with a ton of flavors.
In terms of the dressing, I continued the citrusy flavors and made an orange vinaigrette by mixing together some freshly squeezed orange juice with a splash of sherry vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. This happens to be my go-to vinaigrette recipe that I usually make with lemon juice, but surprisingly it worked perfectly with orange juice as well. Here, if you do not have sherry vinegar, you can use white wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar.

How to Cook Black-Eyed Peas:
Now admittedly, the only component of this recipe that takes a little bit of time is cooking the black-eyed peas. Some recipes on the internet require for them to be soaked at least for 2 hours, but my method requires no soaking.
Simply, let them come to a boil in a saucepan filled with water. Then turn it off and let it sit for an hour. Drain it and fill it with fresh water. Put it back on the stove in medium heat, let it come to a boil, turn down the heat to low and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes.
I have been using this method for years and it works perfectly every time. For this salad, I used only a cup of black-eyed peas. However, I usually cook a big batch and save the rest to add them to salads or soups throughout the week.

How To Serve:
Since it is the New Years Day and I need all the gold I can get my hands on in 2017, I served my salad with a few slices of jalapeno and scallion cornbread. The cornbread was a true splurge and accompanied my salad beautifully. However, I promise you that even without the cornbread this salad recipe is a healthy way the start the New Year without compromising any flavor or taste.
Other Healthy Salad Recipes You Might Also Like:
- Apple Salad
- Fall Harvest Salad
- Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad
- Brussel Sprout and Kale Salad
- Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
- Five Bean Salad
- Cowboy Caviar
Citrusy Roasted Beet Goat Cheese Salad
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- ¼ cup orange juice freshly squeezed (from 1-2 oranges)
- 2 tablespoons sherry or white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the Salad:
- 1 cup dry black-eyed peas
- 4 red and yellow fresh beets rinsed
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 6 cups mixed greens rinsed
- 1 cup lightly toasted walnuts
- 1 Cara Cara Orange peeled and sliced
- ½ blood orange peeled and sliced
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds as garnish
- ½ cup crumbled goat cheese
Instructions
To make the dressing:
- Place all dressing ingredients in a mason jar, put the lid on and shake vigorously. Keep it in the fridge until you are ready to use it.
- Place the black-eyed peas in a medium-size saucepan, cover it water (2-inches above the peas), and bring it to a boil. Let it boil for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove pot from the heat and let it cool for an hour.
- Drain water and replace it with fresh cooking water.
- Place it back on the stove, bring it to a boil, and let it simmer for 25-35 minutes.
- Drain and set aside.
To roast the beets:
- Pre-heat the oven to 425 F degrees.
- Cut four 8-10-inch square aluminum foils. Place a beet in the middle, drizzle with ½ tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle it with salt and pepper.
- Cover it tightly with aluminum foil.
- Repeat the same process with the rest of the beets.
- Place covered beets on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until they are easily pierced with the tip of a knife.
- Unwrap the beets and let them cool for 10 minutes on the kitchen counter. Gently remove skins and slice each beet into small cubes.
To make the salad:
- Place the mixed greens in a large bowl.
- Add in the now-cooked black-eyed peas, beets, walnuts, sliced oranges, pomegranate seeds.
- Drizzle it with the dressing. Give it a gentle toss. Taste for seasoning and add if necessary.
- Sprinkle it with the crumbled goat cheese and serve.
Notes
– If you want to cut down on the calories, you can use less goat cheese.
Maggie Smith
I love trail mix bars!
Stephanie Larison
This looks amazing! My fave healthy snack is nuts because I’m always on the go with the kids, and it’s so quick and easy to grab and take with you.
jeani b
i think my fave healthy snack is celery with pb because it’s portable for on the go, crisp, and filling!
Noreen
Carrot sticks dipped in hummus, regular or lentil
Traci | Vanilla And Bean
I adore black eyed peas and I love how you incorporated them into this salad for good luck! The greens for $$ cha-ching in the new year too! Hooray! The lip smacking goats cheese is a nice tangy addition. You’ve got crunch, creamy, tangy, sweet… SO much goodness!! Cara Cara are my all time favorite citrus, but they are nowhere to be found right now. I’m looking franticly too!! It seems organic Mandarins are in short supply too, as usually this time of year I’m going through cases of them, but sadly, so far, I’ve only snagged one. I hope to see them soon. Gorgeous and delicious recipe, Aysegul!
Aysegul Sanford
Awwww thank you Traci. I created this salad on a whim and it exceeded my expectations in every way. And yes, Cara Cara oranges are my favorite. I hope you can find them soon. Sending you much love my friend. <3
neiddy
My favorite healthy snack is raw almonds. Thank you for the chance to win , GOD bless.
Barbara K
My healthy snack is mix fruit of orange and grapefruit with wheat crackers.
Kelsea
My favorite healthy snack is an apple and a spoonful of peanut butter!
Wendy R.
I look a good old fashioned crisp juicy slightly tart apple! I swear, sometimes nothing is better than that!
Pat
My favorite healthy snack is apple slices with peanut butter.
Norma
My favorite healthy snack is carrot cake. Oh, wait, I meant carrot sticks.
Caroline B
My favorite healthy snack is greek yogurt mixed with applesauce and oatbran
elizabeth
My favorite healthy snack is veggies and light dip.
Gena
What a bright and vibrant winter salad this is, Aysegul! I love the addition of citrus and black eyed peas (I don’t use them nearly enough at home, but they’re a wonderful legume, and you’re inspiring me to throw them into more of my own salads). Happy new year and all best for 2017 🙂
Aysegul Sanford
YAY! Unfortunately, I am the same way. I do not use them as often as I like. Their flavor worked so well in this salad making it more nutritious and delicious. More than anything, it balanced all the flavors.
I wish you a wonderful new year as well. I cannot wait for your new book to come out and cook the heck out of it :))
Much love!
LAMusing
My favorite healthy snack is yogurt!
Kristen
My favorite healthy snack in fresh peaches.
Emily Smith
My favorite healthy snack is plain popcorn and almonds.
livviua chandler
My favorite healthy snack is celery and peanut butter
Vera K
Right now my favorite healthy snack is a small fresh fruit salad.