This Beet and Cucumber Salad recipe will convert beet-haters into beet-lovers! Pickled beets and fresh cucumber join together in this delicious and healthy salad with an easy balsamic-mustard dressing and crumbled gorgonzola cheese!
Four people – not one, but four (!) – asked me this week for suggestions on what to do with their garden cucumbers. It’s an item that I would love to grow, but I don’t have enough space – they always get bumped for bell peppers.
Anyway, this Beet and Cucumber Salad is a favorite of mine and a perfect use for those cucumbers. If you have an abundance of them, you’ll just need to make it several times. And you’ll want to!
Now, for all you beet haters…before you grimace and say something aloud like “blech,” hear me out.
I, too, was once a beet hater. Actually, I think I just hated beets because they were never mentioned in a positive manner. I can’t even recall having tried one until years after college. And by then, I was so brainwashed into thinking beets were a death sentence, I wouldn’t even consider eating one…until one fine day at my girlfriend’s house.
She was having a party for, none other than me, and made this salad. Well, it just looked so beautiful! And since the party was in my honor, I couldn’t very well disrespect my lovely hostess who had gone to so much trouble, right? I took a teensy-tiny bit on my plate, careful to keep it away from the other foods, so they wouldn’t be tainted.
While nobody was looking, I took a bite, fully prepared to spit it out.
But I didn’t spit it out. Instead, I went back for more. This salad is wonderful. Wonderful, I tell ya!
I now serve it to friends and everyone – even the beet haters – has been pleasantly surprised, as well.
Try it. I dare you.
other healthy salad recipes we love!
other beet recipes we love!
- How To Make Roasted Beets
- Beet Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes
- Refrigerator Pickled Beets
- Beet Pickled Eggs
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
How To Make This Beet and Cucumber Salad Recipe
Beet and Cucumber Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 8 ounces pickled beets , drained
- 1 large cucumber , peeled and sliced into thin rounds
- 1/4 cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese (or goat cheese)
Instructions
- Whisk together the mustard, vinegar, olive oil, and salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- On individual serving plates, place the beets and cucumber in a spiral pattern, alternating between the two.
- Drizzle the mustard dressing over the top, and sprinkle the gorgonzola cheese on top of that.
- Grind a few dashes of pepper, serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Other Notes
An absolute new favorite!
Not a fan of Dijon mustard. Could I substitute Coleman’s dry mustard and how much?
I would not use dry mustard for this recipe, but you could try spicy brown instead of Dijon.
What are marinated beets? Where we live we have pickled beets, is this something different?
same thing, thanks!
I love beets in salads. Fresh, pickled or roasted. My husband says they taste like dirt but tolerates them for me. This looks fabulous and can’t wait to try it.
Thanks for sharing.
Chrysalis if your husband say that tastes like dirty may be allergic to it I haven’t checked the allergies.this is the way my allergies started .and I’m allergic to something his first taste like dirt. If I should continue eating it it makes me very ill.
I think this salad is great!
I am growing both (golden and choggia) beets and cukes, because I love them both so much. I tend to use my cukes for sunomono – the fastest salad in the west. Err…east.
Thanks for the visit and niceness at my blog!
I am soo not a beets fan! But I dont mind a few here and there.. Looks like a real good summery salad.
Amy- I have an award for u on my blog. come and claim it. =)
Thanks for sharing. We’re sharing peanut butter ideas and Elvis stories at diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com. I hope you will come join us. Or, join us for Crock Pot Wednesdays. Mister Linky will be ready for that on Tuesday.
A healthy and delicious salad! I still can’t find balsamic vinegar at my place. But the recipe is definitely a keeper for me. Tks for sharing!
I am a big fan of cucumber and am (slowly) learning to appreciate (not quite loving them yet!) beets. This looks like a lovely salad and it looks so pretty on the plate!
Beautiful photo. Even if I weren’t a recently-converted beet lover, which I am, your styling would make me want to try this salad.
Ok, I have to say…I am NOT a beet lover. I have tried them every which way, even freshly roasted beets – blech.
BUT, BUT, BUT…this salad is SO yummy! I even ask Amy to make it when we visit!
Cucumber (yummy)…Gorgonzola Cheese (very yummy)…Balsamic and Dijon Mustard (Yummy)… Beets (sptffft…not so much). You had me right up to the beets. Not a big fan of the red fleshy poison.
Got your back on this one Paul.
How about if I substitute tomatoes instead?
Don’t know if I like beets. Never had em. My friend Sarah (A Taste of Home Cooking, the girl that got me started blogging) raves about them and I am definitely curious. I just keep forgetting!
I love beets, but I had to rediscover them as an adult too.
What a gorgeous presentation!
Okay, I am one of your doubters. But I trust you, so I may give it a chance. Looking to get more veggies in my diet anyway.
I actually like beets, but not cucumbers. I guess I’ll eat them (cucumbers) if they’re presented to me, but I don’t seek them out. Beets on the other hand are great. I hated veggies as a kid but would always eat beets. Weird, I know.
I also love this photo. Nice background!
Love beets. Love cucumber. Love a good mustard vinaigrette. Will definitely try this.
I had a traumatic experience with beets when I was younger that has caused me to avoid them for most of my adult life. But when I see them, I always think that they could be good. Perhaps I will give them a try someday…
Oh no, we are beet lovers and this is just perfect!!!!Thx for sharing!!
Hubby HATES cucumber, let alone beets. But I love both and will make a smaller portion for myself.
I love beets and cucumbers. This looks delicious
What you talking about? I love cucumbers.