Roasted Beet and Orange Salad

This roasted beet and orange salad is packed with flavor from homemade rye croutons, roasted beets, roasted oranges and baby kale. This is a salad that's worthy of a main meal!

I'm a big lover of salads. And I'm an even bigger lover of BIG salads.

Does that make sense?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm done with wimpy, lifeless salads. I want my salads to be satisfying and filling. Something that after I eat it, I don't automatically think to myself "OK, now what am I going to eat next?".

One of the best ways I know how to create a salad worthy of a main meal is by adding some hearty root vegetables and toasted bread to the mix.

Bread really helps to give any salad some much needed bulk. And it increases the "chew factor" as well, which I personally find to be a key component in achieving a feeling of fullness at the end of a meal.

I've made many panzanella salads (aka salads with bread) in my day. But recently, I stumbled upon on a little secret that makes them so much better: rye bread.

In the past, I'd always used plain French or Italian bread for my panzanella salads. But now, I'm officially converted. No more plain bread for me!

The rye bread (you could also use pumpernickel) provides so much additional flavor to the panzanella salad, that I think once you try it, you'll be hooked as well!

Pair the those rye croutons with the caramelized flavors of roasted beets and oranges, and you have an incredibly hearty salad that is filling enough to serve for dinner.

This Roasted Beet and Orange Salad is a great "transition" salad that can be enjoyed in warm weather or in the cooler months as well. Beets are currently in season!

And the baby kale greens and fresh mint leaves keep things feeling bright and springy. While the hearty rye bread and roasted orange slices (yes, you can eat the peel!) give off a bit more of a wintery vibe.

It's the perfect recipe to have in your arsenal for all seasons and for any occasion!

📖 Recipe

Roasted Beet and Orange Panzanella Salad

from Oh My Veggies

A vegan panzanella salad with rye bread, roasted beets, roasted oranges and baby kale. This is a salad that's worthy of a main meal!

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 as a main dish, 4 as a side dish

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Ingredients 

For the salad:

• 1 medium orange
• 2 medium beets, trimmed and peeled
• 2 cups rye bread, cubed
• 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• ½ teaspoon salt, divided
• ½ teaspoon black pepper, divided
• 3 cup baby kale
• 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, torn
• 2 tablespoons pistachios, shelled

For the dressing:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon orange juice, fresh squeezed
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 425ºF.
• Trim and discard the ends from the orange, then slice the orange into ¼-inch thick rounds, discarding any seeds that you find. Slice the beets into ¼-inch thick rounds as well.
• Spread the orange slices and beet slices out onto two large rimmed baking sheets, keeping them separate. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the orange slices. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the beet slices and sprinkle the tops with ¼ teaspoon of the salt and pepper.
• In a large bowl, toss the cubed bread with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and the remaining ¼ teaspoon of the salt and black pepper. Spread the bread out onto a third large rimmed baking sheet.
• Transfer all three baking sheets to your oven. Roast the cubed bread for 15 minutes, until it has started to crisp. Roast the orange slices for 13-15 minutes, until they have started to blacken in some places. Roast the beet slices for 20 minutes, until they have softened slightly. Remove the baking sheets from your oven as the ingredients finish roasting and set them aside to cool. The orange slices will start to stick to their baking sheet as they cool, so transfer them to a clean plate once they have finished roasting.

Make the dressing:

• In a small bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients for the dressing. Set aside.

Assemble the salad:

• In a large bowl, combine the bread, kale, mint and pistachios with the dressing, tossing until everything is well-coated. Add the orange and beet slices, tossing gently to combine.
• Transfer the panzanella salad to serving bowls and enjoy immediately.

Notes

Not all rye bread recipes are vegan. Make sure you check the nutrition labels before purchasing.

Nutrition (estimated per serving)

Calories: 1134kcalCarbohydrates: 153gProtein: 30gFat: 48gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 31gSodium: 2474mgPotassium: 1699mgFiber: 21gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 10525IUVitamin C: 171mgCalcium: 404mgIron: 10mg

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian

Keyword: panzanella salad, Roasted Beet and Orange Panzanella Salad, vegan panzanella salad

Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!

This recipe was contributed by Liz - the cook, writer, photographer and dishwasher behind the food blog, Floating Kitchen. She has a passion for creating recipes with locally grown, seasonal ingredients.