GreekMedium · Room Temperature
Beet and Walnut Yogurt Salad
Roasted beets, sweet and earthy, folded into thick yogurt with raw garlic and finished with crushed walnuts and olive oil — this is a meze that manages to be both robust and cool at the same time. The garlic is assertive here, which is intentional; this dish does not apologize for itself. It makes a beautiful plate and disappears quickly, both of which are signs you've done it right.
Prep
15 min
Cook
50 min
Rest
10 min
Total
1h 15m
Method
Roast the Beets
1
Place wrapped beets on a baking sheet and roast for 45-50 minutes until tender when pierced with a knife.
Make the Yogurt Dressing
3
Add the juice of the lemon, dried oregano, and salt. Whisk until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Toast the Walnuts
4
In a dry frying pan over medium heat, toast the walnuts for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly golden. Watch carefully so they do not burn.
A
Nutri-Score
Excellent balance
A–E · lower is better · score -2
Calories
501
per serving
Source of protein · 18g
Protein
18g
Carbs
24g
Fat
40g
Sat. fat
6g
Fiber
6g
Sugar
15g
Sodium
409mg
Gluten FreeVegetarianLow CarbHeart HealthyAnti InflammatoryBone HealthHigh ProteinOmega 3 Rich
Nutri-Score is a general nutritional-balance guide, not medical or dietary advice.
B
Environmental impact
Low impact
A–E · lower is better · includes estimates
kg CO2e
0.4
per serving
BCarbonAEU all-round· carbon sets the grade
Water
0.8m³
Land
28Pt
Runoff
0.05g P
Greek Yogurt drives 69% of this recipe’s estimated footprint.
Carbon from Poore & Nemecek 2018; water, land & runoff from Agribalyse — modelled averages for comparing recipes, not a measurement of your groceries.
Flavor Profile
5
Umami
4
Sweet
5
Salty
4
Sour
2
Bitter
0
Spicy
Textures
TenderCreamyCrispyFresh
Aromas
HerbalEarthyCitrusNutty
Kitchen Equipment
Primary Tool
Frying PanCounter FootprintMedium
Safety & Storage
Handling
Toast walnuts in a dry pan over medium heat, stirring frequently for 3-4 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden. Watch carefully as walnuts can burn quickly due to their high oil content.
Cross Contamination
Use separate utensils and cutting boards for walnuts if preparing for individuals with tree nut allergies. Clean all surfaces thoroughly between ingredient preparations.
Storage
Refrigerate Greek yogurt promptly. Store toasted walnuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator to prevent rancidity. Use roasted beets within 3-5 days when refrigerated.
High Risk Population
This dish contains dairy and tree nuts. Exercise caution when serving to young children, elderly individuals, or immunocompromised persons. Ensure proper portion sizing and ingredient awareness.
Cooking Temperature
Roast beets at 400°F until tender when pierced with a knife, approximately 45-50 minutes. Ensure internal temperature reaches a safe level to eliminate any potential pathogens.
Pro Tips
Technique
When you wrap the beets in foil for roasting, add a splash of water inside the packet — it creates steam and ensures even cooking without drying them out. Test tenderness with a thin knife; they should slide through like butter.
Substitution
If you cannot find Greek yogurt, any full-fat plain yogurt will work, but let it drain through cheesecloth for 30 minutes to thicken it up first. I refuse to call anything 'Greek' that comes from a powder, but we work with what we have.
Equipment
Use a quality cast iron or stainless steel frying pan for toasting walnuts — never nonstick. You want those dark spots and that nutty aroma, and you need to hear the sizzle when they hit hot metal.
Storage
Store the roasted beets in olive oil with a pinch of oregano in the fridge for up to five days. The yogurt dressing is best made fresh, but will hold for two days if sealed tightly.
From the chef
Roasted beets folded into thick Greek yogurt with raw garlic and finished with crushed walnuts and olive oil — this meze does not apologize for itself, and I respect that. The beets come out of the oven sweet and earthy, the garlic is assertive on purpose, the lemon cuts through the richness, and the toasted walnuts give you that crunch against the cool yogurt. A good drizzle of olive oil at the end ties it all together. It makes a beautiful plate, it disappears quickly, and both of those things tell you everything you need to know about whether you have done it right.
TagsVegetarianGreekRoasted BeetsGreek YogurtWalnutsHealthySimpleMediterraneanLemonOregano
AllergensMilkTree Nuts
Source: generated · May 30, 2026