The first time I had this beet and avocado salad, something inside me exploded. I was like, “What is this goodness and why have I never had a salad with beets, avocados, and blue cheese before?”

Chat Noir Bistro in NYC.

Let’s start with the over-the-top flavor beet and avocado salad explosion experience I encountered at an Upper East Side French bistro in New York City called Chat Noir Bistro. (Unfortunately, it’s now closed.)  Dennis and I were having an it-is-our-last-night-so-let’s-go-for-it-foodie-dinner, and this charming slip of a cozy and intimate bistro was just the ticket.

I wanted to try everything different, you know what I mean, something that I wouldn’t normally have in my oh-so-normal life. And there it was, on the menu.  Roasted beet salad.

Apples. Blue Cheese. Avocados. What a unique combination! I took the first bite. And another bite. And another bite. The salad was gone faster than I can write out and another bite. Gone. Devoured.  Evaporated. Pure flavor explosion!

Our maitre ‘d was tickled pink over our delight with this beet and avocado salad discovery!  He excitedly told us that he goes home and makes it for himself every night! He was happy to explain the recipe so I could make it myself. So, thanks to Mr. French Bistro himself, you and I have a new foodie recipe that will impress, delight, and surprise your family and guests.

The original recipe called for apples but I have found that substituting pears instead notched up the delicious taste factor!

What does this salad taste like?

It’s one-part comfort food, one-part good-for-you-food, and two-parts crazy-delicious! Blue cheese is heavy in this salad, so that delicious smelling blue cheese funk first hits your noise. Then, the crispness of the pear (or apple) mixed with olive oil becomes magic. This salad tastes like a four-course meal. Not heavy on the sweet, but with just the right amount of fat, sweet, salty, and bitter.

Perfection.

Is it simple to make?

Ridiculously simple. Find a bowl, cut up a pear, cut up an avocado, and drizzle olive oil, and a pinch-flair of sea salt.

How should you prepare the beets?

First question you may ask is, “can I used canned beets?” Of course you can! However, canned beets are sodium-rich and therefore you will want to monitor how much extra salt you add to this recipe. Beets are sooo easy to prepare and beets are a perfect meal prep item.

• The easiest is to cook beets in a pressure cooker and just peel the skins off.

• The second easiest way is to boil them and remove the skins.

• The third easiest way is to peel the, cut them up and roast them.

I do not recommend eating beets raw in this particular recipe since the chopped chunks would be extremely difficult to chew.

How long does this salad last?

Because avocados are involved, eat this salad right away. Everything else can be prepared ahead of time…. leave the avocados for last. Once you’ve tossed it all together. Eat quickly so the avocados won’t turn.

But mostly…….. it won’t last long because you’re going to want to GOBBLE IT UP!

What is your favorite way to prepare a beet salad?

You’re in for a treat.

A beet treat.

Eat well, my friends.

Lyndi

Looking for another beet recipe?

ABC Kitchen’s magical beet and yogurt salad