Beet salad with mint and cheese (fresh, simple, good when you don’t want to cook)

I usually make this when I’ve got cooked beets in the fridge and don’t feel like turning on the stove again. It’s quick, a bit refreshing, and works surprisingly well as a light dinner or something on the side when everything else feels too heavy.

The mint might seem like a small thing here, but it changes the whole direction of the salad.

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Ingredients

• 300 g cooked beets, cut into wedges
• 60 g soft cheese (such as feta or goat cheese), crumbled
• 1 small handful fresh mint leaves, torn
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1½ tbsp lemon juice
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp toasted seeds or nuts (optional, but counted here if used)

How to put it together

1. Start with the beets in a bowl. Drizzle them with olive oil and lemon juice, then season lightly with salt and pepper. Toss gently so everything gets coated — they’ll start to absorb the dressing almost right away.
2. Give it a quick taste at this stage. Beets can vary a lot in sweetness, so sometimes you’ll want a touch more lemon to balance things out.
3. Add the torn mint leaves and fold them in carefully. If you chop them too finely, they disappear into the salad — larger pieces keep that fresh, cool bite.
4. Scatter the cheese over the top rather than mixing it in fully. That way you get a mix of creamy and clean bites instead of everything blending together.
5. Finish with seeds or nuts if you’re using them, right before serving so they stay crunchy.
6. (I once mixed everything too aggressively and the whole salad turned pink and a bit muddy-looking — still tasted fine, just not as nice to eat. Keeping it a bit loose works better here.)

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Written by Agnes
Hi, I’m Agnes — the creator of Quick Easy Home Recipes. I share simple, everyday recipes that actually work in real life.
No overcomplicating, no unnecessary steps — just good food made with basic ingredients. My goal is to make cooking easier, quicker, and more enjoyable.
If you enjoy simple recipes like this, you’ll feel right at home here.

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