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Roasted Root Salad with Balsamic-Date Vinaigrette

Put your pagers on vibrate and hold onto your satchels, because you’re about to go alllll afternoon delight. Over a salad. A salad of roots and skyrockets in flight.

Roasted Root Salad with Balsamic-Date Vinaigrette

Roasted root vegetables all thyme-ed up on the spinach boat with hunks of feta and balsamic-date vinaigrette. It’s something to talk about, Bonnie Raitt. True Story. You just ate 3 pounds of vegetables. How? #thissalad.

When was the last time you had a root in your oven?

Roasted Root Salad with Balsamic-Date Vinaigrette

This is how 3 pounds of veggies get taken down: You lather up your roots with oil, thyme, salt and pepper. You then spread them on a baking sheet, roast them at four hundo and glue yourself to the oven for approx. 40 to 45 (which is exactly enough time for one episode of Private Practice or between 8 and 9 Macarenas. But not both, never both) until your roots are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside.

The root vegetables will c0me out all toasty, noodling notes on your heart strings. Prepare for your heart strings to get noodled.

Roasted Root Salad with Balsamic-Date Vinaigrette

This salad is a tear-jerking, catamaran-tipping, upside-the-head slapping, hootinist tootinist rootinist bobtailed wildest cat in the west, Yoooooooooooosemite Sam! Roots: ravaged. Feelings: uncorked. Remorse: less.

Can we talk about the balsamic-date salad dressing for a second? Sluuuuurp! That’s all I needed to say.

Roasted Root Salad with Balsamic-Date Vinaigrette

Are you out of peanut butter? This salad dressing is a perfectly acceptable replacement for all of your spoon-to-mouth needs.

Roasted Root Salad with Balsamic-Date Vinaigrette

My motto’s always been when it’s right, it’s right.

Recipe adapted from Aida Mollenkamp’s Roasted Root Salad Recipe with Balsamic-Date Dressing.

Roasted Root Salad with Balsamic-Date Vinaigrette

Roasted Root Salad with Balsamic-Date Viniagrette

A hearty roasted vegetable salad with date-sweetened balsamic vinaigrette is a lovely light meal or side dish!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
2 Servings

Ingredients

For the Salad:

  • 1 pieces medium turnip, peeled and chopped into 1.5” pieces
  • 2 parsnips, peeled and chopped into 1.5” pieces
  • 2 carrots, peeled and chopped into 1.5” pieces
  • 2 boiling onions, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
  • 1 handful fresh thyme sprigs
  • 6 ounces baby spinach
  • 3 ounces crumbled feta cheese

For the Balsamic Date Vinaigrette:

  • ¼ cup oil
  • 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
  • ¼ cup water
  • 8 large dates, pitted and chopped
  • 1/3 cup yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons whole grain mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

To Prepare the Balsamic-Date Vinaigrette:

  • Add all ingredients for the vinaigrette to a small blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside until ready to use.

To Prepare the Roasted Root Vegetables:

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Peel and chop the roots into 1.5-inch pieces. Toss them with the grapeseed oil, fresh thyme, salt, and black pepper. Spread the veggies on a baking sheet (or two).
  • Roast for 40 to 45 minutes, stirring twice, or until crispy and golden-brown. Allow vegetables to cool.

To Prepare the Salad:

  • Add spinach to a large salad bowl and add in the roasted vegetables and feta. Toss with desired amount of balsamic-date dressing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1grams
Course: Lifestyle
Cuisine: American
Keyword: dairy free recipes, easy healthy recipes, gluten free recipes, gut healthy recipes, healthy recipe
Servings: 2 Servings
Author: Julia

Need more roots in your oven? Try these on for size:

Baked Root Vegetable Chips with Buttermilk-Parsley Dipping Sauce

Roasted Beets with Orange-Tahini Dressing

Balsamic Roasted Root Vegetables

Roasted Beet and Fig Salad

Roasted Beet and Peach Salad

Recipe Rating




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Catherine

Monday 5th of January 2015

So, I made this the first time on Dec 30th for a family supper... and no joke, I've made it 4 times since! OMG, it's so crazy good! <3 <3

aida mollenkamp

Thursday 10th of April 2014

Beautiful photos and I'm so happy you like this salad!

Julia

Monday 14th of April 2014

Thanks, Aida!! I seriously addicted myself to your delicious salad. Everyone in my house who tried it loved it too. Very well done, my dear!

Dearna @tohercore

Tuesday 8th of April 2014

Roasted veggies are the best! And this dressing sounds divine, I've not tried dates in a salad dressing before and am intrigued! Will definitely have to give this one a go :)

Rachel Cooks

Tuesday 8th of April 2014

Roasted vegetables are my LIFE -- but this dressing?! OH my gosh -- I must try. Love that it is sweetened with dates.

Alexis @ Hummusapien

Sunday 6th of April 2014

Can I just say that you noodle my heart strings on the reg? Dates in #thissalad sound freaking unreal. Add it the million other recipes of yours that I need to make RIGHT MEOW. Kisses!

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