Roasted Beets & Brussels Sprouts with Za’atar
I make a lot of impromptu salads around lunchtime at the farm. In the summer it’s usually a simple mixed green salad with herbs, tomatoes and cucumbers all freshly harvested from the fields. Most of those salads don’t make the blog because honestly, even though they’re tasty they just don’t feel all that special and lunchtime in the heart of the farm season is too busy to photograph food. However, now that it’s so dark and dreary we take longer lunch breaks and our salads are a little heartier and more planned out. This salad is simple and so flavorful that we’ve been making it everyday for lunch ever since we started harvesting the first of our brussels sprouts. The combination of the beets, brussels, hazelnuts, balsamic glaze and za’atar are a match made in this farmers heaven! I can’t get enough!
I was inspired to try the spice blend za’atar after flipping through one of my favorite cookbooks Plenty. Just like vegetables, good quality spices make a HUGE difference in recipes. Now that I’ve tried za’atar (a popular middle eastern spice blend) I’ve been sprinkling it on everything from scrambled eggs, to hummus and even my morning toast. If you’re not familiar with it, za’atar spice blend is usually a combination of dried herbs such as thyme, oregano, marjoram, sumac, toasted sesame seeds and salt. You can easily make this at home but I find having the spice mix prepared in advance is really helpful especially since we’ve been sprinkling it on everything-even sliced apples! You can find za’atar at middle eastern markets or specialty spice shops. If neither of those places are close to you I’d suggest ordering some online, I love the Savory Spice Shop for this purpose.
With all of that being said, don’t fret if you don’t have any za’atar on hand. It’s totally optional! I actually added it at the last minute out of habit but this will still be delicious on it’s own. Also, if you’ve never made your own balsamic reduction you are in for a treat. The flavor is complex, sweet and to top it off it’s a cinch to whip up.
I hope you all enjoy this farm fresh autumn salad as much as we do. This is a great starter to any fall or winter meal. Grab a fork!
Beet & Brussels Sprout Salad with Za'atar & Balsamic Reduction
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Serves: 4
For the Salad:- 4 Tablespoons roasted hazelnut oil (or extra-virgin olive oil) divided + additional for serving
- 4-5 medium-sized beets, trimmed and sliced into 1/2 inch rounds
- 1 pound of brussels sprouts, trimmed and sliced in half lengthwise
- 1/2 cup hazelnuts, toasted
- 1 cup parsly, minced
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 Tablespoon za'atar (optional)
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Drizzle the sliced beets with 2 Tablespoons of the oil. Toss until well coated and place on a parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer-a little overlapping is oaky but you may need two baking sheets. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.
- Drizzle the sliced brussels sprouts with the remaining 2 Tablespoons of oil. Place on a separate prepared baking sheet. Roast the vegetables in the oven until lightly browned and fork tender. Anywhere from 18-25 minutes. The beets may cook faster so check on them frequently. Also, remove smaller beets as needed as they'll be done before the larger slices. Toss the veggies halfway through cooking.
- While vegetables cook prepare the balsamic reduction. Place the vinegar in a small saucepan over medium-high and bring to a low boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the vinegar, stirring often, for about 15 minutes, until it has roughly reduced by two-thirds. Keep a close eye on it as you don't want it to burn. When the vinegar coats a spoon it's ready to rock! Remove from the heat and let the vinegar slightly cool.
- Serve the salad by dividing the brussels and beets among plates. Sprinkle with the toasted hazelnuts, za'atar (if using) and a drizzle of the balsamic reduction. Season to taste with salt, pepper and a little more oil.
Notes
*Use this recipe as a guide. *Adjust measurements and ingredients as necessary. *Always taste test as you go. *Cooking times will vary depending on your vegetables, stovetop, and oven.
I love za’atar! I studied abroad in Israel, and one of my favorite things to order was fresh hot pita bread drizzled with olive oil and then sprinkled with za’atar. Delicious. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this recipe! I’m allergic to hazelnuts, but I’d totally try this with toasted walnuts.
This is just gorgeous! I’ve got beets roasting away in the oven as I type this. I love the sweetness they bring! I didn’t cut them before roasting, I thought they would take longer to roast this way but it looks like you might have converted me 🙂 Thank you for sharing this beautiful salad!
This looks so FRESH and beyond delicious. Roasting simply makes veggies taste so much sweeter and better.
Mm, mm, these flavors are right up my alley. I love za’atar and Ottolenghi’s books are some of my favorites. You can’t get much better than roasted Brussels sprouts and beets plus hazelnuts. Well done on this salad!
I just so happen to have za’atar sitting at home! I made a Greek hummus with it once but I forgot about it after that. It’s silly because now that you mention it, I bet it would be great in a lot of things. Like this salad! 😉
OK, I’ am so behind on my blog reading, but I’m glad I didn’t miss this salad. I just love roasted brussels sprouts, especially with balsamic! If you have a little extra time, you can whip up some extra salad for me at lunchtime 🙂
Perfect happy body food for the shorter autumn days, but you can be sure I will be trying this with some of the spring baby beetroots that are showing up in our local farmer’s markets at the moment. I love the addition of za’atar. Sometimes the simplest spice is all you need to upgrade a meal from delicious to perfection.
Those sprouts! I love all the elements you’ve pieced in here, especially zaatar <3
I love both roasted beets and brussels sprouts and the combo looks absolutely delicious! Your pictures of the veggies growing outside are beautiful and inspiring, I am truly like a kid at the candy store when I’m at the farmer’s market or on the rare occasion I find myself on an actual farm. I love the freshness and vibrant colors of all the different veggies, it just makes me want to stock up, go home, cook and EAT!
Just made this and it was delicious! I only had slivered almonds so I toasted them in place of the hazelnuts. Didn’t have any zaatar so I just stuck w/ salt & pepper. I do want to try your exact recipe in the future once I get my hands on some hazelnuts and zaatar! Thanks for helping me make a great dinner tonight!!
A cup of minced parsley is listed in the ingredients, but the directions don’t actually mention parsley. Does it just get mixed in at the end?