By Christine Jeffries August 23, 2010 - 10:38am

Some members of my family recently had a discussion about how underrated the beet is. How do you feel about beets? Do they taste like dirt to you, or do they taste delicious?

Here is a recipe for an easy Roasted Beet Salad (from allrecipes.com) that got rave reviews at my most recent women's group gathering:

Ingredients
4 beets, trimmed
1/4 cup minced shallot or green onion
2 tablespoons minced parsley
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
salt and pepper
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

1. Wash beets and place on a cookie sheet.
2. Roast (like you would potatoes) in a pre-heated 400degree oven for 45min-1hr; when finished, allow roasted beets to cool before handling, then peel the beets and cut into 1/4in. slices.
3. While beets are roasting, make the dressing, then set it aside - whisk together chopped shallot or green onion, parsley, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and red wine vinegar in a bowl. Season to taste with freshly ground black pepper and salt.
4. Place beets onto a serving dish or in a bowl, pour the desired amount of dressing over the beets, and sprinkle with feta cheese before serving.
-Enjoy!