Shadow Play Beets Arugula (Printable)

Golden and red beets combined with bright radish and dark accents for a visually stunning starter.

# Components:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium golden beet, peeled and thinly sliced
02 - 1 medium red beet, peeled and thinly sliced
03 - 1 cup baby arugula
04 - 1/2 cup watermelon radish, thinly sliced

→ Dark Accents

05 - 1/2 cup blackberries
06 - 1/4 cup black olives, pitted and halved
07 - 2 tablespoons black tahini (or regular tahini tinted with squid ink)

→ Dressing

08 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
09 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
10 - 1 teaspoon honey
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

12 - Microgreens such as purple radish or basil
13 - Edible flowers (optional)

# Method:

01 - Using a mandoline slicer or sharp knife, slice both golden and red beets paper-thin to ensure delicate layering.
02 - Lay the beet slices on a large platter in a semi-overlapping pattern, alternating golden and red to create vibrant contrast.
03 - Fan the thin watermelon radish slices over the beet foundation, then scatter baby arugula across the arrangement.
04 - Strategically place blackberries and halved black olives beneath or behind the bright vegetables to form dramatic silhouettes.
05 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper until emulsified; evenly drizzle over the plated vegetables.
06 - Spoon small dollops of black tahini around the plate, using the back of a spoon to smear softly for artistic shadow effects.
07 - Top with microgreens and edible flowers to enhance depth and color contrast.
08 - Present immediately as a sophisticated starter or light salad.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks restaurant-quality but comes together in 30 minutes without any fussy techniques.
  • The contrast between sweet roasted beets, peppery arugula, and bright watermelon radish keeps your mouth genuinely interested.
  • It's vegetarian and naturally gluten-free, so you're not sacrificing anything to make it happen.
02 -
  • Don't slice your beets too far ahead or they'll start sweating and losing that jewel-like translucence.
  • The tahini smear is essential—it's not just flavor, it's what creates the actual shadow play that makes this dish work visually and prevents it from feeling like a regular salad trying too hard.
03 -
  • Invest in a decent mandoline and actually use it—the difference between hand-sliced and mandoline-sliced vegetables is the difference between this being good and it being stunning.
  • Build your plate at the last possible moment, drizzle just before serving, and never dress it more than a few minutes in advance or everything gets soggy and loses that visual clarity that's half the point.
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