Blueberry Balsamic Glazed Beets
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This blueberry balsamic glaze combines the deep, tangy notes of balsamic with the sweet burst from blueberries, with herby thyme, reduced and slathered over rich and earthy beets. It creates a well-balanced, acidic, fruity, and syrup-y glaze that's special enough for a dinner party, but delicious enough to make during the week!
Love the complex tang of balsamic? Enjoy this creamy balsamic vinaigrette on your salads, or make this balsamic chicken marinade.
Beets are roasted to perfection and then coated with a deliciously sticky glaze that's super easy to make. When those delicious plump blueberries are simmered with some balsamic vinegar and thyme, they become this sweet, syrupy glaze that is tasty enough to eat by the spoonful! Enjoy it over arugula as a light meal or an incredible side dish.
Ingredients needed
This blueberry balsamic glaze is a melding of bold flavors that come together for a perfectly balanced glaze. This is what you need:
- Beets:Ā Roasted beets become tender, with some sweet and earthy undertones.
- Olive oil:Ā To roast the beets.
- Salt and pepper:Ā Seasoned beets balance the flavors.
- Arugula:Ā Peppery arugula creates a crisp contrast.
- Pistachios:Ā For a nutty crunch.
- Blueberries:Ā Some fresh blueberries over top add a juicy, fruity burst.
- Blueberry balsamic glaze: Blueberries, balsamic vinegar, thyme, sea salt, and pepper come together to make a sticky and delicious glaze.
How to make blueberry balsamic glaze
It's as simple as roasting the beets, reducing the glaze ingredients, then throwing it all together. These are the instructions:
- Roast beets: Roast up some beets, turning halfway through.
- Make the glaze: Place blueberries, balsamic, thyme, salt, and pepper in a saucepan, bringing the mix to a boil. Let it continue to boil until the blueberries break down and the glaze thickens up.
- Mix and serve: Once the beets are cooked, add them to the pan with the glaze, stirring to coat. Serve on some arugula and sprinkle with pistachios ā delicious!
What to serve with blueberry balsamic glaze
This blueberry balsamic glaze is just perfect with salmon! Enjoy as a side dish next to honey glazed salmon or salmon with lemon dill sauce, or slather it on top for blueberry balsamic glazed salmon. The glaze is also a perfect accompaniment to savory proteins like baked pork chops or baked chicken breast.
Don't just keep it on savory dishes. If you skip the beets, the blueberry balsamic glaze also makes an interesting sauce over whole wheat pancakesĀ or for dessert over some lime coconut ice cream.
Recipe FAQs
Do you serve blueberry balsamic sauce over beets hot or cold?
It's totally up to you! They are delicious both hot out of the oven or left to cool to room temperature.
Can I make these ahead of time?
They're the ultimate entertaining side dish as there's no last-minute fiddling with this dish. You can roast the beets 2-3 days ahead of time then warm them up on the stovetop in the glaze before serving them. Just add an extra splash of water to the pan so the glaze doesn't dry out. So easy!
How do I store leftovers?
Keep the glazed beets separate from the arugula in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Blueberry Balsamic Glazed Beets Recipe
Ingredients
The Beets
- 3 lb beets (peeled and quartered (or cut smaller if the beets are large))
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- A generous pinch of salt and pepper
- Arugula, pistachios, and blueberries (to serve)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the beets on the baking sheet, drizzle with the oil, and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Roast in the oven until tender, about 45 minutes, turning halfway.3 lb beets, 2 teaspoons olive oil, A generous pinch of salt and pepper
- While the beets are roasting, make the blueberry balsamic glaze. Place the blueberries, balsamic, thyme, salt, and pepper in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Bring to pan to a boil and continue to boil rapidly until the blueberries break down and the glaze thickens, about 5 minutes.2 cups blueberries, Ā½ cup balsamic vinegar, 2 teaspoons thyme, 1 teaspoon sea salt, Ā½ teaspoon pepper
- When the beets are cooked, add them to the pan with the glaze. If the glaze begins to look dry, add a splash of water. Stir the beets to coat them in the glaze.
- Serve the blueberry balsamic glazed beets on some arugula and sprinkle with some pistachios and a handful of blueberries.
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more inspiration, check out all of our side dishes!
The recipe does not give instructions on how to prepare the beets before roasting.
The beets are peeled and quartered. š
I made this for Christmas dinner and it was a hit! I put the mixture on the bed of arugula when it was warm and it lilted the greens perfectly by the time we arrived at our parents house. I used a few golden beets for some color. I added some turbanado sugar to the balsamic. I also topped the salad off with some honey goat cheese. I highly recommend adding the goat cheese! This is an excellent dish! Thank you!
Goat cheese sounds like a delicious addition!!
Turned our tounges and teeth very dark blue! Be mindful of when you eat this, and who you dine with!,
Otherwise delicious.
I hope you weren’t on a first date when you ate this! Beets and blueberries are definitely potent!
Hi! I’m hoping to make this recipe sometime next week. Is there a particular meat that you think would go well in this salad?
I’m a sucker for some simple grilled chicken. Marinated in some olive oil, lemon, and rosemary would be really nice with these beets. š
These beets are delicious! I used fresh blueberries and they worked perfect. Thank you!
You’re so welcome!!
Yum?then you get to eat this thankyou
You’re so welcome!
Great ? find wheat @ dairy free lm not good with this pain so looking forward to this thank you ??
I hope you love this recipe as much as I do!
I feel a need to make this! Seems like goat cheese would be good on it too…
Oh heck ya! Goat cheese on this would be amazing. š
WOW! This is a truly gorgeous looking salad! It would make a great addition to a holiday table! I am Ukrainian and we eat A LOT of beets, and now I know another way to enjoy them. Thanks a lot! Saving the recipe to my MUST TRY Pinterest board!
Thank you so much! Beets and blueberries really are amazing together. I hope you like them as much as I do!
Wow, Kristen, this is just the kind of dish I love to make. Any time I can add blueberries to the menu, I’m all over it. And from BC? I’m in! Beautifully creative. Sharing!
I feel the same way! I just love blueberries and am always trying to find new ways to eat them all year long. š