Shadow Play Beets Arugula (Printable)

Layered beets, arugula, and dark berries combine for a visually striking and fresh 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 with squid ink for color)

→ Dressing

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

→ Garnish

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

# Directions:

01 - Using a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife, thinly slice both golden and red beets.
02 - On a large platter, layer the beet slices in a semi-overlapping fashion, alternating colors for visual contrast.
03 - Fan the watermelon radish slices over the beets and scatter baby arugula on top.
04 - Place blackberries and halved black olives behind or beneath the bright veggies to create a silhouette effect.
05 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper. Drizzle the dressing evenly over the layered vegetables.
06 - Spoon small dollops of black tahini around the dish and use the back of a spoon to slightly smear for artistic shadows.
07 - Top with microgreens and edible flowers if desired, adding further depth and color contrast.
08 - Present immediately as a sophisticated starter or a light salad.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks restaurant-quality but comes together in thirty minutes, which means you can impress without the stress.
  • The combination of textures and colors feels indulgent, yet it's vegetarian and surprisingly light to eat.
  • Every element serves a purpose—no filler, just layers of flavor that unfold as you taste through the plate.
02 -
  • Slice everything as thin as you can manage—beets especially, because that's what lets the composition breathe and the light play across them.
  • Don't dress the plate too far in advance; the beets will gradually release their liquid and start to look tired rather than vibrant.
03 -
  • If your beets stain your hands, lemon juice and salt rubbed together will fade the color faster than anything else.
  • The black tahini smear is easier to execute if your spoon is slightly warm; dip it in hot water and dry it quickly before each stroke.
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