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Moroccan Beet Salad

Updated June 4, 2025 / By Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

A simple, herby, orange-dressed Moroccan beet salad that can be made up to five days ahead of time, and it’s vegan, too? It sounds too good to be true, but this salad recipe is the real deal, folks!
Moroccan beet salad with red onions and fresh herbs on a white platter with a spoon

A Make-Ahead Salad that Stays Fresh and Vibrant? YUP.

Beets aren’t just another pretty face—although their striking magenta color is a big bonus—they’re also a kitchen workhorse. This simple beet salad will save the day this holiday season, because you can make it up to FIVE days ahead. Oh yes, that’s right! You’ll have time to make it, forget that you made it and then remember again and be thrilled that you were smart enough to work so far ahead. Drizzled with a citrusy, cumin-spiced Moroccan dressing and paired with the purple sharpness of raw onions, it’s a bright and vibrant salad that will perk up just about any meal. Winter salads can be just as exciting as summer salads, and this Moroccan red beet salad recipe proves it!

cooked red beets cubed and in a large glass bowl

3 Classic Moroccan Flavors that Make this Beet Salad Dressing Sing

When whisked together with olive and a bit of salt to make a simple salad dressing, these three familiar ingredients take on an exotic, Moroccan flair:

  1. Cumin. A member of the parsley family, cumin’s warm, pungent flavor is a backbone of Moroccan cuisine and it is a defining flavor of our beet salad, too.
  2. Mint! Arguably one of Morocco’s most well-known culinary delights is mint tea—the famous open-air markets of Marrakesh brim with vendors selling this warm, sweet refreshment that celebrates fresh mint.
  3. Orange! Orange juice and orange zest add sweetness and a bit of acid—the perfect foil for beets earthy sweetness.
moroccan salad dressing in a bowl with a spoon
red onions, red beets, mint, cilantro and Moroccan salad dressing in a large glass bowl
moroccan beet salad in a large glass bowl
moroccan beet salad on a white platter with fresh mint and cilantro

BTW, Are Beets Healthy?

You can basically see the health benefits of beetroot in their brilliant royal-purple hue, right? Any vegetable that can stain your clothes (or hands—watch out!) like this almost guaranteed to be super, super healthy. Not only does there seem to be a connection between beet consumption and lower blood pressure, they’re a uniquely good source of antioxidants. Beets are high in fiber, folic acid and potassium, too. In other words—eat your beets! P.S. don’t just toss those beet greens! They’re actually a superfood in their own right—full of calcium, iron, vitamins and antioxidants, too. Rinse them well—they have a tendency to be a bit gritty—and sauté with a little olive oil and garlic for an easy, tasty, healthy side dish.

Moroccan beet salad on a white platter with fresh cilantro and fresh mint
moroccan beet salad on a white platter with fresh herbs

Tools You’ll Need:

4 Winter Salad Recipes to Brighten These Short Days

Four salad recipes sure to liven up heavy wintertime meals:

Try This Make-Ahead Salad—Your Sanity Will Thank You.

Actually enjoying the holidays—not just surviving—is all about planning ahead, so that when the “big” moments come, you’re able to relax and enjoy them (in other words, you’re not stuck in the kitchen). We hope this salad saves you some time, and wins you some hard-earned praise this season, too! Let us know how it goes over! Snap a photo of your Moroccan beet salad, and maybe even a video of the beautiful people you share it with. Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy eating!

Fall is Here: 5 Days of Fall Comfort Food!

FREE EMAIL BONUS: Fall dishes to ease into cooler days.

Moroccan beet salad with red onions and fresh herbs on a white platter with a spoon

Moroccan Beet Salad Recipe

  • Serves:  6
  • Prep Time:  15 min
  • Cook Time:  40 min
  • Calories:  67

Description

A simple, herby, orange-dressed Moroccan beet salad that can be made up to five days ahead of time, and it’s vegan, too? It sounds too good to be true, but this salad recipe is the real deal, folks!
Print Recipe

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    Ingredients

    • 5 medium red beets, trimmed, washed
    • 2 teaspoons orange zest (from 1 orange)
    • ½ cup fresh orange juice (from 2 oranges)
    • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ small red onion, halved and cut into ¼-inch-thick slices
    • ¼ cup packed fresh mint leaves, plus more for serving
    • ¼ cup minced fresh cilantro leaves, plus more for serving
    • Flaky salt, for serving (optional)

    Method

    1. Preheat the oven to 400°F with a rack in the center position.

    2. Place each beet on a square of tin-foil large enough to cover completely. Wrap the foil around the beet loosely, making sure the opening of the foil is sealed. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and roast until tender, about 40 to 50 minutes.

    3. Remove the beets from the oven, let rest until cool enough to handle. Using a paper towel, gently rub the skins off, then discard. Cut beets into 2-inch pieces.

    4. Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine the orange zest, orange juice, olive oil, cumin, and kosher salt. 

    5. Add the beets, onion, mint, and cilantro, to the bowl and toss until the beets are evenly coated. 

    6. Serve family style sprinkled flaky salt, if using, with more mint and cilantro if desired.

    Nutrition Info

    • Per Serving
    • Amount
    • Calories 67
    • Protein 2 g
    • Carbohydrates 10 g
    • Total Fat 3 g
    • Dietary Fiber 2 g
    • Cholesterol 0 mg
    • Sodium 443 mg
    • Total Sugars 6 g

    Moroccan Beet Salad

    Questions & Reviews

    Rated 4.8 stars by 16 readers

    or
    • Liza

      How much should beets cook9

      Hi Liza, instructions on how to cook the beets are included. Hope you enjoy!

    • Jeffrey

      I purchased the ingredients to make this salad, but am unable to print it from my cellphone. Can you email me recipe? Thank you.

      Hi Jeffrey, there is a "save recipe" option at the top of the post that allows you to email it to yourself. Hope this helps!

    • Marisa

      Can I substitute lemon juice and lemon zest for the orange in the recipe Maroccan beet salad?

      We think it will still turn out good, hope you enjoy!

    • Ramsey

      Woud you recommend adding Feta? Do you think it would go?

      Sure, it would be delicious!

    • Sid

      My partner can’t eat raw onion. What could I substitute?

      You could use shallots if they can eat that, otherwise you can just leave the onion out. Hope you enjoy!

    • Diane

      Are you using cumin seeds or ground cumin?

      ground cumin, hope you enjoy Diane!

    • Tom

      What do you mean by Mint Leaves Packed and cilantro Packed

      It means push it down firmly until the cup is full.

    • Dolores

      What dressing to use on Moroccan Beet salad

      The dressing ingredients are included in the ingredient list and method. Hope you enjoy!

    • Mary

      My husband and I love beets. Can I use canned beets? Sorry if you already answered this question, I didn't see if it was posted already.

      Sure! Hope you enjoy Mary!

    • Catherine

      I need to make tis\\his for a large group although not for all of them. There will be other salads but I think I would like to make it for at least 12 people. What to do, what to do??

      We would double it. Hope you enjoy Catherine!

    • Amber

      5-star rating

      Really excellent! We got a lot of beets from our CSA and are learning different ways to prepare them and this has been our favorite so far! I was really wowed by how well orange pairs with beets; its such a dynamite combo.

      Thanks Amber! So glad you loved it!

    • Laura

      5-star rating

      Amazing! I threw in tomatoes from a farm because I got too many of them. The orange was perfect I there!!! I ran out for more beets to make again! It was requested by everyone that ate them! Thank you!

      YAY! We are so glad everyone loved it!

    • Jonathan

      5-star rating

      A Knockout Salad!!! I love eating chunky pieces of beet, especially with this fabulous dressing!!! Thank you!!!

      Thanks Jonathan, we are so glad you loved it! We can't get enough of this one when we make it!

    • Jonathan

      5-star rating

      A Knockout Salad!!! Thank you so much. I love eating chunky pieces of beet with this fabulous dressing!!

      So glad you loved it!

    • Sheila

      5-star rating


      I wrap my beets really tight in foil and place in slow cooker for 4 hours on high . The skins just slip right off when cool
      Fabulous recipe, thank you

      Glad you loved it!

    • Melisende

      3-star rating

      If you like cumin then you'll like this dish. It's not that the recipe is faulty or anything, but it was not a flavour profile I liked at all. The cumin felt overpowering and there was too much raw onion. Couldn't taste too much of the orange because the other flavours overshadow it. Basically, I like my beets with a sweet sour dressing. The salad is sitting in my fridge and I'm not enjoying it, so may end up throwing it out.

    • Arlene

      5-star rating

      This was amazing! A 10+

      Thanks Arlene!

    • Richard

      5-star rating

      I made this for four people with beets I grew in the garden and it was a big hit!

      That's so wonderful. We are so happy you loved it Richard!

    • Brianna

      5-star rating

      It came out yum so good easy recipe

      Thanks Brianna, glad you liked it!

    • Abi

      4-star rating

      Great recipe. Ended up adding some lemon juice which made it perfect. Give it a try!

      Thanks Abi, glad you enjoyed it!