Pantzarosalata is the Greek word for Beet Salad. Cook the vibrant beets and then toss them in a flavorful vinaigrette. Serve this cold salad topped with a Greek yogurt dressing and crunchy walnuts for a healthy side.
The beets can be cooked either by boiling them or by roasting them in the oven. I prefer the concentrated flavor of roasted beets. Feel free to boil them if you prefer that method. Just place the beets in a pot with cold water. Bring to a boil and cook until they are tender. About 45 minutes. Allow them to cool in their liquid.
Can I serve this salad without the yogurt?
Absolutely! Leave out the yogurt topping and serve the salad plain or with some skordalia. You can use my recipe right here.
Skordalia is a garlicky potato dip that tastes delicious with these beets and with almost everything else.
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How to make this Salad:
- Boil or Roast the beets until tender but not mushy.
- Allow the beets to cool and chop them to the desired size
- Make the vinaigrette and carefully toss the beets in it. Do this gently as to not mush the beets.
- Garnish with the yogurt and crunchy walnuts.
- This salad tastes best cold. Refrigerate the beets until they are chilled.
- You may also mix the yogurt into the beets instead of using it as a garnish on top. This will create a beautiful purplish-pink dish. It’s up to you!
- Serve it alongside any meal or eat the salad as a main vegetarian entree.
Watch The Video Tutorial Here:

Greek Beet & Yogurt Salad: Pantzarosalata
Pantzarosalata is the Greek word for Beet Salad. Cook the vibrant beets and then toss them in a flavorful vinaigrette. Serve this cold salad topped with a Greek yogurt dressing and crunchy walnuts for a healthy side.
Ingredients
- 6 beets, about600 grams, scrubbed, washed, and dried
- 100 grams walnuts, toasted and chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
The vinaigrette:
- • ¼ cup Balsamic vinegar
- • ¼ cup olive oil
- • 1 teaspoon honey
The yogurt dressing:
- • 1 cup Greek yogurt
- • 2 garlic cloves, grated
- • Salt and pepper, to taste
- • 1 teaspoon finely chopped mint
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 °F 220 °C.
- Individually wrap each beet with aluminum foil and place on a baking tray.
- Roast the beets until tender. About 45 - 1 hour depending on their size. Check with a knife by cutting through the center of the beet. They should be firm, not mushy.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
- Peel the beets while they are still warm and slice them into rounds or dice them. Transfer them into a large bowl.
- Combine all of the vinaigrette ingredients in a bowl and whisk together. Pour over the beets and carefully toss them. Season with salt and pepper. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour. This salad tastes best cold.
- Combine the yogurt dressing ingredients in a bowl and whisk together.
- Drizzle the yogurt on top of the beets and garnish with the walnuts.
- Note: The walnuts can be toasted in the oven at 350 degrees for 8 minutes or over medium heat in a pan.
Dimitra, I ABSOLUTELY loved the Roasted Beet Salad with walnuts and feta I found on You Tube, but your recipe for that wasn’t on your web page, just roasted beets with yogurt. I had to improvise the ingredients and steps, but it was a successful and tasty dish. Served these with barbecued chicken and your Horiatiki Salad and finished with your Melon and Feta Salad…thought for a moment I was back in Crete…thanks for your delicious recipes…
Tasty and beautiful! I made this for a shared video-dinner with 2 friends. I used vacuum packed cooked peeled beets which made it very easy. I cut recipe in half, using just 2 beets since it was just for myself, but it made a lot. I will make this for company when we are able to entertain again.
BTW this is the first recipe comment I have ever posted! Dimitra, I will check out your recipes from now on.
Thanks so much for your comment and for your support. I appreciate you!!!
This salad is fabulous !!!! Taking this dish to my next potluck !!!
Yes yes yes!!! I was looking for this recipe and you nailed it. We all loved it and I’ll be making this a lot. Thank you for sharing the recipe 😀