Shadow Play beet layers (Printable)

Layers of golden and red beets paired with blackberries and olives for a vivid starter.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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)

# How To Make It:

01 - Thinly slice golden and red beets using a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife.
02 - Arrange beet slices on a large platter in a semi-overlapping pattern, alternating golden and red colors for contrast.
03 - Fan watermelon radish slices over beets, then scatter baby arugula evenly.
04 - Position blackberries and black olives strategically beneath or behind brighter ingredients to create shadow silhouettes.
05 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
06 - Drizzle the dressing evenly over the assembled vegetables.
07 - Spoon small dollops of black tahini around the plate and smear lightly with the back of a spoon for an artistic shadow effect.
08 - Top with microgreens and edible flowers if desired. Serve immediately as a starter or light salad.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It looks like edible art but comes together in thirty minutes with zero cooking stress.
  • Raw vegetables mean you taste every ingredient at its brightest, and the colors won't fade or soften.
  • Vegetarian and gluten-free without feeling like a compromise, just a celebration of what's naturally good.
02 -
  • Beets will bleed into each other if you let them sit dressed too long, so dressing just before serving is non-negotiable.
  • A mandoline changes everything for this dish, but handle it with respect because it respects speed over caution.
  • Black tahini is hard to find, so regular tahini mixed with a tiny bit of squid ink works, though purists will tell you it's different.
03 -
  • Chill your plate in the freezer for five minutes before plating, it keeps vegetables crisp and the colors more vibrant.
  • If beets stain your fingers while slicing, wear disposable gloves, it saves the drama for the plate where it belongs.
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