Beet, Pear, and Almond Salad

Ali Segersten

There seems to be a divide when it comes to beets. Some people light up at the thought of their earthy sweetness, while others carry lingering memories of soft, canned slices from childhood. Fresh beets, though, are an entirely different experience.

When prepared well—roasted until tender, grated raw into salads, blended into smoothies, or juiced with fresh ginger and lemon—they become vibrant, grounding, and deeply nourishing.

Beets are especially supportive during therapeutic food plans like the Elimination Diet. Their deep ruby color comes from betalains, a class of antioxidant pigments that help buffer oxidative stress and support the body’s natural detoxification pathways. These compounds have been studied for their role in supporting phase II liver function, promoting healthy bile flow, and protecting cellular integrity.

Beets also provide fiber for binding and elimination, along with folate and minerals that support methylation and cardiovascular health. Emerging research suggests that beet phytonutrients may support colon health, healthy cholesterol levels, and nitric oxide production—helping improve circulation and oxygen delivery throughout the body.

Once you begin eating this way, your body starts craving what it has been missing.

This salad brings beets together with crisp pear for natural sweetness and digestive ease. It’s bright, grounding, and supportive, perfect for the early phases of resetting the body or simply adding more color and phytonutrients to your plate.

There are many ways to prepare beets:

If you own a pressure cooker you can cook the whole beet, peel and all, for about 25 minutes, then cool (the peel slips right off) and cut into cubes for this salad. This is probably the easiest way and the best way to preserve nutrients. Steaming is another option but you will need to trim the ends off of the beet first, then peel, then cut into cubes for steaming. This is the next best option of you do not own a pressure cooker. Cooking whole beets in the oven is another easy way to prepare them! Sometimes I thinly slice raw beets and roast them in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Recipe from our Meal Planner

Beet, Pear, and Almond Salad

Beet, Pear, and Almond Salad
Servings
6
Cook Time
20 minutes
Prep Time
20 minutes

The beets, pears, and almonds marry perfectly with the peppery, minty dressing in this salad. Serve for brunch or with a family dinner. I like to keep the beets, almonds, and lettuce in separate containers and serve over a few days. I cut the pears up when I am ready to serve and dress individual salads then. Serve with your favorite salad dressing or the Pepper Mint Dressing.

Ingredients
3 medium beets cooked, peeled, and diced
1 cups raw almonds lightly roasted
2 pears cored and diced
1 heads red leaf lettuce rinsed and torn into pieces
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. To cook the beets, you can either roast them whole in the oven and then peel and dice, or you can steam them. To steam them, first peel beets and trim the ends off. Place into a steamer basket in a medium-sized pot. Add about 2 inches of water. Cover and cook for about 20 minutes or until beets are fork tender. Drain off water and set aside to cool. 
  3. To roast the almonds place them in an 8x8-inch baking dish and place into preheated oven. Bake for about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and place onto a plate to cool. Chop on a cutting board with a large knife once cooled.
  4. Dice pears and set aside. Tear lettuce into pieces and rinse and spin dry. Assemble each salad by placing lettuce on each plate. Top with beets, pears, and almonds. Drizzle the Pepper Mint Dressing over each salad or use your favorite salad dressing. 

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Posted In
beets elimination diet Salads vegetable dishes phase 3 almonds paleo pears vegetables recipe
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About the Author

Alissa Segersten, MS, CN

Alissa Segersten, MS, CN, is the founder of Nourishing Meals®, an online meal-planning membership with over 2000 nourishing recipes and tools to support dietary change and better health. As a functional nutritionist, professional recipe developer, and author of The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook, Nourishing Meals, and co-author of The Elimination Diet, she helps people overcome health challenges through food. A mother of five, Alissa understands the importance of creating nutrient-dense meals for the whole family. Rooted in science and deep nourishment, her work makes healthy eating accessible, empowering thousands to transform their well-being through food.

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