The Perfect Sour Cream Beet Salad (A Vibrant Summer Side Dish)

I still remember the first time I truly enjoyed beets. After years of turning my nose up at these vibrant root vegetables, a friend served me a chilled beet salad at a summer gathering that completely changed my perspective. The earthy sweetness of the roasted beets was perfectly balanced by the tangy sour cream dressing, creating a harmony of flavors I couldn’t resist. This sour cream beet salad recipe is inspired by that transformative dish, and I’m confident it might just convert the beet skeptics in your life too. The brilliant ruby color alone makes it a stunning addition to any table, but it’s the complex flavors that will keep everyone coming back for seconds.

Why You’ll Love This Sour Cream Beet Salad

• Perfect balance of flavors – The natural sweetness of roasted beets meets the tangy zip of sour cream and balsamic vinegar
• Nutritional powerhouse – Enjoy a side dish packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
• Make-ahead friendly – Prepare components in advance for easy entertaining
• Visually stunning – Creates a beautiful pop of color on any plate or buffet table
• Versatile – Works as a side dish, light lunch, or base for a heartier salad

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Fresh beets – Provide the earthy-sweet foundation and vibrant color for this salad
• Sour cream – This creates a creamy, tangy base for the dressing that balances the sweetness of the beets
• White onion – Adds a sharp, pungent contrast that cuts through the richness of the sour cream
• Salt – Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness of the beets
• Sugar – Helps bridge the flavor gap between the sweet beets and tangy dressing
• Balsamic vinegar – Contributes acidity, depth, and complexity to the dressing

Best Beet Varieties for This Salad

1. Boldor Beets – Pale golden color with a mild flavor, excellent for roasting as they retain moisture well
2. Cylindra Beets – Shaped like fat carrots, extremely sweet with a soft texture (sometimes sold as “Butter Slicer”)
3. Candy Cane Beets – Striking red and white stripes when cut open, sweet mild flavor, and less likely to stain
4. Golden Beets – Bright yellow color with a mild, less earthy taste than red varieties

What to Look For When Shopping

• The taproot (the pointy end) should be intact and firm
• Select beets that are medium in size – too small and they’re difficult to work with, too large and they may be woody
• Choose beets that feel heavy for their size, indicating freshness and high moisture content
• Look for firm, smooth skin without blemishes or soft spots
• Fresh-looking greens (if attached) indicate recently harvested beets

How to Prepare Beets

Beets must be cooked before they are eaten. They can be boiled, steamed, or roasted. Roasting is extremely easy, and it can be done in the oven.

You may wonder how you will get the skin off the beets. When the beets are cooked the skin simply slips off.

Once you get the beets cooked you can shred, dice, or even slice them. I love to add them to salads.

How to Make Sour Cream Beet Salad

1. If beets have tops, slice off the tops as closely to the beet as possible. Wash beets thoroughly.
2. Tightly wrap each beet in foil.
3. Place foil-wrapped beets on a baking sheet.
4. Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 50 minutes or until tender.
   

   

5. When beets are cool enough to handle, hold beets with a paper towel and push off the skins.
6. In a medium-sized bowl, combine sour cream, onion, salt, sugar, and balsamic vinegar.
   

   

7. Dice beets and stir into the sour cream dressing.

Love Beets? Try these recipes!

• Marinated Beet Salad
• Polish Beet Salad
• Purple Eggs (Beet Dyed Eggs)

Popular Salad Side Dishes

• Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe
• Broccoli Salad Recipe
• Carrot and Raisin Salad Recipe
• Copper Penny Carrots
• Grape Walnut Salad
• Homemade Potato Salad
• Kale Brussel Sprout Salad
• Lime Green Jello Salad
• Pea Salad
• Sauerkraut Salad Recipe

Check out more of my easy salad recipes and the best vegetable side dish recipes here on CopyKat!