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    Home / Side Dish / South African Beetroot Salad

    South African Beetroot Salad

    Sweet-sour sliced beets in a glossy vinegar dressing with onion and parsley — the vivid pink salad that graces every braai table.

    ⏱ 15 minPrep time
    🔥 40 minCook time
    🍽 6Servings
    🏷 Side DishCategory
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    No South African braai spread looks complete without a bowl of beetroot salad, its vivid pink slices brightening the table beside the meat and pap. The South African version is unmistakable: cooked beets dressed in a sweet-sour vinegar syrup with slivers of raw onion. It is simple, striking, and utterly addictive, and it has been a braai staple for generations.

    Sweet-sour beets with a glossy, ruby dressing

    The dressing clings to the beet slices like syrup, balancing earthy sweetness with a sharp vinegar tang, while thin onion rings add bite and freshness. The salad is served cold, which makes it the perfect counterpoint to hot grilled meat. Make it a day ahead if you can, because the beets only get better as they steep in the dressing.

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    Step by stepInstructions

    1. Place the beets in a pot, cover with water, and boil for 35 to 40 minutes, until a knife slides in easily. Drain and cool slightly.
    2. Rub off the skins with your hands, then slice the beets into 1/4-inch rounds.
    3. Whisk the vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a bowl until the sugar dissolves.
    4. Add the beet slices and red onion and toss gently to coat.
    5. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes so the flavors mingle.
    6. Scatter with parsley just before serving, and give it one final toss.

    💡 Chef tips & storage

    Use ready-cooked vacuum-packed beets to save time, and slice them thick so they hold their shape in the dressing. Taste the dressing before pouring — it should be sweet with a good vinegar bite.

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    Recipe details

    Prep15 min
    Cook40 min
    Servings6
    CategorySide Dish
    PublishedAugust 17, 2026
    Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

    Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

    Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

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