Beet Salad With Cornbread Croutons And Country Ham

Name: Beet Salad With Cornbread Croutons And Country Ham
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 3/4 cup water; 6 tablespoons butter, melted; 6 large fresh thyme sprigs; 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt; 1 1/2 teaspoons cracked black pepper; 1 bay leaf; 8 1 1/2-inch-diameter baby beets (preferably assorted colors), trimmed; 1 cup medium-grind cornmeal; 1/3 cup White Lily all purpose flour or cake flour; 11/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon baking soda; 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter, divided; 1 cup buttermilk; 1 large egg; Peel from 1 orange (orange part only), cut into thin 2-inch-long strips; Peel from 1 lemon (yellow part only), cut into thin 2-inch-long strips; 1/2 cup fresh orange juice; 1/2 cup fresh grapefruit juice; 2 tablespoons sorghum syrup* or honey; 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice; 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard; 6 tablespoons peanut oil; 3 small sweet onions (such as Vidalia or Maui; about 1 pound), cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices; Olive oil; Coarse kosher salt; Nonstick vegetable oil spray; 3 ounces very thinly sliced country ham or prosciutto; 4 teaspoons minced plus 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley; Fleur de sel**

Bake this irresistible Beet Salad With Cornbread Croutons And Country Ham at home. Made with water, butter, thyme and coarse kosher salt. Easy step-by-s…

This Beet Salad With Cornbread Croutons And Country Ham relies on simple, everyday ingredients such as water, butter, melted, large fresh thyme sprigs and coarse kosher salt. It comes together quickly and makes 4 servings, at about 1329 kcal each. The step-by-step instructions below are written to be easy to follow, even on a busy day.

It works as a light main on its own or as a starter alongside crusty bread, and it's just as good for a cozy night in as it is for feeding a crowd. Leftovers keep well, so it's a smart choice for meal prep too.

Updated Jun 30, 2026

Serves 4 Salads

Servings: persons

3/4 cup water
6 tablespoons butter, melted
6 large fresh thyme sprigs
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
1 bay leaf
8 1 1/2-inch-diameter baby beets (preferably assorted colors), trimmed
1 cup medium-grind cornmeal
1/3 cup White Lily all purpose flour or cake flour
11/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter, divided
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
Peel from 1 orange (orange part only), cut into thin 2-inch-long strips
Peel from 1 lemon (yellow part only), cut into thin 2-inch-long strips
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup fresh grapefruit juice
2 tablespoons sorghum syrup* or honey
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
6 tablespoons peanut oil
3 small sweet onions (such as Vidalia or Maui; about 1 pound), cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices
Olive oil
Coarse kosher salt
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
3 ounces very thinly sliced country ham or prosciutto
4 teaspoons minced plus 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
Fleur de sel**
Cracked black peppercorns
1 5-ounce log soft fresh goat cheese, crumbled
Aged balsamic vinegar

1
Preheat oven to 350u00b0F. Mix first 6 ingredients in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Add beets and toss to coat. Cover with foil and roast until beets are tender, about 45 minutes. Cool; peel.
2
Place 9- or 10-inch-diameter cast-iron skillet in oven; preheat to 400u00b0F. Whisk first 5 ingredients in medium bowl. Melt 4 tablespoons butter. Whisk melted butter, buttermilk, and egg in another medium bowl. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients; whisk batter to blend. Place 2 tablespoons butter in hot skillet; swirl to coat. Add batter. Bake until top is golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Cool in skillet. DO AHEAD:
3
Cover; store at room temperature.
4
Add enough water to small saucepan to measure 11/2 inches; bring to boil. Add orange peel. Blanch 1 minute; drain. Repeat blanching procedure with lemon peel; reserve lemon peel for serving. Return orange peel to same pan and add orange juice, grapefruit juice, and sorghum syrup. Bring to boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until reduced to generous 1/3 cup, about 20 minutes. Whisk lemon juice and mustard in medium bowl; whisk in oil. Whisk in orange-grapefruit reduction. Season vinaigrette with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD:
5
Let stand at room temperature.
6
Preheat broiler. Line small baking sheet with foil. Place onion slices with rings intact on sheet. Brush with oil; sprinkle with coarse salt. Broil onions until browned, watching closely to prevent burning, about 10 minutes. Turn and broil until browned, about 5 minutes longer.
7
Reduce oven temperature to 375u00b0F. Cut cornbread into 1/2-inch cubes. Spray rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Spread cornbread in even layer on prepared sheet. Toast until golden brown around edges, turning occasionally, about 35 minutes.
8
Reduce oven temperature to 350u00b0F. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange ham in single layer on prepared baking sheet. Top with another sheet of parchment paper, then another rimmed baking sheet to press ham. Roast until ham is crisp, 10 to 20 minutes, depending on thickness of ham. Remove top baking sheet and parchment paper. Cool. Break ham into bite-size pieces.
9
Whisk 4 teaspoons minced parsley into vinaigrette. Mix in reserved lemon peel. Quarter beets. Toss with some of vinaigrette (if using assorted colors, toss in separate bowls). Sprinkle with fleur de sel and cracked black pepper. Separate onion rings. Divide rings among plates in single layer. Arrange beets in and around onion rings. Sprinkle goat cheese over. Scatter ham and croutons over. Sprinkle fleur de sel and 1 tablespoon chopped parsley over. Drizzle with some of remaining vinaigrette and aged balsamic vinegar.
10
**

1329

kcal

Calories

108

Fat

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Avoid overcrowding the pan — cook in batches if needed for the best texture.
Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving so the flavors settle.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Swap the honey for maple syrup or agave for a slightly different but equally rich sweetness.
Use a neutral oil or a plant-based spread in place of butter for a dairy-free version.
A good 1:1 gluten-free flour blend works well if you need a gluten-free version.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

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Frequently Asked Questions

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 33 ingredients. The key ingredients include: 3/4 cup water, 6 tablespoons butter, melted, 6 large fresh thyme sprigs, 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt, and more.

Yes, Beet Salad With Cornbread Croutons And Country Ham falls under the Salads category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Keep refrigerated in an airtight container and enjoy within 1–2 days for the best freshness. Best served cold — no reheating needed.

Quick Info

Servings
4 servings
Calories
1329 kcal
Category
Salads

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