LKA Beet, Goat Cheese & Arugula Salad | A Fresh & Vibrant Spring Salad
A Fresh & Vibrant Spring Salad That Builds Confidence, Sensory Awareness, and Understanding of Heat
Kids in the Kitchen is our blog series, where in collaboration with Click and Grow, we’re sharing Little Kitchen Academy recipes and tips for getting kids interested in food and involved in the kitchen.
This fresh & vibrant spring salad brings together earthy roasted beets, creamy goat cheese, and fresh arugula for a dish that feels both elevated and approachable. It’s a beautiful example of how simple ingredients can transform through thoughtful preparation and the use of heat.
In our Montessori-inspired environment, recipes like this allow children to experience how flavors, textures, and aromas evolve.
A Fresh & Vibrant Spring Salad
Why This Recipe Matters
This vibrant salad offers meaningful learning opportunities, including:
- Practicing safe use of heat through roasting
- Observing how ingredients transform in the oven
- Developing sensory awareness through contrasting textures and flavors
- Strengthening independence and confidence in the kitchen
At home, recipes like this can help children feel more connected to what they eat, especially when they’ve played a role in preparing the meal.
Prep time: 45 minutes
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 1 large purple beet (200 g), peeled and medium diced
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 sprig fresh thyme, chopped
- Handful salad greens
- Handful arugula
- 30 g goat cheese
- 1 garlic clove
- Pinch salt
- 1 tbsp sunflower seeds
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Splash balsamic vinegar
- Drizzle honey
Instructions
- Preheat & Prepare for Cooking with Heat
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Involve your child in turning on the oven and talking through safety. Understanding heat builds respect, not fear, when introduced with guidance.
2. Season & Roast the Beets
Toss the diced beets with olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme. Place on a lined baking tray and roast for 20-30 minutes until tender. Set aside to cool.
This is a powerful moment to observe transformation. Ask your child how the beets change in color, smell, and texture as they cook.
💡 At Little Kitchen Academy, students harvest fresh basil directly from our Click & Grow Smart Gardens. This hands-on step connects children to where their food comes from, turning ingredients into something they’ve watched grow.
- Prepare the Garlic & Goat Cheese
Roughly chop the garlic and mash it using a mortar and pestle with a pinch of salt. Once broken down, mix into the goat cheese.
Using a mortar and pestle is a great controlled, hands-on activity that builds strength, coordination, and focus. It also introduces children to how flavors can be combined and enhanced.
- Wash & Plate the Greens
Wash the salad greens and arugula. Place them on a plate as your base.
Let your child gently handle and arrange the greens. This builds care, intention, and pride in presentation.
💡 Ingredient Spotlight: Arugula
Arugula grown in Click & Grow Smart Gardens give children the opportunity to harvest, taste, and plate something they’ve grown themselves, deepening their connection to food.
- Assemble the Salad
Top the greens with roasted beets, sunflower seeds, and goat cheese.
- Finish & Serve
Drizzle olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and honey over the salad. Serve and enjoy!
Invite your child to taste before and after dressing the salad. This helps them understand how small additions can completely change flavor.
Enjoy!
This recipe highlights the beauty of contrast: warm and cool, soft and crisp, savory and sweet. More importantly, it shows children how thoughtful preparation and technique can transform simple ingredients into something truly special.
At Little Kitchen Academy, these are the moments that build confidence, independence, and a lifelong relationship with food.