Photography Credit: Elise Bauer

Winter in California is the season for peppery arugula. Several years ago my parents planted some arugula in their garden and for years the arugula would re-seed itself, taking over the entire garden with a flourish, starting in December.

While mature arugula can be almost too intense to eat raw (best for left for cooking), young baby arugula is perfect for salads, and can easily be found in markets these days.

In this recipe the goat cheese mellows the pepperiness of the arugula, while the beets offer a sweet contrast to the arugula’s bitter notes. Chopped toasted walnuts add a meaty crunch to the salad.