True North Kitchen

  • Nordic/Scandinavian Recipes
  • Nordic & Scandinavian Recipes Index
  • About Me
  • Contact/Work with Me
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Spring
  • Recipe Index
  • Nordic Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Spring
    • Recipe Index
    • Nordic Recipes
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Salad Recipes

    Swedish Beet Salad (Rödbetssallad)

    Published: Aug 30, 2022 · Modified: Feb 17, 2025 by Kristi · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Swedish Beet Salad (Rödbetssallad) is delightfully simple and incredibly delicious. Pickled beets (homemade or store-bought) are cubed and tossed with crisp apples in a creamy blend of mayonnaise, sour cream, and horseradish. A sprinkle of fresh parsley adds brightness, and just like that, you have a vibrant, flavorful salad that’s as easy to make as it is beautiful.

    With its stunning pink hue, this salad adds a pop of color to any table, whether served as part of a traditional Swedish smörgåsbord, alongside meat dishes, or simply enjoyed on its own. Best of all? It takes just a few minutes to whip together! Keep reading for step-by-step instructions on how to make this classic Nordic favorite.

    Swedish Beet Salad in a bowl next to a spoon and towel.

    In Sweden, rödbetssallad is a staple during the Christmas season, often served as part of a Julbord (traditional Swedish Christmas buffet) alongside dishes like Swedish Meatballs, ham, and pickled herring. It’s also a common topping for Swedish open-faced sandwiches (smörgåsar). While it’s especially popular in winter, many Swedes enjoy it year-round as a fresh, tangy side dish for everyday meals.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How to Make Swedish Beet Salad (Rödbetssallad)
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • What to Serve with Swedish Beet Salad
    • Related Recipes
    • Recipe

    Ingredients

    Labeled ingredients for Swedish Beet Salad.
    • Pickled beets - feel free to make your own (start with my recipe for Spicy Quick Pickled Beets if you like) or use store bought pickled beets. Both work great in this recipe.
    • Apples - are traditional, but I've left them as an optional ingredient. They add a pleasing crunch and a bit of tart sweetness but you can certainly make the salad with just pickled beets if you prefer.
    • Mayonnaise and sour cream or creme fraiche - form the creamy base of this recipe.
    • Prepared horseradish - lends a bit of tang and spice, but I've also listed it as optional as you can certainly choose not to include it.
    • Fresh parsley - adds a bit of welcome herby freshness and a pop of green color which is lovely with the pink salad.

    See the recipe card below for exact amounts and detailed instructions.

    How to Make Swedish Beet Salad (Rödbetssallad)

    1. Whisk the mayonnaise, sour cream and horseradish (if using) together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
    2. If you want to include the apple, cut it in half and reserve one of the halves for another use. Core and peel the remaining half and dice into ½ inch cubes.
    3. Drain the beets and reserve the pickling juices. Cut the beets in ½ inch cubes.
    4. Fold the beets, apples and chopped parsley into the mayonnaise mixture. Add 1-3 tablespoons of the reserved pickling juices until you achieve a bright pink color. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve!

    Expert Tips

    Be sure to reserve the pickling juice and add it to the salad at the end, one tablespoon at a time, until you achieve a bright pink hue. Without adding the pickling juice, your salad will be very pale in color.

    Recipe FAQs

    Can I make Swedish Beet Salad in advance?

    Yes! The salad keeps well tightly covered in the refrigerator for a couple of days.

    What should I serve with this salad?

    It goes well as a side dish for nearly anything (my mind naturally drifts to Swedish meatballs and salmon) and is a cheerful addition to a smörgåsbord table, particularly at the holidays. It also makes a nice topping for an open face sandwich (smörgås or smørrebrød). It's traditional to serve this creamy beet salad on rye bread with leftover Swedish meatballs (it sounds odd, I know, but is is so delicious). For the sandwich pictured below, I used buttered rye bread for the base and toped it with lettuce, Swedish Beet Salad, capers and a hard boiled egg.

    What to Serve with Swedish Beet Salad

    It goes well as a side dish for nearly anything (my mind naturally drifts to Swedish meatballs and salmon) and is a cheerful addition to a smörgåsbord table, particularly at the holidays. It also makes a nice topping for an open face sandwich (smörgås or smørrebrød). It's traditional to serve this creamy beet salad on rye bread with leftover Swedish meatballs (it sounds odd, I know, but is is so delicious). For the sandwich pictured below, I used buttered rye bread for the base and toped it with lettuce, Swedish Beet Salad, capers and a hard boiled egg.

    Lettuce, Swedish Beet Salad, hard boiled egg and dill on rye bread.

    Related Recipes

    Looking for more Nordic-inspired recipes for beets? I've got you covered:

    • Red cabbage slaw in a bowl with a spoon on a wooden surface.
      Nordic Red Cabbage Slaw with Carrots and Beets
    • Roasted beet salad on a platter next to a napkin.
      Roasted Beet Salad with Arugula, Rye and Creamy Herbed Skyr Sauce
    • A bowl of beet hummus next to flatbread and cucumbers
      Roasted Beet Hummus
    • An open sandwich with beet and celery root cakes and creamy sauce on a plate
      Beet and Celery Root Cake Smørrebrød with Herbed Skyr Sauce

    If you tried this Swedish Beet Salad (Rödbetssallad) recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments below. I love hearing from you!

    Recipe

    Swedish Beet Salad in a bowl with a spoon.

    Swedish Beet Salad (Rödbetssallad)

    A classic Swedish salad featuring pickled beets, crisp apples and a zippy creamy dressing.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: salads, side dishes
    Cuisine: Nordic, Nordic Scandinavian, Swedish
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 8 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 193kcal
    Author: Kristi

    Ingredients

    • 12-15 ounces pickled beets homemade, try my recipe for quick pickled beets here OR storebought, drained and diced into ½ inch cubes (reserve the pickling juices)
    • Half of a Granny Smith apple peeled, cored and diced into ½ inch cubes, optional
    • ⅓ cup prepared mayonnaise
    • ⅓ cup creme fraiche or sour cream
    • 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish optional
    • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

    Instructions

    • Whisk the mayonnaise, creme fraiche and horseradish (if using) together in a medium bowl. Gently fold in beets, apple and parsley. Add 1-3 tablespoons of the beet pickling juice until the salad has a lovely pink hue. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

    Notes

    Swedish Beet Salad will keep for up to 3 days tightly covered in the refrigerator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 301mg | Potassium: 171mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 320IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @TrueNorthKitchen or tag #truenorthkitchen!

    More Nordic/Scandinavian Salad Recipes

    • Close up of a bowl of Creamy Tarragon Chicken Salad.
      Creamy Tarragon Chicken Salad
    • Close up of Easy Quick Pickled Mushrooms in a white bowl.
      Easy Quick Pickled Mushrooms
    • Featured image for Kale and Butternut Squash Salad.
      Kale and Butternut Squash Salad
    • Midsummer Salad with greens, salmon, eggs and potatoes in a wreath shape on a white plate.
      Midsummer Smoked Salmon Salad

    Comments

    1. Brita says

      November 15, 2023 at 8:54 pm

      5 stars
      This was delicious! We served it with your quick Swedish pickles and meatballs (inspired by a sandwich we had with meatballs, pickles, and beet salad when we were in Sweden). Thanks for a yummy and easy recipe!

      Reply
      • Kristi says

        November 16, 2023 at 11:19 am

        Thanks for your comment, Brita! So glad you enjoyed it.

        Kristi

        Reply
    5 from 1 vote

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Welcome!

    Hi, I'm Kristi! Welcome to my cozy Nordic kitchen!

    More about me

    Popular Posts

    • Featured image for Soft and Tender Buttermilk Bread.
      Soft and Tender Buttermilk Bread
    • Close up of Soft Rye Dinner Rolls.
      Soft Rye Dinner Rolls
    • Kavring bread sliced on a wooden cutting board.
      Kavring (The Easiest Swedish Rye Bread)
    • Swedish semla bun closeup.
      Easy Swedish Semla (Traditional Lenten Buns)
    • Close up of cardamom bun.
      Traditional Swedish Cardamom Buns (Kardemummabullar)
    • Close up of Easy Swedish Crispbread (Knäckebröd) on a plate.
      Easy Swedish Crispbread (Knäckebröd)

    Holiday Posts

    • Slices of Swedish Limpa Bread
      Swedish Limpa Bread
    • A close up of a stack of Swedish Ginger Cookies (Pepparkakor).
      Swedish Ginger Cookies (Pepparkakor)
    • Vegetarian meatballs and cream sauce in a pan
      Really Good Vegetarian Swedish Meatballs
    • Close up of a pile of krumkaker.
      Krumkake (Traditional Norwegian Waffle Cookies)
    • Close up of 3 Swedish pancakes on a plate topped with lingonberries.
      Traditional Swedish Pancakes (Pannkakor) with Lingonberries
    • Featured image for Swedish Meatballs with Gravy.
      Easy Swedish Meatballs with Gravy (Köttbullar)

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About
    Work with Me
    Contact
    Disclosure and Privacy Policy
    Accessibility Statement

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 True North Kitchen

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.