Name: Greek Salad with Pickled Beet "Olives"
Yield: Serves 4 to 6
Ingredients: 1 cup distilled white vinegar or white wine vinegar; 1/2 cup water; 2 tablespoons granulated white sugar; 1/2 cup orange juice; 1 teaspoon whole brown mustard seed; 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns; 1 medium yellow beet, peeled; 3 garlic cloves, roughly diced; 1 red bell pepper, stemmed and seeded; 1 green bell pepper, stemmed and seeded; 1 large fennel bulb; 6 cups (one 8-ounce package) romaine heart leaves, washed and dried; 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1/2 cup low-sodium ricotta; 2 tablespoons chopped low-sodium sun-dried tomatoes; 1 tablespoon fennel seed; 1 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved; 1/4 cup diced seeded cucumber; Freshly ground black pepper

Image may contain Food Salad Plant Meal and Dish

Photo by Matt Armendariz

Effort Level: Plan Ahead

While olives come in a diverse range of colors, shapes, and flavors, they all have a common denominator: a salty, tangy brine, that perks up milder ingredients like fish, chicken, and greens.

So I challenged myself to find a low-sodium olive substitute for an olive-heavy dish. And I found the answer in pickled beets. Get ready to pucker up.

Recipe notes

Charred Vegetable Ragù

This sauce is slightly magical. The texture cloaks pasta much like a traditional meat sauce does, and the flavors are deep and rich, but it’s actually vegan!

Brussels Sprouts Latkes

Who says latkes have to be potato? Brussels bring a delicious cruciferousness.

Halloumi Lasagna

In this lasagna, soft layers of pasta and béchamel are interspersed with a rich tomato sauce laden with hearty Mediterranean vegetables.

Gigante Beans With Seaweed Salmoriglio

Salmoriglio is a Mediterranean sauce with herbs, garlic, and olive oil. In this version, kelp is used as the base of the sauce.

Sheet-Pan Sausage With Corn, Peach, and Cucumber Salad

This summery sheet-pan dinner celebrates the bounty of the season and couldn't be simpler to make. Chorizo plays nicely with the salad, thanks to its spice.

Charred Cabbage With Shrimp Paste Butter

A little shrimp paste goes a long, long, long way in this delicious vegetable dish.

Almost Cannoli Galettes

Cannoli and sfogliatelle require complex technique—making them is best left to the professionals. But a galette-inspired variation? That’s a snap to do at home.

Tater Tots Tossed in Date Butter

Put these out at a gathering, and we guarantee you’ll be hearing rave reviews for a long time.