In and of itself, grilled cheese is a perfect meal. It combines the three food groups: bread, butter and cheese. But because I added *bacon* in the Bacon Jam and Cheddar Grilled Cheese Sandwich, I thought I would lighten up the meal with a salad. This Beet and Cucumber Salad is simple and straightforward - you don't even have to make a vinaigrette! The crispy crunch from the cucumber and the velvety, sweet beets are a great accompaniment to the slightly spicy baby arugula. Don't be deceived - the recipe is very simple, but the salad turned out to be tasty and balanced.

Notes: Letting the salad sit for a minimum of 30 minutes after being dressed is a must. Let the cucumbers and beets marinate separately to avoid beet-stained cucumbers. I used prepared and packaged beets for this recipe, but you can roast your own if you have the time and patience. 

Read More: The Shared Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 8

1/2 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup chopped shallots
1/4 cup sugar
1 pounds beets, trimmed
1 large English hothouse cucumbers (about 1 pound), halved lengthwise, seeded, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or parsley
Baby Arugula (optional)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Kosher salt and pepper to taste

Combine vinegar, shallots and sugar in small bowl to make a marinade. Set aside while preparing vegetables.

Cut beets into wedges. Toss with 1/2 cup of marinade to coat.

Place cucumbers in large bowl and toss with remaining marinade. Season salads to taste with salt and pepper. Cover separately and chill for at least 30 minutes or up to one day.

Drain beets of liquid and arrange on platter towards the outer edges; rinse colander clean, drain cucumbers and arrange in the middle of the platter. Scatter a handful of arugula on top, garnish with herbs.

Adapted from: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/pickled-beet-and-cucumber-salads-5409