Roasted Beet, Fennel, and Blood Orange Salad

Ingredients

4 beets, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch wedges (1 1/2 pounds)
2 thyme sprigs
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 blood oranges, peeled and segmented
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 large fennel bulb with fronds—bulb cut into 1/2-inch wedges, 1 tablespoon chopped fronds
1 teaspoon sherry vinegar

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°. In a medium baking dish, toss the beets with the thyme, the water and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with foil and cook for about 40 minutes, or until tender. Let cool slightly. Discard the thyme.
2. In a small baking dish, drizzle the fennel wedges with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 minutes longer, or until tender and lightly browned.
3. Pour the beet juices into a bowl and whisk in the vinegar. Add the beets, fennel wedges and fronds and season with salt and pepper. Add blood oranges. Serve warm or at room temperature.