Total time: 55 min • Prep: 25 min • Cook: 30 min • Serves: 8 • Difficulty: Easy

Roasting carrots causes their natural sugars to caramelize, enhancing the root's sweetness and intensifying the earthy flavor. Sweet, chewy dates, a crumble of sharp blue cheese and scattering of crunchy walnuts add textures and flavors that elevate this salad to five-star status. Serve topped with a piece of lean meat or fish to make this a hearty main dish. Pack it for the lunchbox by storing the individual components separately, and then combining and tossing with lemon juice when you're ready to dig in.