The fresh, peppery bite of this arugula salad with a simple lemon dressing and shaved Parmesan is the easiest salad recipe that goes with any dinner’s main course meal.

Arugula Salad with Parmesan | foodiecrush.com #salad #recipes #

I’m a big fan of arugula, as evidenced in my recipes for arugula pesto, arugula salad with pesto shrimp, Parmesan, and white beans, and strawberry arugula salad with watermelon and feta to name a few. Choosing a main course dinner idea is pretty easy to do. But when it comes to rounding out the meal with some extra plant nutrition, it can add another layer of what-to-make-wondering to your meal planning. That’s where quick and easy salads that go with pretty much everything come in, just like this arugula salad with lemon and Parmesan. That’s why I depend on a few simple salad and dressing ideas that are easily customized to dress up or dress down, depending on what extra ingredients I have on hand. This easy 5-ingredient arugula salad recipe with big flakes of salty parmesan is often where I get my start. It’s a fast and simple side dish salad, and I love it with its ribbons of Parmesan served on top of pizza or as a side to stuffed chicken thighs or easy gnocchi with pomodoro sauce.

What is Arugula?

Arugula (known as rocket in Europe), is a leafy green cruciferous vegetable that looks similar to spinach but has a fresh, peppery taste. Arugula is high in fiber, folate, phytochemicals, and antioxidants, similar to broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts. I love arugula in so many recipes and have used it in loads of ways, such as:

a substitute for basil in this arugula pesto
a tasty topping on pizza added after it’s been baked (my favorite way to eat pizza!)
and as the main leaf in my favorite caprese salad

What’s in This Arugula Salad?

The base of this simple salad is just fresh arugula and shaved Parmesan, and the dressing just contains 3 ingredients (plus kosher salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper). Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

Extra-virgin olive oil
Fresh lemon juice
Honey
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Arugula
Parmesan cheese

How to Make This Arugula Salad

First, make the dressing. This rocket salad’s easy vinaigrette dressing isn’t even so much of a dressing as it is a mixture. I took a page from the technique often used in Caesar salads, and mixed this 3-ingredient dressing in the same bowl the salad is tossed in.

Add the arugula. After the dressing is mixed, the arugula leaves are tossed into the bowl, too. This method gives a lighter touch to the dressed leaves and helps to avoid a heavy salad where the leaves all clump together.

Season and serve. Seasoned with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, you could totally stop here and serve.

What Pairs Well with Arugula

Arugula is a peppery green that lends itself well to many dishes and a variety of flavors. Here are some recipes I love serving this arugula salad with:

Arugula Salad with Lemon | foodiecrush.com #salad #recipes #arugula

Tips for Making the Best Arugula Salad

If rinsing the arugula before tossing it with the dressing, be sure to use a salad spinner to shake off any excess moisture. You don’t want to wind up with a soggy arugula salad!
You can also use shredded Parmesan if you don’t have shaved Parmesan on hand. Just be sure to get good-quality Parm, and not the powdery stuff in a shaker can.
If prepping this salad ahead of time, store the dressing separately until ready to serve.

More Easy Salad Recipes to Try

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4.68 from 161 votes

Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan

The fresh bite of this arugula salad with a simple lemon dressing and shaved Parmesan is made three ways for three easy salad recipe ideas to go with any dinner's main course meal.

Course Salad

Cuisine Mediterranean

Keyword salad

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings servings

Calories 203kcal

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon honey
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 cups arugula
¼ cup shaved Parmesan cheese

Instructions

In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, and salt and pepper.
Add the arugula to the bowl and toss. Top with the shaved Parmesan and more pepper taste. Makes 4 cups.

Notes

Use a vegetable peeler to shave long ribbons of fresh Parmesan cheese for this easy side salad.

Nutrition

More Arugula Salad Recipes to Make Now

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