Name: Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 teaspoon honey; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 4 cups arugula; 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese

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The fresh, peppery bite of this arugula salad with a simple lemon dressing and shaved Parmesan makes it the perfect side salad for any meal.

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.

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That’s where quick and easy side salads that go with pretty much everything come in, like this arugula salad with lemon and Parmesan.

This simple arugula salad recipe with big flakes of salty parmesan is often where I get my start. It goes with pretty much anything, is ready in 5 minutes, and there are so many ways to dress it up or down.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It’s a fast and simple side salad that takes just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to make.
I love it with its ribbons of Parmesan served on top of pizza or as a side to chicken and pastas.
It’s easy to customize! Pair this salad with a vibrant lemon dressing as instructed, or use your favorite homemade or store-bought dressing for a different flavor profile.

Ingredients needed to make arugula lemon parmesan salad

What’s in This Salad?

Dressing — the lemon dressing is a whisk-together number made from extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, honey, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper
Arugula — a leafy green cruciferous vegetable that looks similar to spinach but has a fresh, peppery taste (it’s known as “rocket” in Europe)
Parmesan cheese — buy a block and shave it yourself using a vegetable peeler to create perfectly flaky, salty strips of cheese (you can also use shredded Parmesan if you don’t have shaved Parmesan on hand)

How to Make This Arugula Salad

First, make the dressing. This 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 peppery 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.

Heidi’s Tip: 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!

Arugula salad with goat cheese and sun dried tomatoes

Recipe Variations to Try

Swap dressings, add your favorite toppings, or pile on a protein. There are so many ways to jazz up this basic arugula salad.

Change the dressing — toss the arugula in your favorite Greek dressing, Italian dressing, balsamic vinaigrette, Caesar dressing, or even a light Dijon vinaigrette
Add nuts and seeds — chopped walnuts, pecans, pistachios, pine nuts, or pepitas would be great
Add fruit — try thinly sliced apple or pear, berries, pomegranate arils, or chopped watermelon
Swap cheeses — replace the Parm with crumbled feta, goat cheese, Manchego, burrata, or Pecorino Romano
Add veggies — sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, chopped bell pepper, marinated artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, grilled corn, diced avocado, roasted broccoli or squash would all work
Add protein — try adding crispy garlic shrimp, Greek chicken, grilled flank steak, or grilled salmon

Strawberry and Watermelon Arugula Salad with Balsamic Dressing #foodiecrush.com #salad #strawberry #arugula #spring #feta

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Once dressed, this easy arugula salad is best enjoyed right away. Arugula is a tender leafy green that wilts quickly as it sits in the lemon dressing.

If prepping this salad ahead of time, store the dressing separately until ready to serve (up to 5 days).

What to Serve with This Salad

Pizza and Pasta — Cacio e Pepe, Mediterranean Pizza, Chicken Marsala Gnocchi, Chicken Fettucine Alfredo
Chicken — Dijon Chicken, Chicken Milanese, Baked Chicken Parmesan, Marry Me Chicken
Steak — Grilled Ribeye, Grilled Skirt Steak
Seafood and Fish — Crab Cakes, Shrimp Scampi, Blackened Salmon

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.

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

4.69 from 168 votes