Lemon Arugula Salad Recipe with Parmesan Cheese (2024)

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Lemon Arugula Salad Recipe with Parmesan Cheese is a quick and easy salad that is peppery, sweet and satisfying. Arugula is tossed with cherry tomatoes, toasted pine nuts and parmesan cheese and finished off with a lemony, olive oil dressing.

Lemon Arugula Salad Recipe with Parmesan Cheese (1)

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LEMON ARUGULA SALAD RECIPE WITH PARMESAN CHEESE

We all need a delicious simple salad in our back pocket for those busy nights.

Today’s Lemon Arugula Salad Recipe with Parmesan Cheese is one of those salads for me. It is a simple arugula salad using simple ingredients.

When it comes to a delicious salad I don’t discriminate.

I love so many different kinds from a big Greek Village Salad, to an Easy Lebanese Salad, to a tabbouleh salad, to a fattoush salad.

But sometimes simple is best, and this is one of those times.

I am a lover of arugula. That peppery flavor is just so good.

You can almost always find a bag of it in my fridge for salads, pizzas or wraps.

I love adding a handful to my weeknight dinners like this pizza along with parmesan cheese, prosciutto and olive oil.

I love the crunchy pine nuts and the creamy Parmesan cheese paired with the light lemony dressing and peppery arugula.

One tip when using arugula is to let it come to room temperature before making the salad. This helps it to release more flavor.

This truly is one of the best arugula salad and one you can make in under 10 minutes and pairs perfectly with so many meals.

Forget those boring green salad recipes and try this lemon arugula salad!

Lemon Arugula Salad Recipe with Parmesan Cheese (2)

WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE IN THIS LEMON ARUGULA SALAD?

FRESH BABY ARUGULA

CHERRY TOMATOES

PINE NUTS

SHAVED AND SLICED PARMESAN CHEESE

EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL

FRESH LEMON JUICE

HONEY

GARLIC

SALT & PEPPER

Lemon Arugula Salad Recipe with Parmesan Cheese (3)

HOW DO YOU MAKE THIS LEMON ARUGULA SALAD WITH PARMESAN CHEESE

TO TOAST THE PINE NUTS:

Heat a dry large skillet over medium-low heat and toast pine nuts, stirring frequently, until pine nuts are golden in spots, about 3 minutes. Remove and set aside.

FOR THE DRESSING:

In a small bowl or mason jarwhisk together the dressing ingredients : olive oil, lemon juice, honey, garlic, salt and pepper. Set aside.

FOR THE SALAD:

Toss the arugula, tomatoes, toasted pine nuts and Parmesan cheese slices together in a large mixing bowl.

Pour the salad dressing over this easy arugula salad and gently toss.

Finish the salad off with the shaved Parmesan cheese and a bit more black pepper. You also can add lemon zest for an extra zesty flavor. Serve immediately.

Lemon Arugula Salad Recipe with Parmesan Cheese (4)

WHAT OTHER ADDITIONS CAN I PUT IN MY ARUGULA SALAD?

  • CRUNCH: I love adding crunchy to my salad. Try adding roasted chickpeas, pistachios, sliced almonds or walnuts.
  • BEANS: Beans would be a great addition to this salad. Try chickpeas or white beans.
  • PROTEIN: There are a variety of protein options you could serve with this salad. Try this Mediterranean Chicken, Air Fryer Salmon, Mediterranean Beef Kabobs or this Easy Pan Fried Fish. This is the perfect side dish for a protein.
  • VEGETABLES: I like to add additional vegetables to salads like this. Some good ones are cucumbers, roasted beets, carrots, radish, celery, bell peppers and chopped red onion.
  • CHEESE: I really like the Parmesan cheese in this salad but you can swap that for mozzarella cheese, goat cheese or feta cheese.
  • DRESSING: Other dressing ideas you could use are a balsamic vinegar dressing or a honey mustard dressing or your favorite homemade salad dressing.
  • FRUIT: Add your favorite fruit. I love adding fresh apple, pear or even mandarin oranges. You also can add dried fruit like dried cranberries, raisins or apricots.
  • GRAINS: If you like grains in your salads tryquinoa, couscous, or farro can turn your arugula salad into a heartier meal and provide extra fiber and texture.
  • AVOCADO: You can add sliced avocado to the salad for added healthy fats.
Lemon Arugula Salad Recipe with Parmesan Cheese (5)

WHAT TO SERVE THIS ARUGULA SALAD WITH?

This arugula salad is a nice side salad that goes with your favorite main dish. Here are a few of my favorites to pair it with:

MOROCCAN CARROT RED LENTIL SOUP

MEDITERRANEAN TURKEY MEATBALLS

SLOW COOKER PORK SHOULDER ROAST

EASY CHICKEN SLIDERS

GREEK LEMON CHICKEN

EASY PINEAPPLE PORK CHOPS

OTHER SALADS YOU MIGHT LIKE:

SUMMER ORZO PASTA SALAD

MEDITERRANEAN BEAN SALAD

GREEK QUINOA SALAD

EASY LEBANESE SALAD

MEDITERRANEAN EGGPLANT SALAD

MEDITERRANEAN LENTIL SALAD

Lemon Arugula Salad Recipe with Parmesan Cheese (6)

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Lemon Arugula Salad with Pine Nuts is a quick and easy salad that is peppery, sweet and satisfying. Arugula is tossed with cherry tomatoes, toasted pine nuts and parmesan cheese and finished off with a lemony,olive oil dressing.

Ingredients

For the salad:

  • 4 cups arugula, washed
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
  • 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, cut into thin slices

For the dressing:

  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons honey {or natural sweetener}
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

To toast the pine nuts:

  1. Heat a dry large skillet over medium-low heat and toast pine nuts, stirring frequently, until pine nuts are golden in spots, about 3 minutes. Remove and set aside.

For the dressing:

  1. In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, garlic, salt and pepper. Set aside.

For the salad:

  1. Toss the arugula, tomatoes, toasted pine nuts and Parmesan cheese slices together in a large bowl. Pour the salad dressing over the salad and gently toss.
  2. Finish the salad off with the shaved Parmesan cheese and a bit more black pepper. Serve immediately.

Notes

Other ideas for this salad:

    CRUNCH: I love adding crunchy to my salad. Try adding roasted chickpeas, pistachios, sliced almonds or walnuts.
    BEANS: Beans would be a great addition to this salad. Try chickpeas or white beans.
    PROTEIN: There are a variety of protein options you could serve with this salad. Try this Mediterranean Chicken, Air Fryer Salmon, Mediterranean Beef Kabobs or this Easy Pan Fried Fish.
    VEGETABLES: I like to add additional vegetables to salads like this. Some good ones are cucumbers, roasted beets, carrots, radish, celery, bell peppers and chopped red onion.
    CHEESE: I really like the Parmesan cheese in this salad but you can swap that for mozzarella cheese, goat cheese or feta cheese.
    FRUIT: Add your favorite fruit. I love adding fresh apple, pear or even mandarin oranges. You also can add dried fruit like dried cranberries, raisins or apricots.
    GRAINS: If you like grains in your salads tryquinoa, couscous, or farro can turn your arugula salad into a heartier meal and provide extra fiber and texture.
    AVOCADO: You can add sliced avocado to the salad for added healthy fats.

Related Posts:

  • Arugula Salad with Capers
  • Arugula Orzo Salad
  • Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad
Lemon Arugula Salad Recipe with Parmesan Cheese (2024)

FAQs

What is arugula salad made of? ›

Arugula Salad- baby arugula tossed in a fresh olive oil lemon dressing and topped with shaved Parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts. This simple salad goes great with any meal and only takes a few minutes to make. I try to make a salad to go with all of our meals.

What does arugula go well with? ›

7 Clever Ways to Use Arugula
  • Salmon and Arugula Frittata with Pesto.
  • Summer Squash and Arugula Pizza with Fontina Cheese.
  • Grilled Seafood Kebabs and Orecchiette with Arugula.
  • Warm Potato Salad with Arugula.
  • Stuffed Clams with Linguiça and Arugula.
  • Vegan Pesto Babka.
  • Rocket Soup (Shorbat Jarjir)
Sep 15, 2022

What's the difference between arugula and baby arugula? ›

Arugula and baby arugula come from the same plant but are harvested at different stages of maturity. Baby arugula is picked when the leaves are still small and tender, and baby arugula tends to have a less pronounced peppery bite than mature arugula, which has large, full-size leaves.

What is the flavor of arugula? ›

Fresh arugula leaves have a distinctive spicy kick that will turn up the flavors in your salads, pastas, sandwiches, and sauces. The flavor can be bright, tart, peppery, and slightly bitter, depending on its maturity. You'll find that baby arugula is delicate and mild, while mature arugula is much spicier.

Can I eat arugula salad everyday? ›

Arugula is low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, calcium, and potassium. There is no specific recommended daily intake of arugula, but consuming moderate amounts as part of a balanced diet is generally safe for most people.

How healthy is arugula salad? ›

Arugula benefits are derived from its high concentrations of vitamin A, vitamin C, and phenolic compounds such as lutein and zeaxanthin. These contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which help to improve eye health, control blood sugar levels and prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases.

When can you not eat arugula? ›

There could be possible arugula side effects for individuals who are on blood thinning medication. This is because arugula, like other dark leafy greens, is high in vitamin K, which can reverse the effects of anticoagulant drugs if suddenly increased in the body.

Is arugula good for your stomach? ›

Eating arugula is also good for your digestive system, colon, gut lining and other organs. Though it's a lesser discussed green for digestion, arugula's high amounts of magnesium and Vitamin C can promote a healthy digestive system.

Does arugula cleanse the liver? ›

Arugula is rich in chlorophyll, which can help to prevent liver and DNA damage from aflatoxins, a family of toxins produced by certain fungi. Arugula is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, which can help cleanse the liver. Arugula is a bitter green, which can stimulate the liver to help with detoxification.

What did arugula used to be called? ›

Fun Fact: Arugula is also often called rocket; both names derive from the original Latin name of the plant, “eruca.” As he was developing his botanical taxonomy, Carl Linneaus followed, naming arugula Eruca sativa.

Can you eat arugula like lettuce? ›

Yes, you can eat arugula raw! In fact, studies show that leafy green vegetables may even contain higher levels of nutrients raw than when they are cooked. Learn why here. Arugula, like other leafy greens, contains many nutrients that our bodies need to function properly.

Which is healthier kale or arugula? ›

Did you know that arugula has more calcium and zinc than kale? It's also nutritionally equal to kale in iron and magnesium and has fewer carbohydrates and naturally occurring sugars.

What is an interesting fact about arugula? ›

Arugula grows similarly to lettuce and spinach. In Wisconsin, Arugula grows May through November. Arugula leaves are perishable and go bad quickly, so eat them within a few days after purchasing. Arugula is a good source of vitamins A and C, which are important for eye health and your immune system.

What is so special about arugula? ›

Arugula's popularity has as much to do with its health benefits as its taste. One study cites arugula as being particularly high in cancer-fighting agents. This delicious green is a nutrient-dense food that is high in fiber and phytochemicals. Arugula is low in sugar, calories, carbohydrates, and fat.

Does arugula go bad fast? ›

Like most tender greens, arugula is highly perishable and should be bought no more than a few days before you plan to eat it. Here's the best way to store a bunch of arugula: Wrap the root ends in a damp paper towel. Place in a plastic bag, root-ends down, and refrigerate for three to seven days.

Is arugula a type of lettuce? ›

Arugula has become a popular salad green, but it's not really a lettuce. Arugula is actually part of the brassica family and is closely related to mustard. Other names for arugula include “rocket” (common in England, Australia and New Zealand) or 'rucola' in Italy. Its taste is peppery and a little nutty.

Is arugula just spinach? ›

Spinach leaves are heavier, thicker, and more dense than arugula leaves. They are also darker in color. For the same weight (100 grams in the table below), spinach fills less volume; 3.5 cups vs 5 cups for arugula.

Is arugula lettuce or cabbage? ›

Even though arugula appears frequently in spring salad mixes, it is actually a member of the cabbage and mustard green family. This explains its signature peppery bite, prized by chefs and home cooks alike.

Is arugula a green or lettuce? ›

Although arugula is a common leafy green/salad green it is not actually a lettuce. There is no such thing as arugula lettuce. The arugula plant, which is native to the mediterranean region, is part of the Brassicaceae family. It is closely related to broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts.

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