Go Back
+ servings
arugula salad with shaved parmesan and toasted pine nuts

Easy Arugula Salad Dressing

5 from 1 vote
Emily Dixon, One Lovely Life
This easy arugula salad recipe gets extra flavor from shaved parmesan, toasted pine nuts and a simple lemony arugula salad dressing you won't want to miss! 
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Print Pin
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 170kcal

Ingredients

For The Arugula Salad Dressing:

  • 3 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 1/2 Tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

For The Arugula Salad:

  • 6-8 cups Baby Arugula
  • Generous pinch salt & pepper about 1/8 teaspoon each
  • 1/3-1/2 cup Shaved Parmesan Cheese or more, to taste
  • 1/3-1/2 cup Toasted Pine Nuts or more, to taste

Instructions

First, Make The Arugula Salad Dressing:

  • Juice The Lemons. If you haven't already, squeeze the fresh lemon juice and remove any seeds.
  • Combine. Add lemon juice, vinegar, Dijon mustard, oregano, salt, and pepper to a mason jar or small mixing bowl. Whisk to combine until well blended.
  • Whisk In Olive Oil. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while you whisk. Adding the oil gradually helps you incorporate it better.
  • Taste & Adjust. Then, taste the dressing. Add additional salt, pepper, herbs or lemon juice, if desired. Dressing will keep up to 1 week in the refrigerator. 

Then, Build Your Arugula Salad

  • Dress The Greens. Add arugula to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with 2-3 Tablespoons of lemon vinaigrette. Gently toss with forks or tongs until the leaves are lightly coated, adding more dressing, if needed.
  • Season the arugula with salt and pepper. (This might sound silly, but it makes such a big difference!)
  • Finish The Salad. Transfer the greens to a serving bowl, if desired. Or, you can serve straight from the mixing bowl! Add shaved parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts. If needed, lightly toss the salad.
  • Advanced Prep Notes. If you want to make this salad in advance, it works best to prepare the components and store separately until right before serving. 

Notes

  • Turn It Into Dinner. To upgrade this parmesan arugula side salad to a meal, top with grilled chicken breast or serve alongside Glazed Salmon, a grilled steak, or roasted chicken! It's also a great salad to go with pasta dishes like Cheesy Baked Ziti or classic gluten-free spaghetti! The light, peppery taste of the arugula & tang of the dressing is the perfect contrast.
  • Try It On Top Of Pizza! Have you ever had salad pizza? It's amazing! Try topping a prosciutto pizza, white pizza, or pesto pizza with a little arugula salad. It looks gorgeous and tastes delicious.

Video

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: arugula salad, arugula salad dressing, arugula salad with pine nuts and parmesan cheese, parmesan arugula salad

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25Recipe | Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 4.2g | Protein: 4.8g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 3.3g | Cholesterol: 4.8mg | Sodium: 2076mg | Fiber: 1.8g | Sugar: 0.9g

Nutrition facts are an estimate only and will vary based on brands and amounts used.