This citrus arugula salad combines the peppery, slightly bitter flavor of arugula with the bright sweetness of strawberries, blackberries, and oranges, and the crunch of almonds. Then, it's topped with a zest Dijon vinaigrette to create a salad that explodes with flavor in every bite.
One of my favorite gluten-free side dishes to make is a salad. I know, I know. Everyone thinks salads are boring, but they're really not. Not if you use delicious flavors and go beyond mixed greens and bottled dressing!
Salads can be as light or as heavy as you like, making them super versatile, as well. Whether you want a hefty chef salad for a main dish or are looking for easy and simple vegan recipes for a side, brunch, or light dinner or lunch, there's always a delicious salad perfect for the job.
My newest addition to my salad rotation is this arugula citrus salad. I'm Italian, so I grew up on arugula. I love its peppery, slightly bitter flavor, especially in salads that have natural sweetness.
That's what I did with this recipe. This salad is loaded with berries and orange slices to perfectly balance the bite of the arugula and finished with a Dijon vinaigrette. It's so yummy, and it's the perfect complement to healthy protein recipes like these baked lemon pepper chicken drumsticks.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Limited Ingredients: The salad and dressing both require only a handful of simple ingredients you can find in your kitchen or grocery store.
- Easy: All you have to do is mix all the salad ingredients, give the dressing ingredients a good whisking, and you're done. It's that easy!
- Full of Flavor: This salad has layers and layers of flavor, thanks to the bitter, peppery arugula, sweet berries, and bright orange. I even threw in some almonds for even more flavor.
- Healthy: This is a light, flavorful salad with a zesty vinaigrette dressing, so it has tons of flavor without heavy, unhealthy ingredients like calorie-laden dressings.
- Versatile: This is a great side dish or light lunch. Its bright flavors make it perfect with spicy meals like these hot honey chicken sandwiches or hearty pasta dishes like this million dollar spaghetti recipe.
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Ingredients
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See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Variations
- Arugula: You can use other peppery, bold greens like mustard greens and kale in place of arugula. For a milder salad, use spinach.
- Dressing: The flavors in this salad work well with a wide variety of vinaigrettes, from sweet to more savory flavors. Try your favorites and see what you like.
- Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, or any of your favorite nuts work very well in the salad, giving it a slightly different flavor.
- Berries: Use any of your favorite berries to create different flavor profiles.
- Citrus Fruit: Sweet citrus fruits like clementines, satsumas, and blood oranges.
- Dijon Mustard: I prefer Dijon mustard, but any kind of mustard will work. Even yellow mustard works in a pinch.
- Olive Oil: Try different oils like avocado or coconut to give your dressing a slightly different flavor.
- Add Protein: Try adding proteins like chicken, beef, bacon, or tuna.
- Add Cheese: Shaved or shredded parmesan works very well in this salad.
- Add Grains: Grains like quinoa, farro, or barley add more flavor and texture to the salad.
- Other Mix-Ins: Other commonly added ingredients to arugula salads include avocados, tomatoes, and chickpeas. Try them all to see what you like!
How to Make Citrus Arugula Salad
Step 1: Combine all the salad ingredients in a large bowl. Then, whisk the dressing ingredients in a large measuring cup, pour over the salad, and toss until evenly coated.
Step 2: The tastiest step. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Wash your arugula and berries just before preparing them for the salad to prevent moldy berries and soggy greens.
- A salad spinner is your best friend for washing greens. It really does work as well as all those infomercials claim!
- Whisk your dressing vigorously to ensure it fully emulsifies.
- Add your dressing just before serving the salad for maximum flavor and the best texture.
Citrus Arugula Salad FAQ
Arugula has a peppery, slightly spicy flavor with a touch of bitterness and nuttiness.
Berries and citrus are often paired with arugula for a balance of flavors. In addition, pine nuts, tomatoes, avocado, and parmesan cheese are often added to arugula salad.
It's important to wash greens to remove dirt and bacteria. A soggy salad is usually the result of too much water left over from washing the arugula. To prevent this, either use a salad spinner or place your arugula between two layers of paper towels and press down firmly to absorb as much water as possible.
📖 Recipe
Citrus Arugula Salad
Video
Ingredients
Salad
- 5 oz arugula
- ¼ cup strawberries sliced
- 1 orange sliced
- ½ cup almonds sliced
Dressing
- ¼ cup OliveNation Orange Shrub
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup olive oil
Instructions
- Thoroughly rinse and dry the arugula and fruits. Then, slice the fruits.
- Combine the arugula, strawberries, oranges, blackberries, and sliced almonds in a large bowl.
- Vigorously whisk the orange shrub, Dijon, pepper, salt, and olive oil in a liquid measuring cup until combined.
- Pour the dressing over the salad, toss, and enjoy!
Notes
- Refrigerate for up to 24 hours in an airtight container.
- Wash your arugula and berries just before preparing them for the salad to prevent moldy berries and soggy greens.
- A salad spinner is your best friend for washing greens. It really does work as well as all those infomercials claim!
- Whisk your dressing vigorously to ensure it fully emulsifies.
- Add your dressing just before serving the salad for maximum flavor and the best texture.
leah says
this citrus arugula salad is soo tasty! such a bright and delicious combination.
Agnieszka says
We loved this fruity salad. Very refreshing!
Krystle says
So many great flavors and textures. I actually crave this salad!
Lathiya says
This worked exactly as written, thanks! The salad was hearty and comforting.
Leslie says
This is such a delicious, fresh salad. I love the dijon vinaigrette! Such a perfect match for this salad!
Ashley says
Delicious and beautiful too! Thanks for the great recipe!
swathi says
This citrus arugula salad is so good, fresh and crunchy arugula goes well that simple dressing.
Michele says
The combo of sweetness and bitterness in this salad went perfectly with grilled chicken as well as beef. So versatile!