This EASY Arugula Salad Dressing recipe is made with just 5-simple ingredients – most of which you probably have on hand already! The slight sweetness of the dressing is a perfect match for peppery arugula.
Table of Contents
This Arugula Salad recipe is my go-to when I want a simple salad that pairs with a variety of dishes. The arugula has a nice peppery bite, but the dressing has a sweet taste that balances out the flavors perfectly.
I top off my salad with some shaved parmesan and toasted pine nuts for added crunch.
The dressing for this arugula salad couldn’t be easier to make. You only need five ingredients. Plus, it stores nicely in the fridge, so it’s great to keep on hand for dinners throughout the week. Often, I’ll make a double or triple batch just for that reason.
Ingredient notes
There are just 5 ingredients in this delicious dressing for arugula salad:
- Olive Oil – I like to use a good-quality extra virgin olive oil since the flavor really shines through.
- Shallot – Or you can grate in a clove of garlic.
- Red Wine Vinegar – Or swap in some fresh lemon juice or balsamic vinegar.
- Honey – Maple syrup, sugar or agave will also work.
- Dijon Mustard – Adds a nice tang. Feel free to leave it out or add in some whole grain mustard.
How to make dressing for arugula salad
- To make the red wine vinaigrette, just add the ingredients to a small mason jar and shake well to emulsify. Or, you can add the ingredients to a bowl and whisk to combine.
What to serve with arugula salad
This Arugula Salad recipe pairs really nicely with rich, hearty meat dishes. It also pairs well with pasta. Here are some great dishes that go well with arugula salad:
FAQ
Yes. Arugula will become soggy when it sits with the dressing. That’s why it’s best to dress your salad just before serving.
No. Arugula is a tender green, so unlike kale, you do not need to massage arugula. It’s best to just gently toss it with the dressing.
Yes! Arugula is delicious when added to soups or pasta dishes. Try swapping it in when a recipe calls for spinach.
More homemade salad dressings
-
new!
Creamy Feta Dressing
-
new!
Green Goddess Dip
Did you try this arugula salad recipe?
If you loved this simple arugula salad dressing recipe, I would appreciate it so much if you would leave a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished salad and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.
For more great Platings & Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
Looking for more ways to use arugula? Check out these 35+ arugula recipes too!
Full Recipe
The BEST Arugula Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 shallot (finely minced)
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 5 ounces arugula
- 1/4 cup pine nuts (toasted, for topping)
- 1/4 cup parmesan (shaved, for topping)
Instructions
- Combine the shallot, oil, vinegar, mustard, honey and salt and pepper in a small mason jar and shake to emulsify.
- In a large bowl, toss the arugula with enough of the vinaigrette to just coat the leaves.
- Season with additional salt and pepper and top with toasted pine nuts and parmesan.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in November 2014. It was updated in 2022 to revise the content, and again in 2023 to add new photographs. The arugula salad dressing recipe remains the same. Enjoy!
Leave a Reply