Simple Arugula Salad Dressing (Easy + Delicious)

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.

This Arugula Salad dressing 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.

Ingredients for arugula salad dressing labeled on counter.

Ingredients needed

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 it

  • 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.
Arugula salad dressing in small jar with spoon.

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:

Overhead close up of prepared arugula salad.

FAQ

Does arugula get soggy with dressing?

Yes. Arugula will become soggy when it sits with the dressing. That’s why it’s best to dress your salad just before serving.

Do you need to massage arugula?

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.

Is it OK to cook arugula?

Yes! Arugula is delicious when added to soups or pasta dishes. Try swapping it in when a recipe calls for spinach.

Overhead close up of prepared arugula salad.

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Looking for more ways to use arugula? Check out these 35+ arugula recipes too!

Arugula Salad ready to be served.

Arugula Salad Recipe

This Arugula Salad recipe with red wine vinaigrette is my go-to green salad. The arugula has a peppery bite to it which pairs wonderfully with the acid in the vinaigrette. It’s the perfect salad for pairing with rich dishes.
5 from 35 votes
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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

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.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

Nutrition

Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 23mg | Potassium: 181mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 710IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1.1mg

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! 

19 thoughts on “Simple Arugula Salad Dressing (Easy + Delicious)”

  1. I made this salad for a potluck this past weekend (with Erin’s help). It went over SO well! I even had people ask for my recipe, something that rarely happens. You gotta try it!

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    This is such a terrific blend of flavors and very easy to throw together. I will definitely make again and again. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  3. 5 stars
    I love baby arugula but have never found a perfect dressing for it. Until now. This is it! Perfectly balanced. (They don’t have shallots where I live in Greece so I used finely minced red onion instead. ) Wonderful. Thanks so much.

    Reply
  4. This is a delightful dressing. I’m currently obsessed with an arugula, baby beet, dried cranberry, toasted pecans and crumbled goat cheese. This dressing is the perfect compliment to these ingredients. Thanks for posting!

    Reply
  5. A whole shallot, which was about 1/3 cup, was way too much. I strained out at least half. I also thought the dijon taste was a little on the strong side so I added more honey. Probably will look for another recipe.

    Reply
  6. Simple and delicious! I used chopped pistachios in place of the pine nuts and grated Parmesan cheese and tossed everything together. I probably used less than the arugula amount in the recipe – about two-thirds? So tasty! I made it again with chopped red onion because I didn’t have shallots on hand, and it was still awesome! This salad is going into regular rotation at our house. Thank you!

    Reply

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