The fresh bite of this arugula salad with a bright lemon dressing, tart apple, savory red onion, and shaved Parmesan is a simple salad recipe that goes with any dinner’s main course meal.
Choosing a main course dinner idea can be a pretty simple task. But when it comes to rounding out the meal with some extra plant nutrition, it can add another layer of what-to-make-wondering to your meal planning. That’s where quick and easy salads that go with pretty much everything come in. I’m a big fan of peppery arugula, as evidenced in my recipes for arugula pesto, arugula salad with pesto shrimp, Parmesan, and white beans, and strawberry arugula salad with watermelon and feta, and my go-to arugula salad with lemon and Parmesan. This version is that same salad but with the addition of red onion and apple. It also features the same easy lemony vinaigrette. Slivered apple slices bring some crunch and sweeten the peppery flavor of arugula with the salty bite of spunky Parmesan cheese and super thinly sliced red onion.
In This Post
What’s in This Arugula Salad
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Fresh lemon juice
- Honey
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Arugula
- Apple (such as Pink Lady or Honeycrisp)
- Red onion
- Parmesan cheese
How to Make This Arugula Salad
First, make the dressing. This arugula salad’s simple vinaigrette dressing isn’t even so much of a dressing as it is a mixture. I took a page from the technique often used in Caesar salads, and mixed this 3-ingredient dressing in the same bowl the salad is tossed in.
Assemble the salad. Use your hands to toss the arugula leaves into the bowl with the dressing. This method gives a lighter touch to the dressed leaves, helping to avoid a heavy salad where the leaves all clump together. Add the red onion, apple, and Parmesan cheese and toss.
Season and serve. Seasoned with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
What Pairs Well with Arugula
Arugula is a peppery green that lends itself well to many dishes and a variety of flavors. Here are some recipes I love serving this arugula salad with:
- Cacio e Pepe
- Dijon Chicken
- Mediterranean Pizza
- Chicken Marsala Gnocchi
- Easy Chicken Fettucine Alfredo
- Lemon Chicken Thighs with Artichokes
Tips for Making the Best Arugula Salad
- If rinsing the arugula before tossing it with the dressing, be sure to use a salad spinner to shake off any excess moisture. You don’t want to wind up with a soggy arugula salad.
- Use your hands to lightly toss the leaves in the dressing.
- You can use shredded Parmesan if you don’t have shaved. Just be sure to get good-quality Parm, and not the powdery stuff in a shaker can.
- If prepping this salad ahead of time, store the dressing separately until ready to serve.
What to Serve with This Arugula Salad
- The Best Baked Chicken Breast
- THE BEST Grilled Salmon
- Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
- The Best Juicy Grilled Pork Chops
- White Bean and Butternut Squash Chili
- Mini Meatball Mac and Cheese
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
Arugula Salad with Apple and Parmesan
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4 cups arugula
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
- ¼ apple (such as Pink Lady or Honeycrisp) , cut into matchstick slices
- ¼ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, and salt and pepper.
- Add the arugula to the bowl and toss. Top with red onion, apple, and Parmesan, and more pepper to taste.
Notes
- Use a vegetable peeler to shave long ribbons of fresh Parmesan cheese for this easy side salad.
- This makes 4 cups.
Nutrition
More Arugula Salad Recipes to Make Now
- Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan
- Avocado and Arugula Caprese Salad
- Citrus Shrimp, Avocado and Arugula Salad
- Tuscan Tuna and White Bean Salad
- Arugula Salad With Pesto Shrimp, Parmesan And White Beans
- Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
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