Lemon Arugula Salad Recipe with Parmesan Cheese is a quick and easy salad that is peppery, sweet and satisfying. Arugula is tossed with cherry tomatoes, toasted pine nuts and parmesan cheese and finished off with a lemony, olive oil dressing.
LEMON ARUGULA SALAD RECIPE WITH PARMESAN CHEESE
We all need a delicious simple salad in our back pocket for those busy nights.
Today’s Lemon Arugula Salad Recipe with Parmesan Cheese is one of those salads for me. It is a simple arugula salad using simple ingredients.
When it comes to a delicious salad I don’t discriminate.
I love so many different kinds from a big Greek Village Salad, to an Easy Lebanese Salad, to a tabbouleh salad, to a fattoush salad.
But sometimes simple is best, and this is one of those times.
I am a lover of arugula. That peppery flavor is just so good.
You can almost always find a bag of it in my fridge for salads, pizzas or wraps.
I love adding a handful to my weeknight dinners like this pizza along with parmesan cheese, prosciutto and olive oil.
I love the crunchy pine nuts and the creamy Parmesan cheese paired with the light lemony dressing and peppery arugula.
One tip when using arugula is to let it come to room temperature before making the salad. This helps it to release more flavor.
This truly is one of the best arugula salad and one you can make in under 10 minutes and pairs perfectly with so many meals.
Forget those boring green salad recipes and try this lemon arugula salad!
Recipe Ingredients
- Fresh Baby Arugula
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Pine Nuts
- Shaved and Sliced Parmesan Cheese
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Fresh Lemon Juice
- Honey
- Garlic
How to Make This Lemon Arugula Salad with Parmesan Cheese
1. Toast the Pine Nuts: Heat a dry large skillet over medium-low heat and toast pine nuts, stirring frequently, until pine nuts are golden in spots, about 3 minutes. Remove and set aside.
2. For the Dressing: In a small bowl or mason jar whisk together the dressing ingredients : olive oil, lemon juice, honey, garlic, salt and pepper. Set aside.
3. Create the Salad: Toss the arugula, tomatoes, toasted pine nuts and Parmesan cheese slices together in a large mixing bowl. Pour the salad dressing over this easy arugula salad and gently toss.
Finish the salad off with the shaved Parmesan cheese and a bit more black pepper. You also can add lemon zest for an extra zesty flavor. Serve immediately.
Ways to Modify This Arugula Salad
- Crunch: I love adding crunchy to my salad. Try adding roasted chickpeas, pistachios, sliced almonds or walnuts.
- Beans: Beans would be a great addition to this salad. Try chickpeas or white beans.
- Protein: There are a variety of protein options you could serve with this salad. Try this Mediterranean Chicken, Air Fryer Salmon, Mediterranean Beef Kabobs or this Easy Pan Fried Fish. This is the perfect side dish for a protein.
- Vegetables: I like to add additional vegetables to salads like this. Some good ones are cucumbers, roasted beets, carrots, radish, celery, bell peppers and chopped red onion.
- Cheese: I really like the Parmesan cheese in this salad but you can swap that for mozzarella cheese, goat cheese or feta cheese.
- Dressing: Other dressing ideas you could use are a balsamic vinegar dressing or a honey mustard dressing or your favorite homemade salad dressing.
- Fruit: Add your favorite fruit. I love adding fresh apple, pear or even mandarin oranges. You also can add dried fruit like dried cranberries, raisins or apricots.
- Grains: If you like grains in your salads try quinoa, couscous, or farro can turn your arugula salad into a heartier meal and provide extra fiber and texture.
- Avocado: You can add sliced avocado to the salad for added healthy fats.
What to Serve with this Arugula Salad
This arugula salad is a nice side salad that goes with your favorite main dish. Here are a few of my favorites to pair it with:
MOROCCAN CARROT RED LENTIL SOUP
MEDITERRANEAN TURKEY MEATBALLS
SLOW COOKER PORK SHOULDER ROAST
EASY CHICKEN SLIDERS
GREEK LEMON CHICKEN
EASY PINEAPPLE PORK CHOPS
Other Salads You Might Like:
SUMMER ORZO PASTA SALAD
MEDITERRANEAN BEAN SALAD
GREEK QUINOA SALAD
EASY LEBANESE SALAD
MEDITERRANEAN EGGPLANT SALAD
MEDITERRANEAN LENTIL SALAD
Lemon Arugula Salad Recipe with Parmesan Cheese
Lemon Arugula Salad with Pine Nuts is a quick and easy salad that is peppery, sweet and satisfying. Arugula is tossed with cherry tomatoes, toasted pine nuts and parmesan cheese and finished off with a lemony, olive oil dressing.
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 4 cups arugula, washed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup pine nuts, toasted
- 1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese, cut into thin slices
For the dressing:
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons honey {or natural sweetener}
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
To toast the pine nuts:
- Heat a dry large skillet over medium-low heat and toast pine nuts, stirring frequently, until pine nuts are golden in spots, about 3 minutes. Remove and set aside.
For the dressing:
- In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, garlic, salt and pepper. Set aside.
For the salad:
- Toss the arugula, tomatoes, toasted pine nuts and Parmesan cheese slices together in a large bowl. Pour the salad dressing over the salad and gently toss.
- Finish the salad off with the shaved Parmesan cheese and a bit more black pepper. Serve immediately.
Notes
Ways to Modify This Arugula Salad
Crunch: I love adding crunchy to my salad. Try adding roasted chickpeas, pistachios, sliced almonds or walnuts.
Beans: Beans would be a great addition to this salad. Try chickpeas or white beans.
Protein: There are a variety of protein options you could serve with this salad. Try this Mediterranean Chicken, Air Fryer Salmon, Mediterranean Beef Kabobs or this Easy Pan Fried Fish. This is the perfect side dish for a protein.
Vegetables: I like to add additional vegetables to salads like this. Some good ones are cucumbers, roasted beets, carrots, radish, celery, bell peppers and chopped red onion.
Cheese: I really like the Parmesan cheese in this salad but you can swap that for mozzarella cheese, goat cheese or feta cheese.
Dressing: Other dressing ideas you could use are a balsamic vinegar dressing or a honey mustard dressing or your favorite homemade salad dressing.
Fruit: Add your favorite fruit. I love adding fresh apple, pear or even mandarin oranges. You also can add dried fruit like dried cranberries, raisins or apricots.
Grains: If you like grains in your salads try quinoa, couscous, or farro can turn your arugula salad into a heartier meal and provide extra fiber and texture.
Avocado: You can add sliced avocado to the salad for added healthy fats.
Arugula and pine nuts are such a great combination and this recipe is next level! Thank you for sharing this salad…good all year round!
I agree! They go so well together. Thanks Kelly- so glad you guys like it <3
This salad is delicious! The perfect summertime salad with fresh tomatoes and arugula from the garden. I will definitely be making this again.
I am so glad you enjoyed it! We love it too-so simple but so good.
Hi- I made this and it has been our go to salad- so simple yet it’s the salad everyone asks me to bring time and time again. My mom makes this dressing in a mason jar and keeps on hand. Hands down a winner!
Thank you! We love this one too. It is so easy but so good! 🙂
I made for Mothers Day and it was the star of the brunch!!!
I am so glad!
Love this recipe! It’s so refreshing and definitely in our regular rotation, as we have a salad with dinner most nights.
I am so glad! We also have salads most night and this one makes it on our table a lot too.
ooh wow nice and great article and very useful article.