Name: Arugula Salad with Sun-dried Tomatoes & Honey Lemon Vinaigrette
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 2 people as a side
Ingredients: 65 g arugula; 70 g sun-dried tomatoes (chopped, weight excl. oil); 2 Tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed, 2 Tbsp = about 1 lemon); 1 Tbsp honey; 1 Tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp sea salt flakes (slightly crushed); 0.5 tsp fresh ground black pepper

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My favorite summer salad is this Arugula Salad with Sun-dried Tomatoes, served with a delicious Honey Lemon Vinaigrette. For all those sweet & sour & salty lovers out there – like me. This flavor-packed salad is done in just 5 minutes, and goes perfectly with any kind of barbecue – especially a nice piece of beef.

side view of arugula salad with sun-dried tomatoes in a glass bowl with a spoon and fork

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Arugula or rocket – or rucola?

I know the arugula-rocket confusion is real – and here’s the deal: The difference between arugula and rocket is – nothing! It’s just the good old British vs American English conundrum. Americans say arugula, and the Brits say Rucola. And in Sweden (and Italy! and the rest of Europe?) we generally talk of Rucola. Same plant, differnt name. So now you know. Go out and besserwisser about it!

No matter what you call it, it’s a delicious type of salad with thin, delicate leaves that have a slightly peppery taste. Perfect for adding to salads, topping burgers with, serving fried cheese on top of, or anything else that could benefit from a subtle peppery punch – and some beautiful greens.

This arugula salad has been a barbecue staple in my life since I first had something similar in a restaurant a million (or ten) years ago. So delicious and so perfect in flavor that I just had to create my own version!

top view of arugula salad with sun-dried tomatoes on top of a kitchen towel with two lemon halves in the background

Why this recipe works

Quick & easy – minimal work, minimal chopping, minimal dishes and just 5 minutes to make.
Lemon juice gives acidity and lightens the salad, making it perfect for pairing with a heavier piece of meat and fatty sauces like the Swedish barbecue-go-to bearneaise.
Sea salt flakes that are just slightly crushed adds complexity by making each bite a bit different.
And while we’re at it – sour & salty might just be the best flavor combo there is!
But too much of anything is never good – so the honey balances the acidity & saltiness and makes it come together in a smooth harmony.
Peppery arugula adds another layer of flavor and is a perfect base for all the flavor of that vinaigrette.
Sun-dried tomatoes add a delicious extra, slightly chewy texture layer – and we all love our layers!

closeup of arugula and sun-dried tomato salad

Expert tips for making this

Serve this salad immediately – it’s not a good one for storing and will just turn out too sour and with sad, wilted arugula leaves.
There’s so much flavor here – so be sure to taste test at all steps. This means tasting the vinaigrette before adding the sun-dried tomatoes to make sure the balance of sweet-sour-acidic is just right (for you!), tasting a piece of sun-dried tomato drenched in the vinaigrette to make sure the balance still holds and then once again after mixing in the arugula. Remember, you can always add more lemon & salt at a later stage but you can’t take it away! So if you’re unsure how salty & acidic you like it – go with half the amount first and add more as you go.

How to make Arugula Salad with Sun-dried Tomatoes & Honey Lemon Vinaigrette

Not a lot of prep needed for this recipe! Just squeeze your lemon and chop your sun-dried tomatoes, and you’re good to go.

process shot 1-4 showing ow to start making honey lemon vinaigrette

Start by making the vinaigrette. The easiest way is to make it in a your mixing or serving bowl. I like making salad in an oversized bowl for easy mixing, and then transferring it to a smaller serving bowl when it’s done.

For the vinigrette, start by adding lemon juice, honey and olive oil.

process shot 5-8 showing ow to make honey lemon vinaigrette

Then add your fresh ground black pepper and crush your sea salt flakes slightly and add them. And then blend everything together really well.

process shot 9-12 showing how to add sun-dried tomatoes and arugula to vinaigrette in bowl

Next up, add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Mix them into the vinaigrette so they’re completely covered and then add the arugula. Mix well to coat entirely, and then serve immediately!

Tools to help you make & serve this salad

What goes well with Arugula Salad

While delicious, the full flavor of this salad makes it better suited as a side than as a dish on its own. The acidity is a perfect companion for heavier dishes – a fatty fish, a heavy piece of grilled meat or anything served with a heavier sauce, like a berneaise sauce.

My go-to way of serving this salad? As a side for a nice piece of grilled Entrecôte, boiled new potatoes smothered in butter and maybe a spoonful (or ten) of a spiced berneaise sauce. Barbecue season just doesn’t get any better than that!

side view of arugula salad with sun-dried tomatoes in a glass bowl with a spoon and fork lifting up some salad

Let me know what your favorite way of serving this salad is! Just leave a comment below – and if you leave a rating while you’re at it, you’ll make me one happy girl!