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This Simple Arugula Salad is the perfect side salad for any summer barbecue. With sun-dried tomatoes and a honey lemon vinaigrette it's sweet, sour & salty - with a kick from peppery arugula. All done in just 5 minutes!
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Why you will love this recipe
- It's quick - all done in 5 minutes, seriously!
- It's easy - just a few easy steps & simple ingredients
- Pepperiness from arugula
- Sweetness from honey
- Acidity from fresh squeezed lemon
- Saltiness from crushed sea salt flakes
- Multiple textures with chewy tomatoes and the occasional crispy sea salt flake
What you need to make it
Ingredient notes & substitutions
- Sun-dried tomatoes: I always use the kind in oil, but you can also use the dried kind. Soak the dry ones in warm water for 2 hours, or until sufficiently softened.
- Honey - use liquid honey for easy mixing
- Fresh lemon juice - bottled won't do
- Olive oil can be swapped for another type of vegetable oil
- Black pepper - fresh ground is best, but anything works
How to make it
- Place all the ingredients for the vinaigrette in a bowl large enough to hold all of the salad. Crush the sea salt flakes a bit in your hand as you are adding them.
- Mix well and taste test to make sure the balance is just right for your taste
- Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes and mix
- Add arugula and mix until everything is well combined.
Tips & tricks
- Taste the vinaigrette to make sure the balance of sweet, salty & acidic is just right for you
- Serve it immediately - this is not a good one for storing
Recipe FAQ
There is no difference! It's just a matter of British vs American English. Americans say arugula, Brits say rocket, and in the rest of Europe we generally talk of rucola.
This salad is 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 simple arugula 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!
More quick & easy summer salad recipes
Love quick & easy summer salads like this easy arugula salad? Then you're going to love these:
- Avocado Mango Salad with Salted Roasted Peanuts
- Caulislaw
- Creamy French Potato Salad (without mayo!)
- Shopska Salad with Feta Cheese [Vegetarian]
Did you love this recipe? Rate it five stars!
...and let me know what you loved about it in the comments.
Recipe
Simple Arugula Salad with Sun-dried Tomatoes & Honey Lemon Vinaigrette
Print Pin RateIngredients
- 2 handfuls arugula
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped
Honey Lemon Vinaigrette
- 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
Instructions
- In a bowl large enough to hold all the salad, mix together the ingredients for the vinaigrette. Taste test and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Add in the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and mix.
- Add in the arugula and mix. Serve immediately!
Equipment needed for this recipe
- Large bowl
Video
Notes
Ingredient notes & substitutions
- Sun-dried tomatoes: I always use the kind in oil, but you can also use the dried kind. Soak the dry ones in warm water for 2 hours, or until sufficiently softened.
- Honey - use liquid honey for easy mixing
- Fresh lemon juice - bottled won't do
- Olive oil can be swapped for another type of vegetable oil
- Black pepper - fresh ground is best, but anything works
Tips & tricks
- Taste the vinaigrette to make sure the balance of sweet, salty & acidic is just right for you
- Serve it immediately - it's not a good one for storing
Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.
Emily
I absolutely LOVE arugula in salad. The dressing for this sounds heavenly too!
Tara
I can see why this is your favorite summer salad! All those flavors sound incredible. Definitely perfect for pairing with barbecue.
cheflolaskitchen
looks perfect for summers!
Eden | Sweet Tea and Thyme
This was such a perfect salad to eat with our dinner al fresco! The sweet tanginess of the vinaigrette went really well with the peppery arugula. Great recipe!
Emmeline Kemperyd
Thank you so much, Eden!
Tara
Love arugula's peppery bite -- this dressing is perfect with it!