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Arugula Salad Recipes

February 20, 2013
Photo: Oxmoor House
Known for having a peppery taste, arugula is commonly used to intensify flavor in salads of all sorts. From brightly-colored soft-boiled eggs to zesty grilled chicken to shrimp, dressing arugula salad is simple but never boring. Don't be fooled by this light leaf: Arugula is chock-full of nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins. We've compiled our best arugula salad recipes to spice up your lunch break. 
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Arugula, Egg, and Charred Asparagus Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Arugula, Egg, and Charred Asparagus Salad

Just a hint of char on the asparagus adds fantastic complexity to this simple 5-ingredient spring salad. Look for medium stalks rather than pencil-thin ones—those would char and dry out too quickly. A soft-boiled egg adds protein and richness; let the slightly runny yolks mingle with the rest of the salad before enjoying. Whole-milk Greek yogurt has a lusciousness and milder tang than lower-fat yogurt. It's the perfect binder for the lemony dressing. Serve with a slice of multigrain bread spread with goat cheese and a dash of cracked black pepper.

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Grilled Lemon Chicken Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Grilled Lemon Chicken Salad

Simple and bright, this is the kind of main that puts us in the mood for spring. If you’ve never thrown fresh lemons on the grill, try it: The slight edge of char intensifies their tartness, and they look gorgeous. The marinade is more of a wet rub since the chicken goes straight to the grill, though you could refrigerate up to a day ahead. This salad is endlessly adaptable for spring and summer vegetables: Try shaved carrot and summer squash ribbons, haricots verts, or even just a shower of fresh herbs.

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Tortellini, Chicken, and Arugula Salad

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
View Recipe: Tortellini, Chicken, and Arugula Salad

Quality meets convenience in this speedy springtime main. This salad fits right into your weekday lineup with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Prewashed greens let you grab a handful and go. Build a salad, wilt into sautés, or blend into a pesto. Look to Buitoni pasta packs for quick meals on their own or to help you elevate salads and soups. Rotisserie chicken is one of your best supermarket allies for fast and fresh weeknight meals.

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Warm Bacon-Dijon Lentil Salad with Goat Cheese Crostini

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Warm Bacon-Dijon Lentil Salad with Goat Cheese Crostini

Take advantage of quality shortcut ingredients for a satisfying meal with next to no prep. Precooked lentils reheat in a warm-sherry vinaigrette for an effortless French-inspired main.

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Radish and Parmesan Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Radish and Parmesan Salad

Tender lettuce allows flavor-forward radish and Parmesan to shine. 

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Avocado and Almond Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Avocado and Almond Salad

Creamy avocado and crunchy almonds make for a perfectly balanced salad.

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Berry and Walnut Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Berry and Walnut Salad

Best enjoyed at the height of summer, this blueberry, strawberry, and walnut salad is a delicious way to use up fresh produce in your fridge. The use of honey and buttermilk makes for a creamy dressing you won't soon forget.

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Salmon Salad on Arugula

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Salmon Salad on Arugula

One serving of this tasty fresh fish salad packs in a full day's worth of omega-3 fatty acids. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container up to two days.

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Poached Egg and Arugula Salad Bruschetta

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Poached Egg and Arugula Salad Bruschetta

In this Poached Egg and Arugula Salad Bruschetta dish, top toasts with bacon-y arugula salad, or break the egg and let the golden yolk run over all. For a simple side, riff on hash brown potatoes by tossing refrigerated potato wedges with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

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Arugula and Mushroom Salad

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Arugula and Mushroom Salad

A lemon vinaigrette lightly coats Arugula and Mushroom Salad. Make this side salad to complement your favorite pizza.

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Celery Root-Arugula Salad

Photo: Kang Kim
View Recipe: Celery Root-Arugula Salad

In this nutritious, vegetable-based salad, celery root and arugula combine to make a filling salad. Tip: Although all celery root will be misshapen and scruffy looking, don’t buy roots that are shriveled or that give to the touch.

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Lemony Grilled Shrimp Salad

Photo: Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine
View Recipe: Lemony Grilled Shrimp Salad

Combine citrusy grilled shrimp with arugula, avocado, and jicama to make a Mexican-inspired main dish salad.

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Salad with Cherries, Goat Cheese, and Pistachios

Photo: José Picayo
View Recipes; Salad with Cherries, Goat Cheese, and Pistachios

Fruit in salad may not be your thing, but the cherries really work here, offering a sweet, juicy burst to complement peppery greens and tangy cheese. Although we like the color of Rainiers, any cherry variety would taste great.

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Melon Salad with Prosciutto

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Melon Salad with Prosciutto

Salty cheese and ham accent the sweet summer fruit in this refreshing main-dish salad, a perfect meal on a sweltering summer day.

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Crispy Salmon and Arugula Salad with Carrot-Ginger Vinaigrette

Photo: Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine
View Recipe: Crispy Salmon and Arugula Salad with Carrot-Ginger Vinaigrette

This dressing is so fresh and so addictive, you might want to spoon it over everything. Simply made from a base of carrots and orange juice, it has Asian overtones, as does the salad, with its droplets of roasted sesame oil and rice vinegar. This sophisticated dish comes together quickly and feels healthy as can be.

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Herbed Shrimp and White Bean Salad

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Herbed Shrimp and White Bean Salad

Enjoy the tasty combination of peppery arugula and herbed shrimp in this delectable, protein-filled salad.

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Chicken and Prosciutto Salad with Arugula and Asiago

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Chicken and Prosciutto Salad with Arugula and Asiago

A weekday dinner gets very easy and very tasty with this standout chicken and arugula salad.

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Beet Salad Pizza

Photo: José Picayo
View Recipe: Beet Salad Pizza

Golden beets adorn this pizza that's layered with arugula, crumbled goat cheese, and shaved Parmesan and prosciutto. Pre-made pizza dough provides a jump-start to this recipe and cuts down on prep time, making it an ideal weeknight dish.

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Butternut Squash and Smoky Black Bean Salad

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Butternut Squash and Smoky Black Bean Salad

Adobo sauce adds a nice kick to this otherwise subtle salad and can be found with canned chipotle chiles at the grocery store. Use just the sauce here; reserve the chiles for another use.

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Sautéed Chicken and Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Sautéed Chicken and Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

Simple but savory, this salad is bursting with flavor from sweet and spicy flavor combination of Dijon mustard and maple syrup.

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Whole Roasted Endives with Pear, Arugula, and Walnut Salad

Photo: Nina Choi
View Recipe: Whole Roasted Endives with Pear, Arugula, and Walnut Salad

Made from lemon juice, walnut oil, and apple cider, the dressing in this salad is rich and a perfect fit for the endives and pear.

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Tomato and Arugula Salad

Photo: Johnny Autry and Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Tomato and Arugula Salad

Our simple side salad of arugula and tomato is perfect to pair with a heavier meat-based dish and is ready in just minutes.

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Tuscan-Style New York Strip with Arugula-Artichoke Salad

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Tuscan-Style New York Strip with Arugula-Artichoke Salad

Based on the classic bistecca Fiorentina – grilled porterhouse – this dish uses sirloin strip steaks, which are leaner (and, because they're boneless, a little easier to grill) than porterhouse. Lemon juice is a traditional accent in the dish, meant to cut the richness of the meat.

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Toasted Chickpea and Apricot Salad

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Toasted Chickpea and Apricot Salad

With just the right about of protein, our chickpea salad serves as a hearty lunch or lighter dinner option.

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Roasted Asparagus and Tomato Penne Salad with Goat Cheese

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Roasted Asparagus and Tomato Penne Salad with Goat Cheese

Make an upscale pasta salad that’s company worthy by combining penne pasta, roasted asparagus, tomato, arugula, herbes de Provence and goat cheese and tossing with a lemony vinaigrette. Serve immediately or cover and chill for 2 hours for a cold pasta salad.

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Frisée and Arugula Salad

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Frisée and Arugula Salad

Get your fix of Italian flare with this pleasantly pungent and peppery green salad. If you want a more mild radish flavor, look to make this in the spring when the radishes are at their peak. Pairs perfectly with Arctic Char with Orange-Caper Relish.

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Crispy Chickpea Salad with Grilled Prawns

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Crispy Chickpea Salad with Grilled Prawns

Too cold to grill but craving this delicious seafood salad? Broil the shrimp skewers, or cook them on the stovetop in a grill pan.

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Honey Balsamic-Arugula Salad

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Honey Balsamic-Arugula Salad

Enjoy the sweet and spicy juxtaposition of flavors in our arugula salad. Chopped walnuts also offer a pleasant crunch and mix-up of textures.

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Orange Salad with Arugula and Oil-Cured Olives

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Orange Salad with Arugula and Oil-Cured Olives

This minty salad makes a refreshing first course for a special occasion. Every component of the salad can be prepared and ready to serve well in advance. Make the dressing several hours or even a day ahead; just bring to room temperature before tossing with arugula.

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Fall Salad with Apples, Walnuts, and Stilton

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Fall Salad with Apples, Walnuts, and Stilton

If you prefer a milder flavored cheese, use crumbled goat cheese in place of Stilton in this appetizing fall salad.

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Grilled Chicken and Tomato Salad

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Grilled Chicken and Tomato Salad

This salad recipe may sound ordinary, but you’ll think otherwise once you taste the fresh produce and flavorful goat cheese in every bite.

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Tuna, Arugula, and Egg Salad with Pita Chips

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Tuna, Arugula, and Egg Salad with Pita Chips

Coming in at just around 270 calories per serving, this lighter option doesn’t sacrifice nutrition or flavor. If your budget allows, try a premium jarred tuna, like Ortiz, which is rich, firm, and meaty.

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Grilled Vegetable and Goat Cheese Salad

View Recipe: Grilled Vegetable and Goat Cheese Salad

The nut mix adds crunch and heat, pleasant foils to creamy goat cheese and sweet bell pepper.

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Sautéed Artic Char and Arugula Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Sautéed Artic Char and Arugula Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette

Incorporate more fish into your regular, healthy diet with this delectable dinner salad. If you can't find arctic char, substitute another sustainable option like Alaskan salmon.

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Grilled Steak with Baby Arugula and Parmesan Salad

Photo: Johnny Autry
View Recipe: Grilled Steak with Baby Arugula and Parmesan Salad

Intense flavor and easy prep makes this salad a wonderful weeknight option for the family.

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Arugula, Italian Tuna, and White Bean Salad

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Arugula, Italian Tuna, and White Bean Salad

This no-cook dinner recipe is packed with colorful vegetables and gets a flavor kick from its zesty vinaigrette.

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Lemon-Arugula Potato Salad

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Lemon-Arugula Potato Salad

Looking to prep your salad ahead of time for dinner tonight? If you want to make this potato salad in advance, prepare the recipe through step two. Once the potato mixture is completely cooled, cover and refrigerate. Toss with fresh arugula just before serving so the greens don't wilt or get bruised.

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Steak House Pizza

Photo: Jose Picayo
View Recipe: Steak House Pizza

Wider, less-lobed Eruca sativa varieties, which are more palatable in larger quantities when dressed simply, would be a great topping on this pizza. This is a new take on a “steak and salad with a side of bread” and a fun way to enjoy dinner in a bite.

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