Lemon Vinaigrette Arugula Salad (Printer-friendly)

A bright, refreshing blend of arugula, lemon dressing, and shaved Parmesan cheese.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 5 ounces fresh arugula
02 - 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, shaved
03 - 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts, optional

→ Lemon Vinaigrette

04 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
05 - 1.5 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
06 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
07 - 0.5 teaspoon honey
08 - 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
09 - 0.25 teaspoon sea salt
10 - 0.125 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Steps:

01 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, garlic, salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified.
02 - Place the arugula in a large salad bowl. Drizzle with lemon vinaigrette and toss gently to coat the leaves evenly.
03 - Add the shaved Parmesan and toasted pine nuts if using. Toss lightly once more to combine.
04 - Transfer to serving plates immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan shavings if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in ten minutes flat, which means you can serve something that tastes like you spent all afternoon in the kitchen.
  • The brightness hits different when you squeeze the lemon yourself—it's sharper, more alive than anything bottled.
  • Peppery arugula with that tangy vinaigrette is somehow more satisfying than heavier salads, like your body knows it's getting something good.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad until you're ready to serve it; arugula wilts faster than you'd think, and a soggy salad loses all its charm.
  • Temperature matters—everything tastes better when the greens are cold and the vinaigrette is at room temperature, so chill your arugula and bowl for five minutes before you start if you have time.
03 -
  • Warm the bowl with hot water before assembling the salad, then dry it completely; this keeps the greens fresher longer and somehow makes everything taste a little better.
  • If your Parmesan is cold from the fridge, let it sit on the counter for a few minutes before shaving it—it'll curl more beautifully and won't shatter.
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