Arugula Salad with Strawberries and Spicy Vinaigrette

This Arugula Salad recipe is sweet, refreshing, filled with fresh fruit, and creamy avocado, and topped with crunchy walnuts and a drizzle of spicy vinaigrette. It is a perfectly healthy salad for the warm summer months.

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• More Than A Salad
• FAQs + Top Tips
• More Salad Recipes you might like
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Do I really open a blog post by talking about the weather? How cliche. But I think we can all agree that weather affects mood. It certainly affects mine. This past week we've had some blazing hot days - quite unusual for May. I have no room to complain though, as winter was long here and lingered on. It felt good to be outside, laying in the grass, searching for four-leaf clovers, and almost expecting the chorus of cicadas to begin their song. But it's too soon.

When it's impossibly hot and out of character for the time of year, I try to match my food to the weather. Simmering meatballs for 3 hours on a 94-degree day, not so good. A nice refreshing salad with lots of greens and fruit - a very good idea. I used whatever fruit I had on hand, a nice handful of arugula, and made a very simple dressing to go along with it. 

More Than A Salad

Once upon a time, a salad for me was defined by iceberg lettuce, ranch dressing, and an almost sickening amount of croutons. Sounds alright though and I really did enjoy it. It was more like bread and sour cream and some greens, but that's beside the point. As the years passed, I opened up to the idea of using ingredients that one wouldn't necessarily expect to show up in a salad, such as strawberries, mango, and blueberries. I find it to be the perfect summer salad as it is refreshing, light, and healthy.

FAQs + Top Tips

Why Add Fruit To Salad?

With the strawberry season quickly approaching, I decided to create a salad that uses plenty of them. After all, strawberries are the most delicious, juicy, and flavorful when in season. In addition to strawberries, this salad is loaded with blueberries, mango, and avocado. I find these to be the best fruit for salads. A sprinkle of crunchy walnuts and a drizzle of cayenne lemon vinaigrette, over peppery arugula, is a warm day's companion and a healthy salad that's perfectly balanced.

Can You Substitute Arugula?

Arugula is definitely an acquired taste as it has a peppery bite to it. If you're not a fan of arugula, you can easily substitute a milder green like spinach or mixed greens of your choice. They all work in this salad.

Why Organic Berries Make A Difference? 

When it comes to fruit for salads, if possible, look for locally grown organic berries. During the summer months, organic strawberries and blueberries are much more affordable than they would be during any other time of the year.

Do You Need Mango And Blueberries?

Because I like the combination of the bright fruit in here, I decided to add them in as well, but if you want to keep it strictly to arugula and strawberry, you can forgo these two or add blackberries or mix and match as you see fit. 

Should You Toast The Walnuts?

I've tried this arugula salad with toasted as well as raw walnuts and they both work. But the truth is, toasted walnuts add that nice deep flavor and crunch so if you can, lightly toast your walnuts for 5-10 minutes in a 350-degree oven, given them a shake halfway. 

Is The Lemon Cayenne Dressing Very Spicy?

If spice is your thing, feel free to double up on the cayenne pepper. But if it's not, keep it to just ⅛ tsp. I find it to be the perfect amount of heat for me. If heat is not your thing, skip the cayenne entirely and keep the dressing mild. It will be just as lovely as a lemon honey dressing. 

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