This Strawberry Arugula Salad Recipe is the only way I want to eat my greens! Baby arugula gets a major upgrade with creamy avocado, juicy strawberries, and maple-coated nuts. Then we hit it with a surprisingly delicious zesty lime-jalapeño dressing that brings a little kick and a whole lotta flavor. So good!
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Salad season just got a serious upgrade with this insanely tasty combo. We've tossed all kinds of fruit into salads before, but this strawberry version might be my new favorite, especially when those berries are in season and extra sweet.
We're on a mission to make salad the star of your plate-not just a sad side dish. So we've put together a whole lineup of crave-worthy salad recipes (plus super simple dressings) to keep things fresh and easy!
Why this recipe is great
- Highly flavorful and interesting textures. Nothing boring here!
- Really unique dressing with this kind of salad. The slightly sweet and spicy dressing is a major hit!
- Perfect for everyday, but also a stunning addition to your Easter recipes or Mother's Day brunch.
Strawberry arugula salad ingredients
Just a handful of fresh ingredients and a couple of pantry staples, and this salad comes together in no time - ready to eat and totally delicious!
- Arugula: Peppery and a little tangy, it's the perfect base for this salad.
- Strawberries: Fresh, ripe strawberries bring a burst of sweetness and incredible flavor.
- Avocado: Creamy and mild, avocado slices take this salad to the next level.
- Maple pistachios: A quick cook with maple syrup makes these crunchy nuts the sweetest, most addictive bite.
- Feta cheese: Salty and a bit pungent, feta adds the perfect tangy finish.
- Dressing ingredients: Lime juice, jalapeno, honey, salt, and light olive oil come together for a zesty dressing that's completely craveable!
Helpful kitchen tools
How to make arugula salad with strawberries
This is a really simple salad. Once the nuts are toasted and the quick dressing is made, it is basically just assembly. Both the nuts and the dressing can be made up to a week in advance.
In a large skillet add pistachios, maple syrup, oil, and salt and stir together. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. They will done in about 5 minutes or when they just being to smell toasty.
Allow them to cool in the pan. They might stick together in clumps, just break them up with your hands.
To make the dressing, add in all the ingredients to a small food processor or blender. Blend for 30 seconds to a minute until it is well combined.
Taste to see if it needs more honey or salt. Add if needed.
Before serving, wash the arugula and dry thoroughly. Our favorite tool is this salad spinner.
Slice the strawberries and avocados just before serving.
Add the arugula, strawberries, nuts, avocado slices, and feta cheese to a serving bowl, and toss the ingredients together just before serving.
Hint: Avocado is known for turning brown as it is exposed to air. To avoid that, be sure to slice them just before it is time to serve.
Variations and substitutions
- In place of arugula, try butter lettuce or romaine. Neither have the peppery bite that arugula is still delicious!
- Maple pecans or almond would be great as well.
- For other cheese options, try blue cheese crumbles, Swiss cheese, or even creamy mozzarella.
- Any ripe and tasty berry would be perfect: blackberries, raspberries, or blueberries.
FAQs
The salad as a whole should not be made in advance. However, the nuts can be toasted and the dressing can be made up to a week in advance. Toast the nuts and mix up the dressing up to a week ahead. On the day you're serving, wash and dry the arugula and slice up the strawberries. Just keep everything chilled in the fridge until you're ready to toss it all together.
Once this salad is dressed it needs to be eaten. The dressing will cause the arugula to become unappetizing. However, if there are components left that have bot been dressed, store them in their own containers in the refrigerator.
Tips & Tricks
- Don't skip toasting the nuts! It really adds tremendous flavor and an extra little crunch to the salad.
- Cut the avocado just before serving to maintain it's vibrant color.
- The dressing and nuts can be made ahead if desired.
More recipes using fresh produce
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Recipe
Pretty Strawberry Arugula Salad Recipe (Craveable Dressing!)
Equipment
Ingredients
Salad
- 10 ounces baby arugula
- 1 lb fresh strawberries thinly sliced
- 2 avocados thinly sliced
- ½ cup feta cheese
Maple Nuts
- 1 cup unsalted pistachios see note below for substitutions
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
Dressing
- 1 small jalapeno remove the seeds of the jalapeno if you want less spice
- ⅔ cup light olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lime zest
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Nuts
- Preheat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add pistachios, maple syrup, oil, and salt and stir. Bring to a simmer and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until they begin to smell fragrant about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and set a timer for 1 minute. Stir pistachios again. Do this a total of 5 times. The pan might still be warm but it shouldn't be hot. Allow nuts to cool in the pan until room temperature.
- Once cool, break up with your hands.
Dressing
- Cut the jalapeno into 4-5 large pieces. Place all ingredients in a blender or small food processor and pulse until everything is combined. Taste. Add more salt or honey if desired. Set aside.
Salad
- Layer salad ingredients in a large serving bowl. Pour on desired amount of dressing and toss thoroughly.
Notes
- Don't skip toasting the nuts! It really adds tremendous flavor and an extra little crunch to the salad.
- Cut the avocado just before serving to maintain it's vibrant color.
- The dressing and nuts can be made ahead if desired.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.
Danielle says
This salad is so full of flavor! It's the perfect side for any dinner.