Arugula with Lemon Dressing (Printable)

Fresh arugula combined with a tangy lemon dressing and Parmesan shavings for a light, flavorful salad.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 4 cups fresh arugula, washed and dried
02 - 1.5 oz Parmesan cheese, shaved
03 - 1 small shallot, thinly sliced (optional)

→ Lemon Dressing

04 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
05 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
06 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
07 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
08 - 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until fully blended.
02 - Place arugula and shallot, if using, into a large salad bowl. Drizzle with the lemon dressing and toss gently to coat evenly.
03 - Transfer the dressed arugula to a serving platter or individual plates.
04 - Top the salad with shaved Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's ready faster than you can set the table, yet tastes like you actually spent time in the kitchen.
  • That peppery-bright combination keeps you reaching for another forkful, even when you're already full.
  • The lemon dressing does all the heavy lifting—no complicated techniques, just good ingredients doing what they do best.
02 -
  • Dress the salad just before serving; even five minutes of sitting lets the acid in the lemon juice start wilting the delicate arugula.
  • Taste the dressing before you dress the salad—it should be punchy and bright on its own, because that's your final flavor.
03 -
  • Make sure your arugula is completely dry before dressing—any excess water dilutes the dressing and makes the salad wilt faster.
  • If you're making the dressing ahead, store it separately and dress the salad at the last possible moment for maximum crispness and brightness.
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