Healthy Blueberry Walnut Arugula Summer Salad
My youngest asked for this three times in one week last July, which is the highest compliment I have ever received in this kitchen.
It is the kind of salad that does not feel like a compromise. The blueberries are sweet, the arugula bites back, and the walnuts give you something to chew.
Healthy Blueberry Walnut Arugula Summer Salad
Peppery arugula, sweet blueberries, and crunchy walnuts tossed in a bright lemon vinaigrette that comes together in 15 minutes flat.
Ingredients
- 5 cups baby arugula , loosely packed
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 1/2 cup raw walnuts , roughly chopped
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice , about 1 large lemon
- 1 tsp honey
- 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper , freshly cracked
Instructions
Tips & Notes
- Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring often, until they smell nutty and feel slightly tacky. It changes the whole salad.
- If you slice the red onion more than 20 minutes ahead, soak the slices in cold water for 5 minutes to mellow the bite.
- Dress the salad no more than 3 minutes before serving. Arugula wilts faster than most greens once the acid hits it.
- Swap feta for shaved Parmesan or goat cheese crumbles if that is what you have.
Nutrition per serving · estimated
Why This Combination Works
Arugula is peppery enough to hold its own against sweet fruit, which is exactly why blueberries belong here and not on a milder green. The lemon dressing ties the sharp and the sweet together without flattening either one.
Walnuts add a bitterness that echoes the arugula and a crunch that keeps every bite interesting. Feta brings salt and a little creaminess that rounds out what would otherwise be a very bright, acidic bowl.
Making It a Full Meal
Add sliced grilled chicken or a handful of cooked quinoa and this moves from side salad to lunch without any extra effort. I have done both on busy weeknights when I needed something fast and real.
Keep the dressing ratio the same even as you scale up the base. A little dressing goes further in a salad like this than you expect.
