This is a fairly simple arugula salad that is full of fresh flavors. You can serve this as a side salad or as a main dish for a light lunch. Below you will find the perfect arugula salad dressing recipe that you can use for many other things such as marinades for meats!
This salad has been my go-to salad this winter because of the nutritious ingredients and how unique the peppery taste of the arugula is!
Overall it is a simple salad but the wild rice can take some time to cook. So I will be offering some ideas on how to cut back on the cooking time!
Nutritional Benefits
Fiber - This arugula salad recipe is packed with fiber from the wild rice and arugula!
Heart Healthy Fats - You get unsaturated fats from the pepitas and olive oil which help maintain heart health.
Storing
You can store this delicious salad in an airtight container! Eat within 3-5 days of making. I like to store the extra dressing separately so that the salad does not get soggy.
Additional Salad Recipes:
What You’ll Need:
Ingredients:
- Wild Rice
- Sweet Potatoes
- Olive Oil - I like to use extra virgin olive oil.
- Pepitas
- Arugula
- Goat Cheese
- Green Onions
- Dried Cranberries
- Rice Vinegar
- Dijon Mustard
- Ginger - My preference is fresh ginger.
- Soy Sauce - I use reduced-sodium soy sauce because of how much sodium soy sauce has!
- Black Pepper
Kitchen Equipment:
- Vegetable Peeler
- Oven
- Cutting Board
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Grater
- Sheet Pan
- Whisk
How to Make The Arugula Salad Dressing Recipe:
- Measure out all the ingredients listed for the dressing and grate the fresh ginger.
- Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk together.
- I like to store the dressing separately in case there are leftovers then the salad won’t turn soggy.
Hearty Winter Arugula Salad with Ginger Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup wild rice rinshed
- 2 medium sweet potatoes peeled and diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup pepitas
- 5 ounces arugula
- 4 ounces goat cheese crumbled
- ½ cup green onions sliced
- ½ cup dried cranberries
Ginger Dressing
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Start by cooking the wild rice. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the rinsed rice. Bring to a simmer and cook for 40-60 minutes or until the rice is tender (check the packaging of wild rice for exact instructions). Remove from heat drain the rice and return to the pot.
- While the rice is cooking, roast the sweet potatoes in a preheated oven (425℉). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the cubed sweet potatoes on the pan, drizzle with olive oil and salt, and mix well. Roast for about 25 minutes or until tender.
- For the dressing, combine all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk together.
- Assemble the salad by combining the arugula, wild rice, roasted sweet potatoes, pepitas, goat cheese, green onion, and dried cranberries in a large serving bowl. Mix well.
- Drizzle the dressing on individual servings so if you have leftovers the salad does not become soggy.
Notes
Nutrition
Variations/Substitutes
Buy microwavable wild rice and have your rice done in under 2 minutes!
Try using store-bought cubed sweet potatoes to cut back prep time.
Try a different nut/seed instead of pepitas - Pine nuts or sunflower seeds would taste great!
Add some basic ingredients to your salad for more flavor - lemon zest or fresh lemon juice, feta cheese or blue cheese, red onion, or baby spinach.
FAQ
You can store in a mason jar or purchase a salad dressing container. I love making my own dressings so this dressing container is perfect!
You could make an easy arugula salad with some fresh stone fruits, an arugula and pear salad, arugula pesto, strawberry arugula salad, or add on top of pizza.
Many people describe arugula with a peppery flavor. As I get older the pepper flavoring is less strong and I really enjoy it in a green salad!
Try this simple arugula salad recipe for a meal or if you are entertaining! People will talk about this recipe for days and ask you for the recipe, I promise!
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