Arugula Pecan Salad with Simple Balsamic Dressing

   Arugula Pecan Salad with Simple Balsamic Dressing – Freshness at its best with lots of delicious flavors and textures you’re going to love. A favorite lettuce in my family, grab a bag from the market and start fixing your own salad.  Enjoy every crunchy bite!

If you have never tried arugula lettuce, you must! It’s a delicate lettuce leaf with a slightly bitter, slightly sweet taste. Some people describe it as a peppery taste. Arugula has become my family’s favorite lettuce these days. It’s a great base for any salad. You can add different texture lettuces but, we think it’s perfect on it’s own. Sometimes when making pizza, I top it with arugula and parmesan cheese. It’ so good!  This salad was really easy to throw together since I grabbed leftover veggies from the fridge and tossed them on top of a package of arugula that was already washed. So convenient especially on a busy weeknight. Grab that arugula and pile on the veggies and whatever else you like in a salad an dig in!

Arugula Pecan Salad with Simple Balsamic Dressing

Yields:  2 large main course salads or 4 small salads

Ingredients: 

• 1 bag prewashed arugula lettuce, regular or baby arugula
• 2 cups chopped veggies, I used carrots, red onions, cabbage, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, and jicama. (Find chopped veggies at your local market in the salad bar section)
• 1/2 cup toasted pecans,(these are so delicious and come already roasted with just a hint of salt) coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries or any dried fruit of choice
• chopped avocado, optional
• 1/4  cup slivered  almonds for garnish and more crunch

Crispy arugula

Crunchy pecans

Dressing Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed is best
• 2 tbsp cold water
• 1 tsp zest of orange
• 1/2 – 1 tsp sea or kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp ground pepper
• 1 tbsp honey, optional

Directions:

1. In a large bowl layer arugula then layer all chopped veggies on top.
2. Add cranberries, and pecans. Toss gently. Top with slivered almonds for garnish.
3. For dressing; add all ingredients into a mason jar or any jar with a tight lid and shake well. (keeps in fridge up to one week, you will have leftover, makes about 1 1/4 cups dressing)
4. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss. Plate up and enjoy this tasty delicious salad.

Note: Add sliced grilled chicken, steak or fish for added protein. For vegetarian, try some grated cheese of choice. For vegan, add some tofu or beans.

Enjoy the wonderful textures and flavors!

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Arugula Pecan Salad with Simple Balsamic Dressing

Freshness at its best with lots of delicious flavors and textures you’re going to love. A favorite lettuce in my family, grab a bag from the market and start fixing your own salad. Enjoy every crunchy bite!

Course Appetizer, Dinner, First Course, Lunch, Main Course, Salad

Cuisine American

Keyword Arugula, pecans, salad

Prep Time 10 minutes

Servings 2 large salads

Author Pam

Ingredients

• 1 bag prewashed arugula lettuce, regular or baby arugula
• 2 cups chopped veggies, I used carrots, red onions, cabbage, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, and jicama. (Find chopped veggies at your local market in the salad bar section)
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup toasted pecans,(these are so delicious and come already roasted with just a hint of salt) coarsely chopped
• diced avocado, optional
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds for garnish and more crunch

Simple Dressing

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup orange juice, freshly squeezed is best
• 2 tbsp cold water
• 1 tsp zest of orange
• 1/2 - 1 tsp sea or kosher salt, taste test
• 1/2 tsp ground pepper
• 1 tbsp honey, optional

Instructions

1. 1.In a large bowl layer arugula then layer all chopped veggies on top.

   2.Add cranberries, and pecans. Toss gently. Top with slivered almonds for garnish.

   3.For dressing; add all ingredients into a mason jar or any jar with a tight lid and shake well. (keeps in fridge up to one week, you will have leftover, makes about 1 1/4 cups dressing)

   4.Drizzle dressing over salad and toss. Plate up and enjoy this tasty delicious salad. Enjoy the freshness!

Don’t leave just yet…check out a couple more delectable salad recipe. You’ll love these too! 

Simple Hemp Seed Chickpea Salad

   And…

Simple Strawberry Spa Salad 

Enjoy all these wonderful, colorful salads!

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