For a fresh & fun summer salad, this strawberry arugula salad is the way to celebrate the season. With macadamias & parmesan, it's sweet, crunchy, nutty, peppery, & savory. Drizzle with a homemade honey balsamic dressing & there's no turning back.
This was inspired by another wonderful fruit & greens combination, my recipe for Grilled Peach & Goat Cheese Arugula Salad also on this site. This recipe is a bit faster to make since no grilling is involved. It's ideal for a light lunch or a side dish for BBQ, picnics, dinner, or parties served with another fun & fast summer recipe, Grilled Chicken Thighs.
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Ingredients
The salad is loaded with juicy fresh strawberries, crunchy macadamia nuts, and sharp parmesan, and tossed with spicy arugula for a flavor explosion.
Use fresh quality ingredients so the flavors & textures really shine. This is key when making a simple arugula salad with fruits & nuts.
- Baby Arugula - fresh small & tender leaves are ideal when making salads
- Strawberries - the sweet-tart berries that are ripe are key, no need to buy the huge ones that are often more pricey when you will cut them up anyway
- Macadamia Nuts - roasted & salted works best but plain unsalted is ok too
- Red Onion - sliced thinly
- Parmesan Cheese - use a block & freshly shave ribbons off it for the best flavor
- Olive Oil - Extra virgin is what you want to use when it is for dressing a salad
- Balsamic Vinegar - just a drizzle is all you need & it pairs perfectly with strawberries & arugula
- Honey - to balance the vinegar & emulsify the dressing
- Salt & Black Pepper - fresh ground for the dressing
See the recipe card for quantities.
Health Benefits of this Salad
There are so many wonderful health benefits that come along for the ride when you eat this delicious salad. Several of the whole food ingredients are superfoods with nutritional values that your body will love.
Here is why this arugula salad is a healthy recipe & great for any diet.
- Arugula - loaded with calcium for bone & teeth health, Vitamin K for blood coagulation, Vitamin C a powerful antioxidant & potassium for a natural electrolyte, and many other health benefits.
- Strawberries - this low-calorie, low-sugar/low-glycemic fruit is great for diabetics but also has vitamin C and polyphenols, which are antioxidant compounds.
- Macadamia Nuts - loaded with good monounsaturated fats that help with good cholesterol, packed with protein, & fiber; while filling you up (great for weight loss & metabolic control)
- Olive Oil - is another good fat that is monounsaturated plus promotes cardiovascular health plus good memory & brain function
How to Make Strawberry Arugula Salad
This recipe is quick and easy. Washing & drying the strawberries & arugula before making the salad is honestly what takes the longest. So plan a bit ahead so your produce has time to dry before you want to toss this together.
Hull (remove the stems) & slice the strawberries. I like to use a huller tool that is great for tomatoes & strawberries. So easy to use & an inexpensive time saver!
Slice the red onion into thin pieces. Also, chop or halve the macadamia nuts if using whole ones.
In a large bowl or platter add the arugula leaves. Top arugula with macadamias, strawberries, and red onion.
Make the Homemade Honey Balsamic Dressing
Here is how to make a quick & easy homemade honey balsamic dressing. It's sweet, sour, & tangy. All you need is 5 ingredients: olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, & pepper.
Place the ingredients in a mason jar & affix the lid on tight. Shake to combine. Or place the ingredients in a medium bowl & whisk.
Drizzle over the salad. Use a potato peeler or cheese grater to shave large ribbons of parmesan cheese over the salad. Finish with additional fresh cracked pepper.
Serving Suggestion
Serve on dinner plates for 2 people or as a side dish for 4 people. Enjoy this strawberry & parmesan arugula salad with honey balsamic dressing immediately.
Enjoy as a side dish for 4-6 people. Enjoy with my recipe for Flank Steak Sandwich or Smoked Pulled Pork.
Hint: Don't dress the salad until you are ready to serve it. Enjoy immediately so the greens & strawberries are crisp & fresh - not wilted from the oil & vinegar dressing.
Variations
This baby arugula salad is a no-fuss recipe that's so versatile. A few additions to this salad can elevate it even more. Here are a few other ingredients I recommend & find equally as tasty.
- Spinach - combine baby spinach with the baby arugula
- Very Berry - also add raspberries & blackberries or try my Blueberry Spinach Salad too.
- Avocado - add a sliced avocado for more healthy fats
- Cucumber - enjoy more veggies with some cool crisp cucumbers that pair well with strawberries & arugula.
- Goat Cheese or Blue Cheese- use this instead of parmesan for a tangy cream cheese alternative.
- Protein - make it a meal by adding leftover chicken or seafood.
The salad is gluten-free, meatless, vegetarian, & keto-friendly. Even with a little bit of honey, the salad is still low-carb at under 6 net carbs per serving.
FAQ
The quantities in this arugula salad with strawberries & parmesan are enough for 4 people as a side dish. It can also be enjoyed as a main course salad for 2 people. Top it with some grilled chicken, shrimp, or tri-tip steak for a great summer meal.
There are many fruits without seeds. Strawberries have no seeds or pit on the inside but they do on the outside. They are the only fruit with seeds on the exterior - cool, right?
Strawberry Arugula Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups baby arugula
- ½ cup salted & roasted macadamia nuts halved
- ½ cup fresh strawberries stems removed & sliced
- ¼ cup red onion thinly sliced
- 2 ounces shaved parmesan cheese
Honey Balsamic Vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ½ tablespoon honey
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash and dry the produce - berries & arugula.
- In a large salad bowl or serving platter, add the arugula. Top arugula with macadamias, strawberries, and red onion.
- Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Or add to a mason jar, affix the lid, and shake to combine.
- Drizzle over the salad. Use a potato peeler or cheese grater to shave large ribbons of parmesan cheese over the salad. Finish with additional fresh cracked pepper.
- Enjoy immediately after dressing when it is fresh & crisp.
Nutrition
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