Powell Family Cooking

  • Recipe Index
  • Summer Recipes
  • Little Chefs
  • About Us
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Summer Recipes
  • Little Chefs
  • About Us
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Summer Recipes
  • Little Chefs
  • About Us
×
You are here: Home / Recipes / Salad

Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

📋 Modified: Mar 5, 2025 Published: Oct 17, 2020 by 👩🏻‍🍳 Jami Powell · This post may contain affiliate links · 💬 1 Comment

Be the friend who shares good food.

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Reddit
  • SMS
Jump to Recipe

This Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette is light, zesty, and the perfect complement to any meal. The peppery bite of fresh arugula pairs beautifully with a bright, homemade lemon dressing that comes together in seconds.

This salad pairs perfectly with our Bay Scallop Pasta or Shrimp Scampi (Without Wine) for a light and refreshing meal.

arugula side salad with lemon vinaigrette close up with a wedge of lemon.

Save This Recipe 💌

Enter your email below and we'll send it to your inbox. Plus, you'll get new recipes from us each week!

Looking for more great side salad ideas? Try our Halloumi Cheese Salad or our Arugula Salad with Balsamic Dressing.

Jump to:
  • Why We Love This Recipe
  • Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette Ingredients
  • Substitutions & Variations
  • How to Make an Arugula Salad with Lemon Dressing
  • Expert Tips for Success
  • Storage
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Lemony Recipes You'll Love ♥️
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Share Your Thoughts

Why We Love This Recipe

  • Bright and refreshing: The zesty lemon vinaigrette enhances the fresh arugula.
  • Quick to prepare: Ready in just 5 minutes with simple ingredients.
  • Pairs with everything: Complements pasta, seafood, chicken, and more.
  • Healthy and light: A flavorful way to add greens to your meal.

Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette Ingredients

This arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette comes together with just a few simple, high-quality ingredients that pack a punch of flavor.

A labeled photo of everything needed to make an arugula salad with lemon dressing.
  • Arugula: Peppery and crisp, arugula adds a fresh bite that balances the tangy dressing.
  • Parmesan: Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano brings a salty, nutty richness to the salad.
  • Lemon: Fresh lemon juice gives the vinaigrette a bright, zesty kick.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil: A high-quality olive oil adds richness and smooths out the acidity.
  • White Wine Vinegar: Mild and slightly sweet, it enhances the lemon for a well-rounded dressing.

A full ingredient list with exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.

Substitutions & Variations

  • Parmesan: Use Pecorino Romano for a sharper, slightly saltier bite.
  • Additional Toppings: Take this salad to the next level by adding some toasted pine nuts or prosciutto.

How to Make an Arugula Salad with Lemon Dressing

Lemon vinaigrette being whisked in a bowl.

Step 1: Prepare the Dressing

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the olive oil, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, and black pepper until well combined. Set aside.

Parmesan cheese being shaved with a vegetable peeler.

Step 2: Prepare Ingredients

Rinse the arugula under cold water and allow it to drain in a colander. Pat dry if needed.

Using a vegetable peeler, shave thin pieces of Parmesan from a block of Parmigiano Reggiano.

Arugula lettuce leaves with parmesan tossed over the top.

Step 3: Assemble the Salad

In a large salad bowl, add the arugula and Parmesan shavings.

Arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette tossed in a white bowl with lemon on top.

Step 4: Dress and Serve

Drizzle the prepared lemon vinaigrette over the salad. Toss gently to coat.

Adjust seasoning with additional lemon juice, black pepper, or salt if desired.
Serve immediately, garnished with lemon slices if preferred.

Expert Tips for Success

👩‍🍳Jami's Pro Tips: Want to take this recipe to the next level? Check out my expert tips below for the best flavor, texture, and meal prep hacks!

✔️ DO Only use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor—bottled lemon juice won’t give the same bright, fresh taste.
✔️ DO Use high-quality extra virgin olive oil, as it enhances the overall flavor of the dressing.
✔️ DO Toss the salad just before serving to keep the arugula crisp and fresh.

Storage

Store salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator without dressing. If the salad is moist from being washed, place a paper towel on top of it to draw out the moisture.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make an arugula salad with lemon dressing ahead of time?

Yes, but for the best texture, keep the arugula and dressing separate until you're ready to serve. The lemon vinaigrette can be made in advance and stored in the fridge for up to a week.

What proteins pair well with a simple arugula salad?

Arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette pairs well with grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon, or even chickpeas for a plant-based option. The bright acidity of the dressing complements both lean and rich proteins.

How do I keep arugula from becoming too bitter?

To balance the bitterness, use a well-emulsified lemon vinaigrette with a touch of honey or maple syrup. Adding toppings like shaved Parmesan, toasted nuts, or fresh fruit can also mellow out the flavor.

Arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette tossed in a white bowl.

More Lemony Recipes You'll Love ♥️

  • Greek chicken meatballs with lemon spinach orzo feature image close up in white bowl.
    Greek Chicken Meatballs with Lemon Spinach Orzo
  • Lemon risotto recipe with parmesan and white wine feature image close up with zest in black bowl
    Creamy Lemon Risotto Recipe
  • easy lemon garlic baked halibut recipe feature image close up cooked with crispy topping on a bed of lemon
    Easy Lemon Garlic Baked Halibut Recipe
  • Avgolemono Soup Instant Pot Recipe: Greek Lemon Chicken and Orzo feature image close up bowl of soup with lemon
    Instant Pot Greek Lemon Chicken Soup

Did You Like this Arugula with Lemon Vinaigrette?

  • Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Star Rating if think this arugula side salad is amazing!

📖 Recipe

Arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette tossed in a white bowl.

Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Jami Powell
This Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette is light, zesty, and the perfect complement to any meal. The peppery bite of fresh arugula pairs beautifully with a bright, homemade lemon dressing that comes together in seconds.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 0 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Lunch, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 102 kcal

Equipment

  • Salad bowl
  • Salad tongs
  • Colander
  • Oil and vinegar dispensers
  • Potato peeler

Ingredients
  

Arugula Salad

  • 5 ounces Arugula lettuce
  • 1 ounce parmesan cheese, shaved
  • salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste

Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • freshly cracked pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, and black pepper until well blended. Set aside.
  • Rinse and drain the arugula thoroughly, then pat dry if needed. Use a vegetable peeler to shave one ounce of Parmesan into thin slices.
  • Add the arugula and Parmesan shavings to a large salad bowl. Drizzle with the lemon vinaigrette, tossing gently to coat.
  • Taste and adjust with extra lemon juice, black pepper, or salt if desired. Serve immediately, garnished with lemon slices, if using.

Save This Recipe 💌

Enter your email below and we'll send it to your inbox. Plus, you'll get new recipes from us each week!

Notes

Storage Store salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator without dressing. If the salad is moist from being washed, place a paper towel on top of it to draw out the moisture.
Freeze This dish is not freezer-friendly.
Reheat No reheating is required.
Substitutions
  • Parmesan: Use Pecorino Romano for a sharper, slightly saltier bite.
Adjustments Cooking time may need to be adjusted based on the geography of the area (high vs. low elevation), cookware (stoneware vs traditional bakeware), and outdoor temperature if grilling.
Nutrition information is only an estimate

Nutrition

Calories: 102kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 4gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 124mgPotassium: 148mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 897IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 143mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Tag @powell.family.cooking on Instagram

Other Related Recipes

  • Mediterranean smashed cucumber salad feature image close up in blue bowl.
    Mediterranean Smashed Cucumber Salad
  • Quinoa power bowl with chickpeas and avocado close up feature shot.
    Healthy Quinoa Power Bowl
  • coleslaw recipe for pulled pork feature image coleslaw in blue serving bowl
    The BEST Coleslaw Recipe for Pulled Pork
  • fall salad recipe with kale, delicata squash, and maple dressing feature image close up
    Kale and Delicata Squash Salad with Maple Dressing

Be the friend who shares good food.

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Reddit
  • SMS

Comments

  1. Jami Powell says

    March 05, 2025 at 6:14 pm

    5 stars
    This simple salad recipe has so much lemony goodness!

    Reply
5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Professional image of the Powell family sitting on a rock at the beach.

This is us. ♥️
We began this journey together in 2020, not really knowing which direction to take. Much has changed over the years, but we remain dedicated to this endeavor. We hope you continue to visit.

More about us →

Summer

  • Baked shrimp scampi in a casserole dish with curly parsley on top.
    Easy Shrimp Scampi Bake with Garlic Butter
  • An Italian white bean salad in a wooden salad bowl with garnish.
    Italian White Bean Salad with Parmesan Vinaigrette
  • Panzanella salad on a white platter topped with burrata cheese, basil, and seasoning.
    Burrata Panzanella Platter with Heirloom Tomatoes
  • Quinoa cucumber salad with chickpeas, feta, and herbs in a decorative wooden bowl.
    Quinoa Cucumber Salad with Chickpeas, Feta, and Herbs
  • Fresh fruit salad tossed in a glass bowl and ready to serve.
    Fresh Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
  • Crunchy cucumber salad with garnish in a white bowl.
    Crunchy Cucumber Salad with Peanut Dressing
See more Summer →

Popular Recipes

  • A feature image of the scallop recipe with the linguine being twirled around a fork.
    Easy Bay Scallop Pasta Recipe (Lemon & Garlic Sauce)
  • Beef stroganoff without mushrooms feature image close up in skillet
    Creamy Beef Stroganoff without Mushrooms
  • garbanzo bean soup recipe with chorizo feature image close up
    Cuban Garbanzo Bean Soup with Chorizo
  • Feature image of fried grouper cheeks on a wire rack.
    Grouper Cheeks Recipe (Fried to Perfection)!
  • Bacon and Green Beans on a plate.
    Quick & Easy Southern Bacon and Green Beans
  • Sartin's signature deep fried bbq blue crabs copycat recipe feature image close up of fried crabs on platter on back deck next to a glass of white wine
    Sartin’s Signature Deep Fried BBQ Blue Crabs: Copycat Recipe

Footer

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy

Mailing List

  • Subscribe

Contact

  • Email

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 Powell Family Cooking, LLC

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.