Simple Arugula Salad with Tomato and Shaved Parmesan
When I need an easy side salad to add some greens to my plate, my favorite easy salad is this Arugula, Tomato, and Parmesan Side Salad. I eat it as a side for any meal of the day! Made with just 5 ingredients, it’s the perfect simple salad to add some color to any plate.
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I buy a bag of arugula almost every week because it’s such a great green to have on hand to add some color to any plate. You can mix it into pasta, like my sheet pan gnocchi with sausage and burrata, for some added greens. Or you can add it on top of pizza, like this butternut squash and prosciutto pizza. My favorite way to eat arugula is in this simple 5-ingredient side salad.
Arugula, Tomato, and Shaved Parmesan Salad
Arugula is also known as “rocket” (shoutout to my Australian followers) or “rucola” (which is what my Italian family calls it). It’s a peppery, slightly bitter green that adds a unique bite to salads, pizza, sandwiches, and more!
If you’re looking for an easy side salad to make for a dinner for one or a dinner party, this arugula side salad is perfect for any occasion.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s simple. You only need 5 ingredients for this salad!
- It’s delicious. You can’t go wrong with some peppery greens, salty parmesan, juicy tomatoes, and bright lemon.
- It can be made in under 60 seconds. Seriously. Grab a handful of arugula, slice a couple of cherry tomatoes, toss in olive oil and lemon juice, and shave some parmesan on top. Try to break the world record for “fastest salad making” each time you make it.
Ingredients for this Arugula Side Salad
- Arugula. Duh. Personally, I wouldn’t substitute this with any other green, but if you are a staunch arugula hater, romaine is fine, spinach is boring, and a massaged kale could work, too.
- Tomatoes. Cherry or grape tomatoes, halved.
- Parmesan. Shaved is best!
- Lemon juice. Adds some brightness and cuts some bitterness of the arugula.
- Olive oil. Because nobody likes a dry salad.
How to Make an Arugula Salad with Tomato and Shaved Parmesan
Keep on scrolling for the full recipe, but here’s a quick overview!
- Add a handful of arugula to a small mixing bowl. Drizzle it with about 1/2 tbsp olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice.
- Cut about 5-7 cherry tomatoes in half and add them to the salad.
- Add some shaved parmesan to the salad, then toss everything together!
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Not an arugula fan? You can use kale, but be sure to massage the kale so the greens become leafy and tender. You can also use chopped romaine, though I think romaine is better suited for a salad with a more flavorful dressing because it is rather flavorless.
- Add a drizzle of balsamic glaze to the salad for more robust flavor!
- Before dressing the salad with lemon and olive oil, if you’d like to add some sweetness to cut the bitterness of the arugula, mix the lemon juice and olive oil with a bit of honey (less than a teaspoon).
Equipment
- Mixing bowl or salad bowl
- Box grater
Simple Arugula, Tomato, and Parmesan Side Salad
- Prep Time: 5
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
This simple arugula side salad with tomatoes and parmesan is the perfect, easy, and quick way to add some color and greens to any plate!
Ingredients
- 1–2 ounces arugula
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (from about 1/8 of a lemon)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 5–7 cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 2 tbsp shaved parmesan
Instructions
- Add arugula to a mixing bowl. Drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil and toss.
- Add cherry tomatoes to the arugula.
- Use a box grater or veggie peeler to shave parmesan directly from the parmesan wedge into the salad, about 2-3 tbsp worth.
- Toss the salad, serve, and enjoy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 105
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 181.5 mg
- Fat: 7.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Protein: 5.3 g
- Cholesterol: 7.2 mg
