Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan

Arugula salad with parmesan is so easy to make! This simple arugula salad uses lemon juice, freshly ground black pepper, and parmesan cheese for a delicious bright healthy side dish.

Sometimes simple salads are the best. When I'm eating a salad as my main dish, I want it packed with fruit, protein, nuts, and a ton of veggies. But as a side dish (or even on top of chicken), a simple salad like this arugula salad is perfect.

In this arugula salad recipe, the arugula adds a bit of spicy greens, the fresh lemon juice adds brightness, and the parmesan cheese adds a little umami saltiness. It's such a delicious combination and this simple salad is so easy to make!

Ingredients:

• Arugula
• Lemon juice
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Parmesan cheese
• Sea salt

What is arugula?

Arugula is a peppery and slightly spicy green. It can have a slightly bitter taste, and is similar in size to baby spinach. It's delicious added to other greens in a salad, or eaten as the main star in a salad!

In some countries, it's referred to as "rocket."

Customization ideas:

While I typically make this peppery arugula salad with just a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, if you prefer you can make a quick and easy lemon dressing. Make it by whisking together extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice (and honey for a touch of sweetness).

For a little extra crunch, top your salad with sliced almonds or your favorite chopped nut.

You can also crisp up a little bacon or prosciutto if you're feeling fancy, and sprinkle that over your salad.

Tools needed:

• Citrus juicer - while this is optional (and you can always squeeze lemon with your hands), I love using a citrus juicer because it means no seeds sneak into my salad!
• Peeler - to get the thin shavings of parmesan cheese, I use a Y vegetable peeler.

Serving ideas:

I love serving this arugula salad with chicken cutlets, chicken piccata, or in a CAVA-inspired grains and greens bowl. It's also delicious on the side of salmon like this salmon en papillote.

How to make the arugula salad:

To make arugula salad with shaved parmesan, first add your arugula to a large bowl.

Add the lemon juice (or an easy salad dressing made with olive oil, lemon juice, and honey), a sprinkling of black pepper, and a little sea salt and toss to combine.

Plate as desired, then add freshly shaved parmesan to the top of the arugula salad.

Serve and enjoy!

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