This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see our privacy policy.
I've served this Blueberry Arugula Salad with Honey-Lemon Dressing several times lately and everyone seems to love it. I have a feeling you will too!
I've been making the super simple salad dressing just about forever. I almost always make it up fresh, since it takes less than five minutes to put together, and tastes best that way. I never measured the ingredients before, just made it as I went; one clove garlic, a squeeze of lemon, a pinch of salt, a drizzle of honey and olive oil and a grind of black pepper. Take a little taste, tweak it a bit till it's just right. I've had so many people ask for the recipe, I decided to measure and record, so here it is!
I've used this dressing with a zillion combination of ingredients. This time I had some beautiful baby arugula, plump, sweet blueberries and package of creamy goat cheese. I'd purchased a huge bag of sliced almonds at Costco and decided to add my Sweet Roasted Almonds to this Blueberry Arugula Salad with Honey-Lemon Dressing. The almonds are another super simple recipe that adds lots of pizzazz to any salad and also makes an extremely addictive snack.
I would suggest using today's recipe as template. I like to call it a "Little Black Dress Recipe". It's like the quintessential little black dress in the fashion world. You can dress it up or down, simple or fancy, it's always in style. Same with this salad; change the lettuce to bib or butter, baby spinach, field greens or whatever looks the prettiest and freshest at the market. Switch out the blueberries to whatever's in season - strawberries would be delicious or raspberries, peaches, plums or pears. Substitute Feta or Blue for the goat cheese and add some sliced red onion or diced bell pepper. The dressing will taste great with any of these and the almonds? Well, let's just say these buttery honey-glazed almonds are the pearl necklace or crème de la crème to any salad! Even these could be changed out for walnuts, pecans, pistachios, cashews ........... you name it!!
Of course with delicious blueberries just coming into season, you may want to keep this Blueberry Arugula Salad with Honey-Lemon Dressing exactly like it is. You'll have a winner, that's for sure!
WANT TO SEE MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES FROM THE CAFÉ? SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION. THAT WAY, YOU'LL NEVER MISS A POST.
YOU CAN JOIN US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AS WELL AS INSTAGRAM - WE HAVE LOTS OF FUN OVER THERE!
AND WE'RE FOREVER PINNING RECIPES AND INSPIRATIONAL IDEAS ON PINTEREST - JUST CLICK TO FOLLOW US.
Scroll Down for the Recipe - or Save It to Your Inbox
We’ll email you the recipe so it’s easy to save, print, or share.
Blueberry Arugula Salad with Honey-Lemon Dressing
Ingredients
- For the dressing:
- 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice, from ½ of a medium-size lemon
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- freshly ground black pepper
- For the almonds:
- ½ cup sliced almonds
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon melted butter
- ½ teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
- For the salad:
- 5 ounces baby arugula
- 1 ½ cups fresh blueberries
- 2-3 ounces goat cheese*
- ½ cup sweet almonds
Instructions
- For the almonds, preheat oven to 350˚F.
- Place honey, butter, olive oil and almonds in a medium size oven-safe pan. Stir to combine and spread to an even layer.
- Bake for 8 minutes or until light golden brown, stirring after the first five minutes.
- Turn almonds out onto a sheet of parchment paper and spread out with a spatula. Cool completely, then store in a airtight container.
- For the dressing, combine lemon juice garlic and salt in a small bowl. Let sit for about 5 minutes. The lemon juice will soften and mellow the garlic, so be sure to let it sit for this short period.
- Add the honey and stir well. Add the olive oil in a slow drizzle, stirring continuously with a small whisk or fork. Taste and if it's too tart add a bit more honey and olive oil. If it's too bland, add a bit more lemon juice. Add freshly ground black pepper, to taste.
- For the salad, place arugula in a salad bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of the dressing and toss to coat the leaves.
- Scatter the blueberries, goat cheese and almonds over the top. Serve immediately. Pass the extra dressing at the table
Notes
Nutrition
Shop Our Café Loves
We’ve gathered our favorite kitchen tools, tableware, and entertaining treasures in one place, the Café Loves store. It’s a wonderful spot to find something special for yourself or the cooks and hosts you love!
A friend made this Blueberry Arugula Salad for our book club to rave reviews. She forwarded everyone the recipe and I made it for guests last night. We entertain often and it's rare for guests to go for seconds on the salad, but people did for this one. I made the salad and dressing as directed. Simple and delicious!
Wonderful! Thank you for the review, Diane!
Not only is this salad delicious, but it’s just so darn pretty!
Hi Chris,
I am wanting to make this salad for guests this Friday night (It looks and sounds delicious!) and am wondering what main dish and sides of yours that you would recommend that I serve with it.
Thanks!
Susan
Hi Susan, we love that salad!
Regarding your question, it would be really nice with the Marry Me Chicken - https://thecafesucrefarine.com/marry-me-chicken/
or this: https://thecafesucrefarine.com/skillet-lemon-rosemary-chicken-and-farro/
or this: https://thecafesucrefarine.com/easy-date-night-prosciutto-wrapped-chicken-breasts/
I would just serve some warm bread with it like this brioche: https://thecafesucrefarine.com/easy-no-knead-brioche-bread/
or this artisan bread: https://thecafesucrefarine.com/ridiculously-easy-rosemary-bread/
Hope that helps!
Made this for dinner tonight, just as you've written it. So delicious. The candied almonds. Fresh blueberries. And I happened to have a honeyed goat cheese in the fridge. Was perfect with the baby arugula/spinach mix i had. Thanks for a tasty and unique arugula salad recipe and honey vinaigrette! (I've signed up for your emailed recipes)
Yay! So happy you enjoyed it. Welcome to The Café, Lisa!
Made this salad to bring to a dinner party and again was not disappointed in one of your recipes. The flavours were great together.
This salad is absolutely delicious! The flavors are wonderful together. Each time I've made this for guests, I am asked to share the recipe.. Love it! Thanks!
Thanks so much Suzi, I really appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment. We love this salad too, one of those simple pleasures of life!
This salad has become a regular in our home. My husband and I love it and so does everyone else I have shared it with. The ingredient combination is amazing. I am picking my own garden arugula now, as it finally got big enough to pick. Love it!
This was fantastic! We just added dried cherries, pine nuts and some sunflower sprouts. The dressing is so good. Thank you!
Thanks for your sweet comment Sally! And I like your additions, they sound yummy!
This recipe looks wonderful! So excited to try it. BUT I'm just wondering if I could replace the goat cheese with another type of cheese and still pair really nice with the other flavors?
Thanks Kaelin,
I think a French Feta would be nice. It's creamy and not too brine-y.
I found this site while searching the web for chopped salads. I've been a vegetarian for a long time and am always looking for ways to switch up my meals without relying on heavy foods, like pasta.. I can't wait to try this and the Mexican Chopped Salad recipe! I just can't decide which one to try first.!!
Hi Heather,
Hope you enjoy this as much as we do 🙂
Yay for a fun new twist on my summer salads! Cant wait to try this combo… probably for dinner tonight!! xoxo
Love you Amy and miss you!! I'm so happy for you though to be a reunited family!!
I have no idea why I wrote pecans when clearly I knew they were almonds. I guess I'm not awake yet!
Your salad looks stunning and you've described it so well how to alter it. I love your dressing and pecans, when joined together with the arugula and goat cheese make a perfect summertime salad.
Now if I can just figure out why I'm still not getting yours or anyone's posts to my inbox. I even switched to my gmail account. Only got it one time. Very frustrating because I'm missing so many wonderful posts.
This looks so much like summer to me. Beautiful! Have a great weekend.
Chris - you make the BEST salads! Your family is lcucky and well fed. Hope you have a wonderful long holiday weeeknd!!!
I'm sure the bitterness of the arugula is perfectly tempered by the blueberries and honeyed almonds. Although I'm afraid I'd eat all the almonds before they got to the salad. Looks amazing!
Beautiful photos, your salad looks wonderful! And that honey-lemon dressing is sure to become a new staple in the kitchen!
i like how you call the little black dress recipe, the basic recipe.. It is really a wonderful variation that you list out, a truly fantastic black dress recipe 🙂
Beautiful and delicious!
Oh another winner, Chris! I remember making your avocado salad that I found on the Avocado commission site and my family loved it. These almonds sound even easier than the ones on the avocado salad. I'll be trying this soon, plus I love berries in salad.
Chris, I love the colors of your salad, that dark green arugula, the blueberries and the white goat cheese make for one pretty presentation. This wonderful looking salad must taste awesome too - the dressing sounds delightful and fresh and the almonds are such a nice added touch for yet another layer of flavor and texture!
Baurtifully done, dear friend!
Great recipe Chris. It hits all the tastebuds and pretty too.
So green and so beautiful! A perfect spring salad.
Look absolutely beautiful Chris!:)
I love the blue on green Chris! There aren't that many things that you'd add to a salad that are blue are they? Yum!
I am excited to try your dressing recipe, Chris. Thanks! My very favorite summer salads involve fruit, goat cheese, and some delicate green like spinach or arugula. Usually I use a fruit infused balsamic dressing but i am always looking for variety!
That honey lemon dressing is called my name. I've never put honey in a salad but this version sounds amazing. So many fresh and delicious flavors! 🙂
That honey lemon dressing sounds interesting...and those almonds...Yum! Definitely pinning for later.
Gorgeous colors Chris! Sounds like a very tasty salad:@)
What a lovely salad full of great things, blueberries, arugula, honey and goats cheese is a winning combination!
fantastic:)
Mary
I have had salad like this before but I love the dressing you made for ir and these flavors are just amazing together!
Bitter, sweet, and tangy -- all combined in this great salad. I love it!
Such a wonderful salad Chris, love, love, blueberries in salads. Arugula is one of my favorite greens.
Love blueberries in salads Chris!
A beautiful springtime salad. It is both delicious and healthy. blessings, Catheirne
It looks like a gorgeous painting!! And the berries are so healthy!!