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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!
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- 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
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For the almonds, preheat oven to 350˚F.
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Place honey, butter, olive oil and almonds in a medium size oven-safe pan. Stir to combine and spread to an even layer.
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Bake for 8 minutes or until light golden brown, stirring after the first five minutes.
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Turn almonds out onto a sheet of parchment paper and spread out with a spatula. Cool completely, then store in a airtight container.
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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.
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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.
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For the salad, place arugula in a salad bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of the dressing and toss to coat the leaves.
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Scatter the blueberries, goat cheese and almonds over the top. Serve immediately. Pass the extra dressing at the table
* The goat cheese is a wonderful addition to this salad however I often make it without and it's fabulous. So, if you don't have goat cheese or don't care for it, no problem, the salad will still be wonderful.
Vicki Bensinger says
I have no idea why I wrote pecans when clearly I knew they were almonds. I guess I'm not awake yet!
Vicki Bensinger says
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.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
This looks so much like summer to me. Beautiful! Have a great weekend.
Lisa {AuthenticSuburbanGourmet} says
Chris - you make the BEST salads! Your family is lcucky and well fed. Hope you have a wonderful long holiday weeeknd!!!
Sherri@The Well Floured Kitchen says
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!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Beautiful photos, your salad looks wonderful! And that honey-lemon dressing is sure to become a new staple in the kitchen!
lena says
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 🙂
Pam says
Beautiful and delicious!
Kitty says
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.
TheKitchenLioness says
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!
Madonna/aka/Ms. Lemon says
Great recipe Chris. It hits all the tastebuds and pretty too.
Angie (@angiesrecipess) says
So green and so beautiful! A perfect spring salad.
gloria says
Look absolutely beautiful Chris!:)
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
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!
Wendy says
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!
Baby June says
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! 🙂
Christine Arel says
That honey lemon dressing sounds interesting...and those almonds...Yum! Definitely pinning for later.
Happier Than A Pig In Mud says
Gorgeous colors Chris! Sounds like a very tasty salad:@)
Mary says
What a lovely salad full of great things, blueberries, arugula, honey and goats cheese is a winning combination!
fantastic:)
Mary
Sophia @ NY Foodgasm says
I have had salad like this before but I love the dressing you made for ir and these flavors are just amazing together!
Denise Browning@From Brazil To You says
Bitter, sweet, and tangy -- all combined in this great salad. I love it!
cheri says
Such a wonderful salad Chris, love, love, blueberries in salads. Arugula is one of my favorite greens.
Monique says
Love blueberries in salads Chris!
Catheirne says
A beautiful springtime salad. It is both delicious and healthy. blessings, Catheirne
Ginny Hartzler says
It looks like a gorgeous painting!! And the berries are so healthy!!