Arugula Fig Salad
I get so giddy this time of the year, when sweet figs are in season and readily available at my local farm. Figs aren’t around for very long, even in California where the climate tends to yield year-round availability for most fruits and vegetables.
You’ll usually find fresh figs available at your local market or farm from August through October. Their taste is delicate and perfect for light salads like this arugula fig salad.
This is a French-inspired salad, as it uses a light dijon vinaigrette for the dressing. If you’ve had dijon mustard, than you’ll know it’s got a bit of a spicy flavor profile, which pairs nicely with the peppery arugula in this recipe.
I usually balance out these flavors with some tangy lemon juice and champagne vinegar. I use this vinaigrette recipe on more than just this arugula fig salad.
It’s pretty much my go-to salad dressing, as it’s both light and tasty.
Normally, I’ll toss dried currants into this arugula salad, but I swap those out this time of year in favor of fresh figs.
To add a slight crunch, I’ll add toasted walnuts, which can be subbed with toasted pecans as well.
This arugula fig salad makes a wonderful appetizer, or you can turn it into a meal by adding roast chicken and homemade bread croutons, as I did here. here. Either way, it’s a simple and delicious way to enjoy one of nature’s special fruits!
Arugula Fig Salad
Fresh arugula tossed with a French vinaigrette and fresh figs.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup good olive oil
- 1/8 cup champagne vinegar
- 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
- 2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- pinch of salt and pepper
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 3 cups baby arugula
- 3-4 figs, each fig vertically sliced into 3 slices
- 1/8 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
Instructions
- Whisk the oil, vinegar, mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper together. Stir in the minced garlic. If serving immediately, pour the dressing over the arugula. Otherwise, cover the dressing and let it rest at room temperature until ready to use. Then, before using, give it a quick stir again.
- To toast the walnuts, simply add the chopped walnuts to a small pan over medium heat, and warm for approximately 2 to 4 minutes, keeping an eye on the walnuts to make sure they don't burn.
- Toss the baby arugula in the dressing, then garnish with the fig slices and chopped walnuts.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 2 ServingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 297
BONJOUR, BEETA
A question, please…I am now at our “summer” house in Beaune…yesterday I wanted to make a pho soup and needed Beef Bouillon? went to our local Carrefour and could not find anything like it? Do you know if it is available in France? And, if so, what is it called.
I so enjoy your Blog…especially this past year when France was so very far away.
Merci, merci…
Bonjour Patricia! Thanks so much for the lovely feedback on the blog! 🙂 So, the French use bouillon cubes which are essential “stock” cubes. I believe the brand in France is called Maggi and they usually have a picture of a chicken on it for chicken stock cubes, a cow for beef stock cubes, and then veggies for veggies stock cubes. You should be able to find them at most grocery stores, similar to how you’d be able to find cans of stock in most American grocery stores. The cubes are typically dropped into a pot of hot liquid with the food or dissolved in hot water first. Enjoy!
Farm fresh figs and arugula are so good together! Love that you kept the dressing simple and allowed the flavors to shine through too. Can’t wait to make it and I bet that dressing becomes a regular in my house 🙂
Thanks so much, Karrie! I’d feel too bad masking the wonderful, natural taste of these pretty figs! Hope you enjoy the salad and the dressing <3 XO
Guuurl, I am with you in your giddy fig joy! Figs are the best, right!? So dangerously delicious! I could literally eat a few pounds in a few seconds flat. Naturally I LOVE this salad! So simple, yet ultimately delicious! Love that you let the ingredients really shine, Beeta! PERFECTION! Cheers, sweets! xo
Thank you, Cheyanne! So glad you agree. I may or may not have finished half the basket of figs on my drive home…. 😉 Thanks for all your kind words XOXO
I LOVE fresh figs too and let me tell you, they’re hard to come by in the high desert! This salad is perfect – no need to goop up salads this time of year with heavy dressing when so many fruits and vegetables are at their peak of flavor! Love the crunch of walnuts too…
Thanks Marissa!! I feel the same way about heavy dressings. I appreciate your kind comment, my dear <3
This looks delish! I just picked up some green figs yesterday and I think this will be a great way to use them. 🙂
Oh that is so great, Justin!! Green figs are so tasty too 🙂 Thanks so much for the kind comment, hope you enjoy!!