Spinach Arugula Salad

In this yummy spinach arugula salad the leafy greens are topped with crispy croutons, parmesan cheese and tossed with a tangy lemon yogurt dressing.

A delicious healthy salad that combines flavors, textures, and it’s easy to customize.

I love baby spinach and baby arugula all kinds of ways, but in this case, it’s the dressing and the topping that does it and makes this salad delightful and a joy to eat.

The homemade lemon yogurt dressing is creamy yet light, and miles above and beyond anything you can get in the store, and it takes just a few minutes to make.

The crispy croutons add the perfect crunch and are cooked for about 10 minutes on the stovetop, but that is the only heat required. And no need to buy pre-made croutons when making them is so easy and so worth it!

Then we have a generous sprinkle of grated or shaved parmesan cheese for its delicious nutty, salty flavor that makes you come back for more.

This spinach arugula salad, with a lovely combination of fresh leaves, savoury flavor and textures is terrific for a light lunch.

It also pairs beautifully with a creamy tomato pasta, hearty bean soup or bean stew, and it’s a great way to add plenty of fresh greens to your meal.  

List of the ingredients

• Spinach
• Arugula
• Bread
• Parmesan cheese
• Plain yogurt
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Lemon
• Honey
• Garlic
• Salt & pepper

How to make this spinach arugula salad

(Note: this is a quick description, the full recipe is at the bottom of the page)

• Cut the bread with a knife or torn into small chunks by hand.
• Warm the olive oil in a skillet, add in the bread cubes.
• Cook, stirring frequently, until golden and crispy, and set aside.

Let’s make the salad dressing

• Place all the dressing ingredients into a glass jar with lid, and shake until well emulsified. Alternatively, use a small bowl and whisk them vigorously.

• Arrange the baby spinach and baby arugula onto a salad plate or bowl.
• Scatter the croutons over the salad and add a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
• Finish with the creamy dressing, toss gently and enjoy!

Recipe notes

Spinach arugula salad ingredients

Spinach & arugula: I suggest buying pre-washed baby leaves so you don’t have to bother rinsing the leaves. Easy peasy. And if you have leftover spinach, toss it into this quick ricotta pasta.

Bread: Italian bread, sourdough, ciabatta, a baguette, any kind of bread that you have on hand (including gluten-free) – ideally at least a day old – will do. 

Yogurt: use plain yogurt. Nice and thick Greek yogurt is perfect (and even better!), but also regular or low-fat yogurt works fine.

Parmesan: aged Parmesan that has been freshly grated or shaved is always the best, especially here. The pre-grated stuff is no comparison. Alternatively, you can scatter over some crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese.

Extra virgin olive oil: the best vegetable oil in my opinion.

Lemon juice: to make it zippy and bright!

Garlic: it adds a lovely kick.

Salt & pepper: essential to make all the flavors pop!

Fancy more add-ins?

That is where another bonus of this spinach arugula salad comes in: simple fresh ingredients, and customizable with your fav add-ins.

• veggies & fruit: Diced avocado, cherry tomatoes, finely sliced red onion are delicious. But also a few strawberries, blueberries or apple slices would be amazing, while a handful of pomegranate arils on top would turn this salad into a wonderful appetizer for the holidays.
• Protein: You can also add protein of your choice and serve this salad for brunch. Think of boiled eggs, grilled salmon, chicken or crispy bacon – if meatless salads are not your things. : )
• Nuts & seeds: A few toasted sliced almonds, pine nuts, walnuts or even sun trowel seeds, they add nutrition and a wonderful textural contrast.

Storage tips

• To Make Ahead. Make and store the dressing in a glass jar with lid in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make the croutons and store them in an airtight container. Combine the salad in a large mixing bowl up to 1 day in advance, keep it covered and refrigerated. Toss the salad leaves with the dressing and scatter over croutons and parmesan just before serving.
• To Store. Dressed salad leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 day only. The arugula will wilt and the croutons might lose their crispiness, but the salad will still taste good.

Dishes that go well with this fresh salad

This simple salad with its fresh flavor is perfect to brighten up any meal. Think of one of these luscious creamy pasta recipes, comforting bowls of vegan soups or one of this scrumptious pizza or focaccia. This is a wonderful salad that makes a perfect side for any dish.

Love arugula?

I’ve got you covered with this collection of delicious arugula recipes which includes arugula pasta, delicious pizza, and beetroot salad with arugula, pear arugula salad, arugula apple salad, versatile sautéed arugula and arugula frittata.

More delicious salads for you!

If you look for amazing salads, easy to whip up and great for any occasion, check this collection of holiday salad recipes! Here a few of my favs:

• Salad with grapes
• Cabbage salad with apples
• Potato salad with olives
• Winter salad
• Artichoke salad
• Celery and parmesan salad
• Moroccan carrot salad

This scrumptious spinach arugula salad would be great for potlucks but also for your weeknight meals. If you make it, or you have a question, let me know by leaving a comment. I would love to hear from you! x

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