My favorite Arugula Salad with sweet dried figs, savory salami, crunchy cucumber, salty pistachios, and creamy goat cheese.

Arugula Salad is dressed with delicious toppings, ready to toss together and enjoy.

Arugula Salad Recipe

This is my current go-to salad, and I can’t get enough of it! The crunchy cucumbers, sweet dried figs, salty salami, and pistachios – it’s so good! And the dressing is amazing, one of the best I’ve had!

Even my kids love it! I keep the goat cheese on the side for the whole family, and the last time I made it, my oldest said it’s the best salad he’s ever had.

Quick Tip

Dried figs might sound different in a salad, but they’re so delicious! Their sweet, chewy texture goes great with these ingredients. They’re a fun swap for dried cherries or cranberries and bring a nice change to your salad.

All the ingredients in this recipe—greens, dressing, cucumbers, cheese, pistachios, salami, and figs—are prepped for easy assembly.

Arugula Salad Ingredients

  • Arugula and spinach mix: Choose fresh, crunchy greens in the produce section. If you can’t find them, regular mixed greens are fine too.
  • Dried figs: Pick plump, moist figs from the dried fruit or bulk section. Avoid dry or shriveled ones.
  • Pistachios: Get roasted, salted nuts for extra flavor with no extra work.
  • Goat cheese: Look for it in the specialty cheese section.
  • Cucumber: Use English or Persian cucumbers—no peeling needed, and they’re crunchier.
  • Meat: Find fresh salami in the deli or special meat section.
Dressing ingredients prepped out for this arugula salad recipe.

White Balsamic Vinaigrette

The white balsamic dressing for this Arugula Salad is a tasty mix of tangy and sweet! Here are a few tips:

  • Adjust the honey and Dijon to your liking.
  • Make extra! It’s great on other salads or as a dip. I make a batch every week, and it’s always gone by the end.
  • You can find white balsamic vinegar in most grocery stores or online. It adds a fresh, bright flavor.
  • Use good extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.

Quick Tip

White balsamic vinegar is made from white grapes and has a sweet and tangy flavor, like regular balsamic, but with a lighter color and milder taste. It’s great in dressings, marinades, and sauces, and pairs well with fruits, veggies, fish, chicken, and pork.

Arugula Salad Variations

  • Want to swap the meat? Try bacon, grilled chicken, or leave it out.
  • Not into goat cheese? Use feta.
  • No dried figs? Use dried strawberries, cranberries, or cherries.
  • Don’t like pistachios? Try almonds, walnuts, or pecans.
  • Add fresh herbs like parsley, mint, or basil for more flavor.
  • Add fresh fruit like strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries for sweetness.
The simple and delicious dressing mixed together in a mason jar.

Storage

Serve right away: The greens gets soft quickly after adding dressing.

Make ahead: Keep ingredients separate in the fridge and mix right before serving.

Dressing: Great to make ahead! It lasts a week in the fridge—just shake well before using.

More Delicious Salad Recipes:

5 from 2 votes

Arugula Salad

This Arugula Salad brings together sweet dried figs, savory salami, crunchy cucumber, salty pistachios, and creamy goat cheese for a perfect mix of flavors and textures. It’s a sweet-and-savory combo that’ll keep you coming back for more.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Equipment

  • Wide-mouth glass jar or other sealable container
  • Large bowl

Ingredients 
 

Dressing

  • 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Salad

Instructions 

  • Dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients in a wide-mouth glass jar. Seal jar and shake vigorously to combine (make sure honey doesn't pool at the bottom!). Refrigerate until ready to use, shaking again before using to re-emulsify (see note 3).
  • Salad: Add arugula and spinach mix to a large bowl. Top with thinly sliced dried figs, chopped pistachios, chopped cucumber, diced salami, and crumbled goat cheese.
  • Serve: This Arugula Salad is best served immediately after it’s dressed, so wait to add dressing until you’re ready to serve (see note 4). Drizzle some of the dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat. Add additional dressing to taste, if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 2: Use English or Persian cucumbers. They’re milder, seedless, and don’t need peeling. They’re also crispier and more flavorful than regular cucumbers.
Note 3: Make the white balsamic vinaigrette ahead and store in the fridge. If it separates, let it sit for 15 minutes and shake before using.
Note 4: Serve the Arugula Salad right after dressing, as the greens wilt quickly. It’s best to eat it fresh!
Storage/Make Ahead: Prep ahead but store ingredients separately in airtight containers in the fridge. Combine, toss, and dress just before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 261kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 473mg | Potassium: 336mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 736IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Meet Chelsea


Hi there! Iโ€™m Chelseaโ€“the recipe developer, photographer, writer, and taste tester behind Chelseaโ€™s Messy Apron (although my little ones help me out quite a bit with the taste testing part!). I LOVE getting creative in the kitchen and then posting my creations here for you to enjoy.

Thanks again for stopping by!

More Recipes You'll Love

5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




2 Comments

  1. Julie Carlsen says:

    5 stars
    Huge hit with the whole family; even my pickiest eaters!

    1. Chelsea Lords says:

      YAY! So happy to hear this! Thanks so much Julie! ๐Ÿ™‚