When fig season is in full swing you can use them up by tossing them into this easy Arugula Fig Salad with a delightful balsamic vinaigrette dressing! The combination of sweet figs, tart goat cheese, crunchy walnuts, and spicy arugula all drizzled with a tasty balsamic vinaigrette dressing make this one unforgettable and healthy salad recipe!
Fig Season + an Arugula Fig Salad
July is definitely fig season here in the South! Every time Cohl and I stop by my mom and step dad’s farm they load us up with a BAG full of fresh figs.
At first I was unsure what fig recipes to make with all of the figgy goodness. After all, you can only make so many batches of fig preserves.
And then I saw the combination of arugula + figs + goat cheese… now we’re talking.
A bit of spice from the arugula, a tang from the goat cheese, and a sweet finish from the juicy fresh figs.
Seriously an arugula salad match made in heaven!
Figs Nutrition + Health Benefits
Not wanting to get too graphic here but, some of us may have a little trouble… how do I say this politely?… going to the restroom.
Oftentimes a little bit of fiber will go a long way with helping move things along.
Did you know that figs have 1-2 grams of fiber per medium-sized fig? This amount of fiber is more than many other fruits.
Be aware, however, that figs are largely made up of carbohydrates and those carbohydrates are in the form of sugar.
So while figs nutritional profile is pretty good for getting your daily dose of fiber, potassium, and manganese, they can definitely put you overboard on your sugar intake pretty quickly!
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Spicing it up with an Arugula Salad
I will be the first to admit that sometimes arugula can be a bit overwhelming… especially when the arugula is home grown!
Last winter Cohl had a winter garden and the arugula flourished. We had so much of it we even made an arugula pesto out of it. (OK, definitely a wee bit too much spice with that one!)
However, when you pair arugula with the right ingredients (like in this fig salad!) you will get a perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and savory.
How exactly do we get that balance in this Arugula Fig Salad?
- Arugula: perfectly spicy and full of flavor.
- Fresh figs: plump and loaded with a fresh burst of sweetness.
- Goat cheese: slightly tangy but pairs well with the spiciness.
- Walnuts: a perfect crunch to distract your taste buds from the spice.
- Balsamic vinaigrette dressing: made a little sweeter by adding in honey.
Seriously, this is a super simple arugula salad!
Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing for the Win!
Growing up you go through your phases of salads and salad dressing recipes.
You first ease into the salad world by getting acquainted with a good iceberg lettuce doused in creamy ranch dressing.
Before you know it, you have advanced to a honey mustard dressing with a bit of spinach thrown in.
And by the time you are an advanced salad connoisseur you find yourself going back for seconds of an arugula salad tossed in a tasty balsamic vinaigrette dressing!
–>I truly believe I am stuck on the balsamic vinaigrette dressing phase.<–
Has anyone else gone through this salad transformation?
How to Make Balsamic Vinaigrette?
It is SO super simple to make a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. These are the ingredients you will need:
- Balsamic vinegar: I like to splurge a little bit and go for a better vinegar.
- Olive oil: also a key player here and won’t hurt to get a better quality oil.
- Honey: you can also use maple syrup or agave nectar if you would like the balsamic vinaigrette dressing to be vegan.
Simply combine all of the balsamic vinaigrette ingredients in a salad shaker bottle or whisk them together in a small bowl.
Balsamic vinaigrette dressing keeps well if refrigerated for 2-3 weeks.
17 Simple Salad Dressings e-Book
An e-cookbook full of quick vinaigrettes and creamy dressings that are ready in under 5 minutes!
When to Make this Arugula Fig Salad?
This arugula fig salad tastes great in the late summer when figs are abundant, or in the early Fall.
You can also try warming up the figs a little bit before serving to make this a warm fig arugula salad.
If you would like to prep your ingredients ahead of time, make sure to keep the arugula and balsamic vinaigrette separate and don’t slice the figs until the day of. Toss everything together just before serving and enjoy!
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Arugula Fig Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
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Ingredients
- ¼ cup walnuts coarsely chopped
- 5 cups arugula
- 8 fresh figs quartered
- 2 oz. goat cheese crumbled
Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing:
- 2 Tbsp. Honey
- 3 Tbsp. Balsamic vinegar
- 3 Tbsp. Olive oil
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place chopped walnuts on a small baking sheet and cook for 3-5, or until lightly toasted.
- In a small bowl whisk together honey, vinegar, oil, and a pinch of salt until smooth. (You can also use a salad dressing shaker.)
- In a large serving bowl combine arugula and balsamic vinaigrette. Toss to combine.
- Top arugula with goat cheese, figs, and chopped walnuts. Serve immediately and enjoy!
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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