Ingredients
Salad
- 3 cups Arugula
- 1 cup Figs thinly sliced
- 2 Avocados thinly sliced
- 1 red onion thinly sliced
- 1 apple thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup blue cheese crumbles
- 1/2 cup walnuts candied walnuts
- 1/2 cup Pomegranate arils
- 1/3 cup cranberries dried
Salad Dressing
- 2 teaspoons Honey
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 2 Tabelspoon Vinegar Balsamic or white
- 3 Tablespoons Olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
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This is an arugula fig salad so no need to chop the greens here. Just prep the other ingredients.
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It's BEST to have the nuts toasted and ready --use this 5 min guide for Candied Walnuts.
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Use a salad bowl and add all the salad ingredients.
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Make the salad dressing.
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Whisk all ingredients in a bowl until smooth.
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Pour the salad dressing over the salad and toss really lightly to avoid mushing any ingredient.
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And sprinkle extra nuts at the end along with pomegranate arils.
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And your arugula fig salad is ready!
Recipe Notes
Tips for Fresh Fig Salad
- Choose ripe figs but not mushy ones. Slightly soft to the touch with a sweet flavor are best. The mushy ones will mush up your salad.
- FRESH FIGS are key! This is a seasonal salad and while we wished to make it all years long, it remains the best seasonal salad. Chose between the varieties of fresh figs and combine them if you like.
- Balance the dressing. If using white wine or aged balsamic viengars, you need honey to balance the sweetness. You don't need mush as the figs are already sweet.
- Add nuts last. To keep the wonderful crunch, make sure the nuts go in last.
- If prosciutto or bacon or any cold meats are used, also add them towards the end.
- Swap cheeses to your taste! For a rich and luxurious salad, use Burrata Cheese. Add it right at the center of the plate and top with fresh figs and pomegranate.
What to Serve with Fig Salad
- Mains: chicken, fish, Steak, Bread, or on its own!
- Make it a meal: Stir in cooked farro or quinoa and chicken for a hearty bowl.
What kind of figs are best for salad?
Fresh Black Mission and Brown Turkey are sweet and hold up well fresh; Kadota are milder but work. Choose ripe but not mushy figs. If fresh figs aren’t available, roasted dried figs (rehydrated briefly) can be used as well!
Can I use dried figs instead of fresh?
Yes if you realy can't find fresh. Rehydrate some chopped dried figs briefly in warm water or a little orange juice, or roast them with honey. Expect a chewier texture and more concentrated sweetness.
Should figs be roasted for salad?
No. We prefer fresh seasonal figs. If you'd like to roast, place them in an oven safe dish at 400 degrees F and roast for 6-10 mins. Roasting concentrates sweetness and adds caramel notes.
How long can you make fig salad ahead of time?
The best thing to make ahead here is the Candied Walnuts and the dressing. If you're using roasted figs, then you can also make that ahead. Then simply, slice, toss and enjoy. It's best to dress the salad within an hour of serving.
What cheeses pair best with figs?
Goat cheese (chevre) for tang, burrata for creaminess, and gorgonzola/blue for a bold salty contrast.
Is fig salad good for entertaining?
Absolutely YES! It's a festive looking and crowd pleasing dish, quick to assemble and can be easily scaled.
What vinaigrette works best with figs?
Balsamic honey vinaigrette is a classic or white balsamic as we used here.
Can I make this salad vegetarian/vegan?
Yes! Use the same salad vegetables and skip the cheeses or use vegan cheese. You'll find plenty of variation vegan cheeses at grocery stores now.