If you are unfamiliar with arugula, allow me to introduce you to this incredibly healthy green. Arugula contains glucosinolates, which gives this green its signature peppery taste and may also help protect us from a variety of cancers. Arugula is also packed with antioxidants that can prevent and even reverse cell damage.
Arugula is a truly great addition to any salad.
While arugula contains many health benefits, the real star of this salad is the beautiful blood orange. Yes they are delicious and yes they also contain antioxidants, vitamins and folic acid, but what I love most about them is how gorgeous and unique each one of them are.
Every time you slice into a blood orange, you will find a different color combination. They look like a jewel with some featuring a deep ruby red and others a marble of oranges and pinks. They are sweet and tangy, super juicy and add a beautiful pop of color to any salad.
Let’s get started…
This salad is super quick and easy to bring together. Start by washing and drying your arugula and any other greens you want to add to this salad. Peel and slice half of a blood orange, crumble some goat cheese, thin slice a little red onion and chop up some walnuts.
This salad is mainly about the combination of the blood orange and arugula, so if you don’t love red onions, feel free to omit them and if you don’t have walnuts on hand, pecans and almonds work great in this salad too!
While this salad does taste great when dressed with a simple drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, if you really want to send it over the top, you should definitely try my blood orange vinaigrette. It may be a simple dressing with shallots, garlic, parsley and blood orange, but it adds a delicious layer of sweet, tangy flavors to this already fabulous salad.
Begin by adding a layer of crisp greens and arugula into a couple of roomy salad bowls….
Now add your blood orange slices, red onions, crumbled goat cheese and chopped walnuts and then drizzle this whole beautiful situation with a little blood orange vinaigrette.
This salad is so inviting. It just screams bright, cheerful spring flavors and as far as I concerned, it is one of the best ways to celebrate finding blood oranges at your local market.
I love pairing this salad with a great piece of swordfish or grilled chicken, but it can definitely stand alone as the main attraction. I love serving this alongside a cheese board or with some fun cocktails/mocktails. There are so many interesting flavors in this beautiful salad that are sure to elevate any meal that it accompanies.
Cheers to blood orange season my friends!
Blood Orange, Goat Cheese & Arugula Salad
Ingredients
- 2 ounces of baby arugula
- 2 cups of greens, chopped
- 1/2 of a blood orange, peeled, sliced
- 2 ounces of goat cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup of red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons walnuts, chopped
- blood orange vinaigrette (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the salad ingredients in a large bowl and toss
- Drizzle with blood orange vinaigrette
- Serve chilled
