Sometimes I think of this blog as an ever-expanding cookbook and try to fill in the holes. What’s missing? The other day, as I was throwing together my standard green salad to accompany some leftovers, I realized that my blog is missing a side salad recipe. Every cook needs a little green salad recipe in her repertoire, in the same way as every lady needs a flattering little black dress in her wardrobe. They’re both fundamental building blocks.
This simple green salad is my default. I love the combination of peppery local arugula tossed with lemon vinaigrette, savory grated Parmesan and toasted nuts. I often serve it as is or dress it up with some seasonal ingredients. I thought I’d share a few of those variations to serve as inspiration.
Starting from the top, we have some refreshing sliced cucumber and radish with chopped almonds. Then comes bright cherry tomatoes, avocado and sunflower seeds. Last, I tossed the arugula with fennel and pine nuts for an understated, gourmet little green salad. That idea was inspired by the pages of Martha Stewart Living’s June issue and it might be my favorite of the three. I’d equate it to wearing a little black dress with diamond studs and gold bangles. Classy!
I should confess that when I make this salad for myself, it’s not always so little. Sometimes, especially in the summertime when I’m craving lighter fare, I’ll make a big salad so I’m satisfied with one slice of leftover pizza instead of three.
Either way, I’d say the flavors in this green salad pair well with most main courses, especially if they have an Italian or Mediterranean flair. Pasta, pesto, pizza and bruschetta come to mind. Even though I’m not much of a meat eater, I think it would also go well with fish, chicken or steak. Please let me know what you think of it. I’d be super pleased if this LGS became your new favorite side salad, too.
The Little Green Salad
- Author:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 side salads 1x
- Category: Salad
A fresh arugula side salad with Parmesan and toasted nuts, tossed in a simple lemon vinaigrette. It’s wonderful as is but feel free to change it up with my suggested variations or put your own seasonal spin on it.
Ingredients
Salad (no amounts given, you can eyeball this)
- Arugula
- Small nuts or seeds, toasted (pine nuts, sunflower seeds and sliced almonds are great)
- Freshly grated Parmesan
Lemon vinaigrette (yields enough for 6 to 8 small side salads, leftovers will keep in the fridge for several weeks)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (more to taste)
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- Pinch of sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Suggested variations
- Sliced cherry tomatoes, avocado and sunflower seeds
- Thinly sliced cucumbers, radishes and almonds
- Thinly sliced fennel and pine nuts
Instructions
- Make the vinaigrette: In a small bowl (or a jar with a watertight lid), whisk together (or shake) the ingredients until well blended.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the arugula with a handful of toasted nuts and grated Parmesan (don’t skimp). Add a drizzle of dressing and toss until the salad is lightly coated throughout. If desired, toss in the suggested add-ins. Serve immediately.
▸ Nutrition Information
P.s. Shout-out to C+K’s sponsor over in the sidebar, StudioTAC. Sara makes beautiful linen tote bags, clutches and yoga mat bags in summery colors. Shop online here.
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
Dan from PlatterTalk
Nice post and nice reminder of how great even the simplest things in life are. What is better than a basic vinaigrette over some lightly adorned greens? As your post aptly shows – very little! Here’s hoping your weekend is full of summer, and greens!
jes
The other day my mom, grandma, and I went to lunch specifically looking for a little green salad. Luckily I knew a place that was perfect. Now that summer is here that place will be my house soon! Thanks for the inspiration!
Emily L
I have been living on little green salads lately! I love to switch up the salad greens and use kale, arugula, or a herb mix. Roasted red peppers and julienned carrots work well too. I’ve tried a pesto vinaigrette and that’s amazing too. A trick is to sprinkle some dried herbes de provence over everything before tossing for some extra flavor. Works wonders!
Grandbaby Cakes
These salads are awesome!! Really beautiful and so green!
Marcie
I love how fresh and light this salad looks and sounds. It looks like the type of salad you make right after a trip to the farmer’s market, which is my favorite type!
Laura
Long live the LGS. It is SO classy and generally the first thing I bee line to at any food-focused gathering. 3/4 of the plate covered in greens and then I think about eating some other stuff, usually complaining that there’s no more room on my plate. Fancy lady dilemma! Pretty, pretty photos Kathryne.
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
I love a LGS and your lemon vinaigrette is a must-make!
Suzanne
It’s always a good idea to have a simple salad recipe!
Tieghan
Beautiful! I finally have a got to side salad recipe! YAY!
Dena
Yum! This is a great side or main salad!
★★★★★
Susan
I made this after buying some arugula at our local farmer’s market. Absolutely delicious—this is now my go to favorite salad! Ready in five minutes. I made this exactly as is. The second time I added some thinly sliced Gala apples. Delicious!
★★★★★
thelittleloaf
Everyone has a favourite little green salad and this one looks beautiful. I love that you’re filling in the gaps on your blog to make it more complete – can’t wait to see what comes next!
Angie@Angiesrecipes
What a beautiful green salad! So bright, and beautiful.
Harriet
That lemon vinaigrette looks so delicious – I love the bright colour!
Also, fennel and pine nuts are SO good together – the idea of dressing up a simple rocket salad with them is fantastic!
Joanne
Lately my LBS has been Ottolenghi’s spinach and date salad (really…amazing. make it.) but I think now that summer is here I need to incorporate more of the season’s produce into my life! Enter YOUR LBS. Which will likely become MY LBS. Love it.
Megan Lane
The perfect side salad. Yum.
Katrina @ WVS
Gotta love a simple salad like this! Also, I treat my blog like a little cookbook too! It can be so fun finding stuff that’s missing and then creating it :)
Kathryn
I completely agree – a side salad can make or break a meal. I love the combination of spicy arugula and the bright dressing. Perfect!
gracie
craving this now
Christy
Sounds like a great combination to me, I love the way you describe it in the second paragraph. We’ve been having a lot of salads for dinner lately around here :) Too hot for anything else!
Claire
I’m excited to try your dressing- I have a go-to honey basalmic I always make (especially when I have company). I forsee this making its way into the rotation!
The Bread Makers
This looks delicious. I can’t wait to try this.
★★★★★
erin
Kathryne,
I love your little black dress/salad analogy. Perfect!! It’s funny how we don’t always remember to share these basics… and I eat a salad almost every day. And it’s fun to see your go-to salad set up. I feel like we’re eating lunch together.
I share so many of the same loves… arugula, toasted nuts, shaved parm, avo… I’m getting hungry now.
Hope you are well Kathryne,
xo
E
Batya
hi kate! what a perfect little salad, but i’m thinking mine won’t be so little. after a 10 day trip back to NYC to see family and friends, i feel like greens on a very-large-scale is just what i need. oh sure, bagels, pizza, doughnuts and challah bread are a must-eat when back in the boroughs of the big-bad city…but now that i’ve returned to colorado, it’s time for some good old fashioned greens, drizzled with an awesome sounding vinaigrette. thanks for the post!
Sylvie @ GitK
I like the idea of a little black dress side salad. I would always get requests from friends to bring “that balsamic salad” whenever there was a party so I guess that must be mine!
Kasey
Love this, Kathryne! You’re right -the side salad is the little black dress we all need in our closet, and I, too, am always looking for one. Like you, I like my side salad turned into a main salad on warm days. :)
Claire
I have made this 3 times now (with cucumber and radish) and it’s fantastic! Thank you for posting.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Claire! I’m so glad to hear it!
Catherine
So necessary, this Little Green Salad. I have so many plant based books with such terrifying recipes that take hours!! The salads psyche me out – so complicated and time consuming. This validates my meals. Treasure!
Plan to make it sans oil & nuts (maybe sesame seeds?) and nutritional yeast for cheese.
Vicki Crossno
I love this salad. Since discovering it, I have taken it to a few summer bbqs. It’s great being able to change it around too. It is currently my favorite salad to make and I too just love the simplicity of the fennel and pine nut variation. Simple and elegant.
★★★★★
Kate
Great to hear, Vicki!
Jenny
Bookmarking this for regular rotation! I was looking for a nice light salad to go with a quiche and this is perfect. The dressing is SO GOOD!!
★★★★★
PFoster
Made a large version of this salad for the first time for a friend’s open house. Exceptionally good and pretty too (arranged cucumber and radish slices and halved cherry tomatoes very slightly mixed in around the edge of the platter) No leftovers… Right out of the gate this recipe became a go-to keeper!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you enjoyed it, PFoster! Thank you for your review.
JulieB
Just discovering your recipes, soup and salad is a go to weeknight meal at our house. This simple delicious salad reminded me of many years ago when I was a new mother and relatively inexperienced cook. One day I “invented” the 3 ingredient salad. Made of lettuce and any other 2 ingredients at hand. I needed to give myself permission to make a very simple salad, especially when the option was no salad. Somehow growing up I came to believe that salad had to be a complicated affair with many different chopped raw vegetables. Have been happily eating simple salads for many years.