This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Fennel & Arugula Salad 💚 This is the BEST salad ever and by far, one of my most VIRAL recipes to date, and with good reason is you ask me, because it is simple, delicious, and perfection! The honey dijon salad dressing is something you need in your collection!
If you loved this recipe, check out my Cucumber Fennel Salad!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love Arugula Fennel Salad
This arugula fennel salad truly is delicious, and it is one of those recipes where simplicity wins. I literally serve it every time I host and it is always a hit. It’s fresh, simple and very balanced. The honey dijon dressing… my gosh I could literally eat it by the spoonful. Another plus of the dressing is that is one of those dressings that can be made ahead of time and enjoyed with veggies, chicken, grain salads etc!
How To Prepare
Shaved Fennel – You can use a knife for this but if you have a mandoline it helps a lot to get super thing slices.
- Remove the stalks and fronds (the entire top green part) until you just have the white bulb.
- Place the bulb on its side and cut off about ¼ inch of the root. Peel off any tough outer layers.
- Now just set up right and either start cutting super thin slices with a knife or use your mandoline.
Let the dressing rest – You can even make this further ahead and store in the fridge. The longer it rests the more the flavors combine. Give it at least 15 minutes.
Massage the dressing in – With very clean hands or gloves, get in there and really work that dressing. It makes a difference, trust me!
Substitutions
- As far as substitutions go, like most of my recipes this Arugula Fennel Salad recipe is very versatile. You can use Pecorino or Grana Padano instead of Parmigiano Reggiano.
- If you aren’t into arugula (GASPS AUDIBLY & JUDGES SILENTLY), you can literally use any green you do like! If you choose to use kale, then make sure to massage the dressing in!
- You can use agave nectar or maple syrup instead of honey. Personally, I don’t love it with maple syrup but feel free to give it a shot.
🔥Chef Nadia’s Tip🔥
Always massage the dressing in VS just pouring it on top. Makes it taste better.
The Perfect Pairings
Not sure what to pair with this dish – I got you 😉
What goes with this Arugula Fennel Salad? The real question is what does’t go with this amazing salad? I’m going to pick one menu that works with it but the world is your oyster with this one! We will start with the Porn Star Margarita, a delicious passion fruit margarita that is great for company. For your main a Slow Roast Beef Tenderloin and Potato Puree is perfect. Finish the night with a Passion Fruit Panna Cotta.
Arugula Fennel Salad: Questions Answered
You can use any greens of your choice, even kale! If you do use kale, make sure you massage the dressing in.
You can make the dressing up to 5 days ahead. Just store in an airtight container in the fridge and mix again before adding it to the salad. You can prep the other ingredients but don’t combine until just before or it will get soggy.
I use Local Hive and Nature Nate’s.
Arugula Fennel Salad
Equipment
- Bowl
- whisk
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup parmigiano reggiano, freshly gated + more shaved for topping
- 1 ½ large lemon, zest of 1 and the juice of 1 ½ lemons
- 1 ½ tbsp honey
- 1 ½ tsp dijon mustard
- salt, to taste, I used my seasoned salt
- ⅓ cup olive oil, plus 2 tbsp
- 1 fennel, shaved
- 5 oz arugula, 1 container
Instructions
- To a bowl add freshly grated parmigiano, the zest of 1 lemon, the juice of 1 ½ lemons, honey, dijon, salt. Add the olive oil in a slow stream while whisking really well to emulsify. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
- While that marinates, shave the fennel and squeeze a bit of lemon on it so that it doesn’t turn.
- Add the arugula and fennel to a bowl. Massage dressing in, as much or as little as you want.
- Shave more parmigiano on top and that is it.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
In your Fennel & Arugula Salad you listed 1.5 lemons in the ingredient list. But then in the Directions you list “juice of 2”. Did you use the juice of 1.5 or 2 lemons? thank you
Hi Cynthia, I used the used of 1.5! My mistake, thank you for catching it.
I am forever thought about this, thanks for putting up.
Thank you for sharing this recipe, my husband loves it and it’s now in our rotation on repeat:)
Yes 🙌 This is my go-to salad! I’m so glad you guys love it!