This Arugula Apple Fig Salad is a salad to get excited about! It’s a delicious blend of sweet and savory flavors tossed in a spiced balsamic dressing!

Apple fig arugula salad in a bowl with servers

Summers in California have changed so dramatically the past few years.  With wild fires raging up and down the state, we’re experiencing hazy, smoke-filled skies that look more like cloudy days than summer time.

The air is quite thick with soot some days, and it truly makes me want to stay indoors.

I’ve lived in California all my life and we’ve never experienced so many wild fires.  One or two might occur in a season, but never so many with such magnitude.  So many people are losing homes and even loved ones…there’s so much devastation.

Summer should be a bright and sunny, but it’s anything but that around here.

Apple fig arugula salad in a bowl with servers

The only thing that makes be feel better is eating all of the fresh food that I can, including this Arugula Apple Fig Salad.

This salad is a major bright spot in a gray, smoky day, and it’s something that I could eat day in and day out!

Apple fig arugula salad in a bowl with fork

If you’ve never had fresh figs before, this salad is a great place to try them for the first time.  In my opinion, figs are best in savory dishes because they can be overpoweringly sweet.

This fig salad recipe includes the magical combination of peppery arugula, crisp apple, sweet figs, creamy goat cheese and crunchy toasted walnuts.

All of the goodness I’ve listed above is tossed in a cinnamon-spiced maple balsamic dressing that’s just out of this world good.

My youngest son commented that the cinnamon in the dressing worked very well with the apple.   I’m really glad he thought so, because that’s what I was shooting for. 🙂

This salad is a crossover between summer and fall.  I’m nowhere near ready to post pumpkin recipes yet, but apples are in season here in California and they pair beautifully with figs.

Apple fig arugula salad in a bowl with balsamic dressing

Recipe notes

  • You can customize this salad to your liking, but the one thing that I wouldn’t change at all is the arugula.  The bold, peppery flavor of the arugula is the perfect contrast to sweet fig, juicy apple and tangy goat cheese.
  • If figs aren’t in season, you can substitute with dried figs.  If apples aren’t in season, substitute them with raspberries or blueberries.  And if you’re not into goat cheese, feta cheese is a good replacement.
  • The dressing may be made in advance and stored in an air tight container in the fridge for a week to 10 days.
  • Fig salad is best enjoyed the day that it’s made. (Warning! you may want to make it every day). 🙂
Apple fig arugula salad in a bowl with servers

More fresh fig recipes!

Did you try this recipe?  If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram

Apple fig arugula salad in a bowl with servers

Arugula Apple Fig Salad

Arugula Apple Fig Salad is a delicious blend of sweet and savory flavors tossed in a spiced balsamic dressing! 
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Ingredients

  • 4-6 cups arugula
  • 6 small fresh figs
  • 1 small apple halved and thinly sliced (I used fuji)
  • 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese
  • 1/3 cup toasted walnut pieces
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Place the arugula, figs, apple, goat cheese and walnuts in large bowl.
  • Place the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, dijon, lemon juice, cinnamon, salt and pepper in a mason jar. Place the lid on tightly and shake vigorously until emulsified.
  • Pour the dressing over the salad (you may not need it all), and toss gently to coat.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

  • You can customize this to your liking, but the one thing that I wouldn’t change at all is the arugula. The bold, peppery flavor of the arugula is the perfect contrast to sweet fig, juicy apple and tangy goat cheese.
  • If figs aren’t in season, you can substitute with dried figs. If apples aren’t in season, substitute them with raspberries or blueberries. And if you’re not into goat cheese, feta cheese is a good replacement.
  • The dressing may be made in advance and stored in an air tight container in the fridge for a week to 10 days.
  • This salad is best enjoyed the day that it’s made.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 227kcal, Carbohydrates: 18g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g, Cholesterol: 6mg, Sodium: 153mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 14g

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Did you try this recipe?Be sure to tag @flavorthemoments with the hashtag #flavorthemoments on Instagram so I can see what you made!

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