Arugula Apple Fig Salad
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!
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.
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!
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.
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). 🙂
More fresh fig recipes!
- Baked brie with figs by The View From Great Island
- Fig jam
- Fig pizza
- Whipped goat cheese fig bites
- Best fig recipes
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Arugula Apple Fig Salad
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
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
15 Comments on “Arugula Apple Fig Salad”
I feel the exact same way – this summer has been sooo smoky…it’s such a bummer! The smoke this summer is the worst I’ve ever experienced…keeping a positive mind for the firefighters and all those in danger of losing their homes.
On the upside, this salad does look absolutely amazing! Perfect to brighten up any day 😀
Yes, this is the worst summer as far as smokiness…I’m in Boise right now and it’s smoky here too! Thanks Julia!
We’ve been hearing about the fires in California and the loss and devastation is so sad. My heart goes out to all the people impacted.
As for your salad Marcie, I love that this is a cross over from summer to fall. And I happen to have all the ingredients in my fridge, so I many need to make this one soon!
It truly is sad…I feel so badly for the loss so many people are experiencing! Thank you my friend. 🙂
I’m so sorry to hear about the fires this year. It’s so sad to think of all the areas that have been devastated because of it, not to mention the low air quality for families like yours. I hope it passes soon!
In the meantime, I’d happy to be stuck inside with this gorgeous salad. It’s hard to find fresh figs here but man they look so good in this salad!
Thank you so much Sarah!
I see those wildfires on the news all the time. So sad for everyone affected! I couldn’t imagine that happening to me. But this salad would definitely make me feel better, too. I love the apple and fig combo! And arugula is my absolute favorite. My husband and I eat it weekly and I sometimes just eat it plain, so good!
I can’t imagine losing everything in a fire either! Thanks Gayle!
I’m so sorry for what is happening in California…
Can’t even imagine how hard it is for people!
Love this salad! Need to get some figs and going to try it!
Thank you so much Mira!
I can’t even imagine living near all the fires – it blows my mind every time I turn on the news. So sad 🙁 But this salad is GORGEOUS marcie! I have arugula salads all the time – I need to get me some figs and apples asap!
The fires break my heart…I’m so glad they’re almost contained now. Thanks Ashley and have a great rest of the weekend! 🙂
OMG how brilliant are those clicks! I love figs and goat cheese together, this salad sounds so perfect!
Thank you so much Neha!
Hi Meagan — sorry for the oversight! I’ve updated the recipe now.