Simple Arugula Salad with Parmesan

You will love this beautifully simple Arugula Salad with Parmesan! Peppery arugula is paired with nutty parmesan, sliced almonds and a brown butter keto salad dressing for an easy, healthy side dish.

Simple Arugula Salad

This lovely Arugula Salad will become a regular on your dinner table. The fresh arugula compliments the sharp parmesan and salty almonds perfectly. The low carb salad dressing is so simple, but so full of flavor! This delicious salad comes together in a breeze, making it the perfect addition to your main course.

This Arugula Salad can also be made ahead of time, making it ideal for gatherings or a busy weeknight dinner. All you need to do is keep the dressing and the salad separate so nothing gets soggy. You also likely already have most of what you need to make this salad in your pantry!

This simple salad is a wonderful side dish to any meal. Try it with Marinated Flank Steak, Garlic Parmesan Pasta or One Pan Tuscan Chicken. Whatever you pair this salad with, you won’t be disappointed!

Arugula Salad Ingredients

As always, here is a quick overview of the ingredients used in our Simple Arugula Salad. For the complete recipe, just scroll to the bottom of the page.

• Arugula
• Shaved parmesan
• Sliced almonds

Keto Salad Dressing Ingredients

• Butter : Salt free preferably, but salted is fine if you adjust the amount of salt added later.
• Lemon juice : I used fresh-squeezed, but bottled is fine
• Stone-ground mustard : You can use Dijon or brown mustard if you prefer.
• Salt and pepper to taste

If you know you like a sweeter salad dressing, you may want to add some drops of a liquid monk fruit sweetener. This is entirely optional and just based on your preferences!

How to make an easy Arugula salad

This recipe could not be any simpler.

Start by making your keto salad dressing. Melt butter in a small skillet, stirring it occasionally, until butter begins to brown. Remove from heat once the mixture is foamy and has a nutty scent.

In a large bowl, add your arugula and pour the salad dressing over. Mix well, making sure each leaf is covered. Add parmesan and almonds and mix. Serve immediately.

How to make a keto salad dressing

This sugar-free salad dressing starts on the stove — Melt the butter and stir often, allowing the solids in the butter to begin to brown. Your butter should get noticeably darker and will start to foam as you stir. Remove from heat once it’s a beautiful amber brown and has a nutty aroma.

Add your lemon juice and mustard to the skillet and stir. It may still foam, but this should die down as it cools. Alternatively, you can add all of this to a jar, put on the lid, and shake until well incorporated.

The browned butter helps balance the tartness of the lemon and mustard. However, if you prefer to add a bit more sweetness, add 5-10 drops of liquid monk fruit sweetener to your dressing. This adds no calories or carbs!

What to serve with Arugula Salad

Arugula has a sharp peppery flavor, so I like to pair it with seafood. Try this Lemon Garlic Fish, Keto Parmesan Tilapia or Shrimp Scampi. It’s also a common garnish for fried foods! Try it with these Keto Crab Cakes, Coconut Shrimp or Popcorn Shrimp.

If you don’t care for seafood, try these Asian Steak Rolls, Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast or Pork Chops with Mushroom Cream Sauce.

What to add to Arugula Salad

I love that the strong peppery flavor allows arugula to nearly stand on its own, making a simple salad like this perfect! However, sometimes you might want to add

If you want to add some vegetables, try Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower, Radishes, Broccoli or Asparagus. If you want to add some protein while keeping the salad vegetarian, try these White Beans, Roasted Chickpeas or Seasoned Black Beans. Meat such as Blackened Chicken, Roasted Chicken, Easy Shrimp or Steak Tips would all be great additions.

More keto sides

• Broccoli Cheddar Muffins
• Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole
• Keto Bacon Cheddar Chive Biscuits
• Avocado Bacon Dip