This Grilled Fennel Arugula Salad is an easy Spring salad that’s as refreshing as it’s scrumptious! Caramelized fennel and asparagus meet crisp arugula, salty feta, buttery pine nuts, and a wealthy shallot French dressing for a salad that’s certain to impress!
This Grilled Fennel Arugula Salad is straight from Justin and my’s unofficial #madebyus collection! (Aka, once we throw collectively one thing wonderful throughout certainly one of our Sunday night time kitchen experiments after a weekend of indulgence.)
We already knew that grilled fennel and asparagus add unimaginable depth to a crisp arugula salad. However what actually took it to the subsequent degree? The Shallot French dressing. A fast sauté mellows the shallots’ chew, giving the dressing a wealthy, caramelized taste you’d anticipate from a elaborate restaurant.
Toss all of it along with salty feta cheese and buttery toasted pine nuts, and also you’ve received a salad that’ll make you rethink your love for greens. It’s good for spring and summer time gatherings or a recent, vibrant weeknight facet!
Ingredient Notes
For the precise measurements and detailed directions, please see the recipe card beneath.
- Arugula and Spinach. That is truly a contented compromise that Justin and I make since he loves arugula and I like spinach, however I feel the combo is ideal! The arugula brings a peppery chew, whereas the spinach provides some sturdiness to carry up towards the grilled veggies. Be happy to make use of only one for those who favor!
- Fennel. One massive bulb will get halved and grilled, remodeling from sharp and crunchy to candy, caramelized, and barely smoky. For those who’ve by no means tried grilled fennel, belief me—you’re in for a deal with.
- Asparagus. A fast toss on the grill offers these spears fantastically charred edges whereas conserving them crisp-tender. Professional tip: Search for thinner spears, as they prepare dinner up quicker and extra evenly.
- Shallot French dressing. The actual star of the present! Shallots mellow out and develop a deep, wealthy taste when sautéed. Whilst you may swap in yellow onions with a contact of garlic, shallots have a definite, barely candy and gentle onion style that actually makes this dressing shine.
- Pine Nuts. Toasted to perfection, these little buttery gems add crunch and nuttiness that pair fantastically with the opposite substances.
- Feta Cheese. A sprinkle of salty, tangy feta ties every part collectively. If you would like a milder possibility, goat cheese crumbles would work too!
The right way to Make Grilled Fennel Arugula Salad
Please see the recipe card beneath for the complete directions, ingredient quantities, and a printable recipe.
Step 1: Caramelize the shallots.
Warmth olive oil in a small skillet over medium warmth. Add the chopped shallots and prepare dinner, stirring consistently, for 2-3 minutes till they’re tender and calmly caramelized.
Step 2: Make the French dressing.
Switch the cooked shallots to a mason jar. Add the remaining olive oil, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, and salt. Shake vigorously for 10-20 seconds till nicely mixed. Let it sit for at the very least 20 minutes to let the flavors meld.
Step 3: Prep the veggies.
Drizzle the asparagus and fennel with oil and rub it evenly over the veggies utilizing your palms. Sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper.
Step 4: Grill the asparagus and fennel.
Preheat the grill to excessive warmth and oil the grates. Place the asparagus and fennel in a single layer (laying the asparagus perpendicular to the grates). Grill for 4-5 minutes undisturbed, then flip and proceed cooking for one more 4-8 minutes till tender and charred.
Be aware: The fennel could take a bit longer than the asparagus.
Step 5: Chop, toss, and serve.
Let the grilled greens cool barely, then lower the asparagus into 1- to 2-inch items and thinly slice the fennel. Add them to a big salad bowl with the spinach, arugula, radishes, feta cheese, and pine nuts. Style and modify seasoning if wanted.
Drizzle the caramelized shallot French dressing over the salad and toss simply earlier than serving.
FAQs
Sure! You’ll be able to grill the fennel and asparagus, make the shallot French dressing, and prep the opposite substances a day prematurely. Simply wait to toss every part collectively till proper earlier than serving to maintain the arugula recent and crisp.
Uncooked fennel has a gentle licorice taste, however grilling caramelizes the pure sugars, making it sweeter and extra mellow. It additionally develops a barely smoky, charred style that pairs completely with the intense French dressing.
Completely! Preheat your oven to 400°F. Unfold the veggies on a parchment-lined baking sheet, drizzle with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Roast asparagus for 12-Quarter-hour and fennel for 20-25 minutes, flipping midway by.
If arugula isn’t your factor, swap it with child spinach, blended greens, and even massaged kale for a sturdier texture.
Retailer leftover salad in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 1 day. If attainable, preserve the dressing separate to stop the greens from wilting. The grilled veggies and French dressing will last as long as 3 days when saved individually.
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Caramelized Shallot French dressing
Grilled Fennel Arugula Salad
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For the Shallot French dressing: Warmth 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small skillet over medium warmth. Add the shallot and prepare dinner, stirring consistently, for 2-3 minutes, or till tender and calmly caramelized.
1 massive or 2 small shallots
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Switch the cooked shallot to a mason jar together with the remaining ⅓ cup olive oil, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Shake for 10-20 seconds, or till emulsified. Put aside till prepared to make use of.
2 tablespoons recent lemon juice, 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons honey, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, ¼ teaspoon salt
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For the Grilled Greens: Drizzle the asparagus and fennel with 2 tablespoons avocado oil and use your palms to rub it evenly over the greens. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
2 tablespoons avocado oil, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 massive fennel bulb, 1 pound asparagus, ½ teaspoon black pepper
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Preheat the grill to excessive warmth, clear and oil the grates. Place the asparagus and fennel on the grill in a single layer, making certain the asparagus runs perpendicular to the grates. Cook dinner for 4-5 minutes with out disturbing, flip when grill marks seem, and proceed cooking for one more 4-8 minutes, or till tender and calmly charred. (Be aware: The fennel could take longer than the asparagus.)
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Switch to a slicing board to chill. As soon as cool to the contact, lower the asparagus into 1- to 2-inch items and the fennel into skinny slices.
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To Assemble the Salad: In a big salad bowl, mix the spinach, arugula, grilled asparagus, fennel, radishes, feta cheese, and pine nuts. Style and modify with extra salt and black pepper, if wanted. Drizzle with the caramelized shallot French dressing and toss simply earlier than serving.
5 ounces recent spinach, 5 ounces recent arugula, 1 bunch radishes, 2 ounces pine nuts, 4 ounces crumbled feta cheese
- Arugula: It wilts rapidly, so make sure the asparagus and fennel have cooled earlier than including and toss the salad proper earlier than serving.
- To Roast within the Oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Organize the asparagus and fennel on a parchment-lined baking sheet, drizzle with oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 12-Quarter-hour, take away the asparagus, and proceed cooking the fennel for one more 10-Quarter-hour, or till tender.
- Storage: Preserve the salad and dressing separate till able to serve. Retailer veggies, greens, and dressing in hermetic containers for as much as 3 days.
Energy: 375kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 9g, Fats: 33g, Saturated Fats: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 7g, Monounsaturated Fats: 18g, Ldl cholesterol: 20mg, Sodium: 909mg, Potassium: 753mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 4181IU, Vitamin C: 26mg, Calcium: 237mg, Iron: 4mg
Vitamin info is robotically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
