In recent years I have prioritized raising babies over raising vegetables, and I haven’t spent much time in my garden. It’s every vegetable for itself out there, and several have risen to the occasion by growing, flowering, going to seed, and repeating, providing me with a an annual harvest. The crops that have been most efficient in this regard–aside from the herbs; does anyone need parsley?–are a frilly lettuce, a purple kale, and the arugula. Every spring they pop up and remind me that I had better clear some space if I want anything else to grow this year.
Last week summer came to Seattle and the garden bloomed with a sea of delicate arugula flowers. I left several plants, of course, to ensure next year’s crop. And I picked springtime’s last armload of arugula to take into the kitchen.
This is my favorite arugula salad (although this one, with grilled or roasted potatoes and blue cheese, is a close second). And it’s as simple as can be: greens, grated Parmesan cheese, deeply toasted walnuts, a sweet balsamic vinaigrette. It goes with anything, but it also makes a fine summer dinner all by itself.
Arugula Salad with Parmesan and Toasted Walnuts: Bake a couple of handfuls of walnut halves at 350, stirring often, until deeply toasted (10-12 minutes). Meanwhile, wash and dry a big bunch of arugula and tear the leaves if they’re large. Toss greens with a balsamic vinaigrette (2 parts olive oil to 1 part sweet and syrupy balsamic vinegar plus salt and pepper to taste), then add grated Parmesan cheese and toss again. Top with the walnuts.
Emmy Cooks 
It is so nice to have an abundance of arugula in your garden. I love its peppery taste in salads. Nice with your roasted walnuts.
This looks wonderful! One of my favorites too. I like to swap out the olive oil for walnut oil when I have it :-)
I love, love, love arugula salad. While back east we had a delicious one with blue cheese, raspberries, toasted walnuts, and a honey vinaigrette at the Plum Island Grille. So good! Fingers crossed for arugula in this week’s CSA box!
That salad looks perfect! It’s almost like pesto in salad form, isn’t it? :)
Ditch the babies (only joking, of course!). No one expects you to have time for everything :P. I think it’s fair to say that the babies come before carrots. That is a truly gorgeous salad!
Sometimes simple is best…nice recipe…too bad we did poorly with our arugula this year but there is always the farmers market…Thx
Beautiful photo, Emmy! And I’m envious of your arugula. Here, the flea beetles make it next to impossible to grow.
Very nice …. I like the idea of trying it with spinach too :)