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This Rocket Salad is an incredibly simple salad that is ready to enjoy in just 5 minutes! As a bonus, this throw together salad uses minimal ingredients and is very healthy.

rocket salad with parmesan cheese.

Recipe Difficulty – Very Easy

Why this recipe works

Salads are great all year long, but I especially love a light salad in the summer! It’s quick and easy – perfect for a healthy side dish to weeknight dinners.

This flavorful salad will impress any guest with it’s vibrancy, crunch from the apple and acidity from the quick balsamic dressing.

When it comes to green salads, it is easy to get into a rut. This side salad is a fun combination of toppings that make for a bright and delicious dish! This arugula salad recipe is also easy to customise, so it’s the perfect side dish to alter to match whatever you’re eating for dinner!

Ingredients to make Rocket Salad

ingredients to make rocket salad.
  1. Fresh Rocket Leaves – can be known by different names including arugula (North America) and rucola.
  2. Apple – adds a fabulous burst of flavour, sweetness with a nice crunch. I personally prefer using a pink lady but literally any apple will work.
  3. Cherry Tomatoes – bring a pop of flavour as well.
  4. Shaved Parmesan Cheese – mixes perfectly with the other salad ingredients. I opted for a vegan version.
  5. Extra Virgin Olive Oil – helps to make the dressing for this arugula parmesan salad.
  6. Balsamic Vinegar – gives a nice bite to the dressing.
  7. Salt and Black Pepper – give just the right amount of seasoning to the balsamic dressing.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Substitutions

  • Rocket Leaves – You could use baby spinach, romaine, or another type of lettuce in place of arugula leaves.
  • Parmesan Cheese – is my favourite cheese to go with this simple rocket salad, but you could also use other cheeses! Parmigiano reggiano will taste very similar, while blue cheese or goat cheese would give it a different flavour profile.
  • Add-ins – I love the simplicity of apple and tomato, but feel free to add in or swap for another fruit or vegetable you enjoy. Some to consider are sun-dried tomatoes, red onions, white beans, or cucumber.
  • Dressing Ingredients – If you’re not a fan of the balsamic glaze, try a simple lemon dressing or an apple cider vinegar dressing would work well or do check out my Peanut Salad Dressing or Maple Dijon Dressing for a spicier kick.

Variations

  • Spicy – For a spicy dressing for this wild rocket salad, add some chili garlic sauce, cumin, or crushed red pepper flakes.
  • Deluxe – There are a lot of fun toppings you could add to this rocket and parmesan salad. You could top it with some Pickled Beetroot, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, for sesame seeds.
  • Kid friendly – If your kids aren’t quite ready for arugula due to it’s peppery taste, you could try a basic salad leaf with this salad to start them out.

How to make Rocket Salad

cherry tomatoes, grated apple and parmesan cheese on a wooden cutting board.

Step 1: Firstly, rinse and drain the rocket leaves. Grate the apple, shave the parmesan, and slice the tomatoes in halves.

mixing extra virgin olive oil. balsamic vinegar, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl.

Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil. balsamic vinegar, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Give it a stir.

Pouring dressing on the rocket salad.

Step 3: Add the rocket leaves, grated apple, tomatoes, and parmesan to a large bowl and drizzle over the dressing.

salad with rocket and parmesan cheese with a dressing.

Step 4: Finally, toss salad until coated in the dressing and it’s ready to serve!!

Hint: If prepping to serve later, it is best to wait to drizzle the dressing on top until right before serving.

Leftovers

Rocket leaf salad can keep in the fridge for a couple of days without the dressing on it. If you’ve already put the dressing on, I wouldn’t recommend saving leftovers as it will go soggy.

Recipe FAQs

Is rocket the same as arugula?

Rocket is the same thing as arugula, just a different name! Rocket salad uses rocket as a base and then has some toppings. It has a peppery flavour and makes for a great salad.

Is eating rocket salad good for you?

Absolutely! It counts toward your daily veg servings and also gives you folate, calcium, and vitamin c. As long as you keep the toppings healthy as well, the salad is a great choice!

Can you freeze rocket salad?

I wouldn’t recommend freezing rocket salad, but if you have some rocket you need to preserve, you can do it! You’ll want to rinse it in cold water and remove any dying leaves. Blanch it in boiling water for a minute and then rinse it in an ice water bath and dry it off. Store in an airtight container.

More easy salads

arugula salad with cherry tomatoes and parmesan.

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4.67 from 3 votes

Rocket Salad

My Rocket Salad is ready in just 5 minutes and uses minimal ingredients, making it the perfect side dish for busy weeknights!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4
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Ingredients 

  • 4 cups fresh rocket (arugula) leaves, 60g
  • 1 apple, grated
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved, 150g
  • ¼ cup shaved Parmesan cheese, 40g (I used dairy-free)
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Firstly, rinse and drain the rocket leaves. Grate the apple, shave the parmesan and slice the tomatoes in halves.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and a pinch of salt and pepper.
  • Add the rocket leaves, grated apple, tomatoes, parmesan to a large salad bowl and drizzle over the dressing.
  • Finally, give the salad a good toss until coated in the dressing and it’s ready to serve!

Notes

Step-by-Step Photos: My blog post includes helpful step-by-step photos to help guide you through making this recipe.
Substitutions & Variations: I have included a list of these in the post above.
To Store: Store undressed rocket parmesan salad in the fridge for up to 2 days in an airtight container.
To Freeze: You can freeze the rocket itself, but I wouldn’t recommend freezing the whole salad.
Tip 1: You could try this salad with other fruit or veg such as pear, mango, avocado, beetroot, or orange.
Tip 2: If you love spicy dishes then you could add in freshly chopped chilli or even chilli flakes to taste.
Tip 3: If you aren’t vegetarian, you could try some meat in this salad such as tuna, steak, salmon, or chicken.

Nutrition

Calories: 162kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g
Did you make this recipe? Tag me Today!Tag @HealthyLivingJames on Instagram and use #HealthyLivingJames!
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About James Wythe

Hey, I'm James! A fully qualified health coach, cookbook author, full time food blogger and new dad with over 1 million followers. I started this journey after a sudden illness left me bed bound for 2 years and housebound for 4 years! I’m here to help you make healthy and delicious food for you and your family in less time!

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