Summer Sweetness: Mango-Arugula Salad
Mango-Arugula Salad
Celebrating August and bookending our Summer Sweetness series with this vibrant, colorful, and delightfully refreshing Mango-Arugula Salad as our signature dish of the month! Simple and light yet packed with unbeatable flavor, this scrumptious salad is the perfect tropical-themed addition to our seasonal Summer line-up and makes a healthy addition to any home menu. Plus, this beautiful salad medley comes with an added bonus - there is absolutely no cooking at all required for this easy but tasty recipe...just some simple slicing, mixing, and assembly skills will have you enjoying a deliciously satisfying side dish in less than 15 minutes.
Arugula is an amazingly versatile vegetable and easily ranks as one of my absolute favorites. A member of the cruciferous family, this bright salad green has a uniquely peppery flavor and holds very well on its own both in terms of taste and texture. Furthermore, it comes packed with a host of beneficial nutrients that deservedly earn this distinctively-shaped leafy vegetable its rightful place in the superfood hall of fame.
First sort through and wash the arugula thoroughly in cold running water - ensure the leaves are completely drained before placing them in a clean large bowl (see photo below). Wash, peel, and slice the mango into small chunks as shown in the pictures below. Once done, transfer the slices onto the arugula bed in the large bowl, spreading them out to cover the surface evenly. Next, roughly chop the walnuts into smaller pieces and sprinkle these generously over the mango and arugula base to provide a nice contrasting texture to the overall salad.
Frankly, I don't think this salad needs dressing - arugula already comes well-seasoned straight from Mother Nature herself and the creamy mango slices provide the perfect balance of moisture and sweetness that make the resulting combination complete. In addition, skipping the dressing will allow you to fully taste each distinct flavor component that makes this salad so delicious and wholesome. That said - if you really need to add dressing, I recommend lightly drizzling some extra virgin olive oil with a dash of salt and ground black pepper for extra seasoning. Alternatively, creamy dressings such as honey mustard or ranch also pair very well with this salad. I love the contrast of the bright orange mango slices against the vibrant green backdrop that the fresh arugula provides - it creates such a beautiful and eye-catching centerpiece that will undoubtedly wet the appetites of anyone who sees it. Serve as a complementary side dish paired with pizza, sandwiches, or soup and be sure to savor every single bite. Enjoy! 😋💚💛
