Whether it’s a fig jam or the figs in this salad, figs can make anything feel fancy. This Fig Arugula Salad with Balsamic Tahini Dressing is an elevated side salad that is a great addition to your next dinner party. It comes together in minutes and can be tossed right before serving your main course.
The crisp arugula and juicy figs with the dressing come together to create a decadent yet light salad. The tahini in the dressing makes it nice and creamy. This Fig Arugula Salad with Balsamic Tahini Dressing makes a great pairing with heavier pasta dishes like lasagna.
Fig season is fleeting, so you need to take advantage of it when it arrives. The first batch of figs arrive in early June and the second part of the season is from late summer to early fall, making this salad perfect to transition you between the seasons.
Fig Arugula Salad With Balsamic Tahini Dressing
Ingredients
Arugula Fig Salad
- 15-20 figs halved
- 6 cups arugula
- 1/4 cup parmesan
- 1/2 lemon
- pinch of salt
Balsamic Tahini Dressing
- 6 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tsp tahini
- pinch of salt
Instructions
Fig Arugula Salad
- Half 15-20 figs
- Toss 6 cups arugula with 1/4 cup parmesan, the juice of 1/2 lemon, and a pinch of salt in a large bowl with about 10 halved figs.
- Serve salad and top with remaining figs and drizzle Balsamic Tahini Dressing on top.
Balsamic Tahini Dressing
- Add 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar into a medium bowl and slowly whisk in 6 tbsp olive oil until combined.
- Add 2 tsp tahini and a pinch of salt and mix to combine.
Type of Figs
In this recipe, I use a mix of black and brown figs. Black figs have a sweeter taste that can be compared to the sweet taste of a fig jam while brown figs have a more mellow taste that isn’t as sweet. I recommend using both types in your salad so you can achieve a balanced savory-to-sweet ratio.
Figs are delicate so be careful when handling them. They also spoil quickly so make sure to use your figs a couple of days after buying them. You can refrigerate them to extend their shelf life.
Balsamic Tahini Dressing
The dressing is three parts olive oil to one part of balsamic vinegar, plus tahini. Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. You can find it at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s (where it’s a bit cheaper).
Add Nuts
Although this recipe doesn’t include it, if you want to add a crunch to your salad, you can experiment with adding nuts like walnuts or pistachios.
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