by This dairy-free Easy Arugula and Pomegranate Salad with Crispy Lentils uses my signature 5-Minute Maple Balsamic Salad Dressing and only takes 20 minutes to whip up! We use my roasted Crispy Lentils for Salad, plus pan-toasted walnuts and juicy pomegranate seeds for the best easy vegan salad that’s perfect as a main or side dish!
When I say I crave salad all the time as a Registered Dietitian, this is exactly the type of salad that I’m talking about.
It’s light and fresh from the arugula yet somehow still soooooo satisfying from the walnuts and Easy Roasted Crispy Lentils that we make while the rest of the salad is assembling (which by the way, add a whopping 40 grams of protein to this salad without even trying).
Plus, the pomegranate seeds add a delicious little pop of juicy crunch that I seriously can’t get enough of, and the 5-Minute Maple Balsamic Salad Dressing ties everything together with the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.
And this is the reason that I share so many easy salad recipes– I want everyone to know that healthy eating can still be insanely delicious!
Good Enough to Be a Meal
Honestly, this easy arugula salad is hearty enough to be an easy, healthy main dish on its own! With that being said, I can’t deny that I have tested this easy vegan salad with my Healthy & Tasty Herby Breaded Tofu on top and it adds sooo much flavor and an extra boost of protein!
Or, it also makes an amazing side dish to my 15-Minute Garlic & Lemon Creamy Tofu Pasta Sauce, which you can whip up while the lentils are roasting!
Save this Recipe!
Want my secret hack to deseeding pomegranates? Submerge the sliced pomegranate in a big bowl of water and deseed them under water! The pomegranate seeds will sink to the bottom while the pith floats to the top of the water. Plus, you won’t get any pomegranate juice on your clothes. You’re welcome!
Top Tips from my Test Kitchen!
I tested this arugula pomegranate salad to make sure I got it justttttt right, and here’s what I learned!
- If you want to make this salad ahead of time as easy meal prep, I recommend keeping all of the components separate until just before you want to serve! This will make sure that the salad doesn’t get soggy from the dressing.
- I tested this salad with both raw walnuts and lightly pan-toasted walnuts, and I prefer pan-toasting them! with that being said, it’s still absolutely delicious with raw walnuts, so if you’re short on time, don’t bother!
- I’m not gonna lie, adding a little feta or goat cheese to this salad does totally bring up the creaminess factor if you’re not dairy-free!
20 Minutes To the Salad Of Your Dreams
Easy Arugula and Pomegranate Salad with Crispy Lentils
Ingredients
- 1 batch Crispy Lentils for Salad, Snacks & More
- 1 batch 5-Minute Maple Balsamic Salad Dressing with Garlic
- 1/2 cup raw unsalted walnuts
- 4 cups arugula
- 1 pomegranate, deseeded, or about 1 cup of pomegranate seeds
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 tsp flaky sea salt
- 1/4 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
Equipment
- 1 Small Pan
Instructions
- Make a batch of the Crispy Lentils for Salad, Snacks & More.
- Make a batch of the 5-Minute Maple Balsamic Salad Dressing with Garlic.
- Heat a small pan over medium heat. Add the walnuts and toast them for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until lightly golden brown and fragrant. Make sure you watch them carefully so they don’t burn!
- Once all components are done, in a large bowl, combine the arugula, red onion, pomegranate seeds, crispy lentils, toasted walnuts, salt, pepper, and drizzle the maple balsamic dressing on top, starting with about 1/4 of the batch and increasing to your taste preference. Toss well and enjoy!
