Arugula Cottage Cheese Salad with Balsamic Dressing

by Sarah Harper MS, RD, LDN | Apr 12, 2024 | Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Recipes, Snack & Side Dishes | 0 comments

This Arugula and Cottage Cheese Salad with Balsamic Dressing is wonderful and quick weeknight meal and a great way to use up excess tomatoes!
Hi, I'm Sarah Harper. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves to cook, eat, and talk about food! Here at The Addy Bean, you'll discover an array of flexitarian recipes. My mission is to inspire and encourage others to eat and explore the world of plant-based foods!

Arugula Cottage Cheese Salad with Balsamic Dressing

 

Spring and summer offer the perfect opportunity to savor the refreshing flavors of this Arugula Cottage Cheese Salad with a tangy Balsamic Dressing.

This Arugula Cottage Cheese Salad with Balsamic Dressing is a terrific weeknight side, light lunch, or an easy addition to a family cookout or picnic. Moreover, this is a quick recipe that requires no cooking and has minimal clean-up. 

My Creamy Tomato and Herb Salad is perfect for hot summer days. This recipe has protein, good fats, calcium, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is a healthy eating and meat-free option for all eaters, even those not following a vegetarian diet. 

 

 

arugula and cottage cheese salad over sliced tomatoes with a balsamic vinaigrette to the top left hand corner of the image

The Star Ingredients for This Tomato and Herb Salad

Not only is my Creamy Tomato and Herb Salad recipe delicious, but it’s also incredibly versatile. I often have inspiration from a recipe like this and change the ingredients based on what I have in my refrigerator, pantry, and garden!

Tomatoes:  Fresh, local juicy tomatoes are excellent in this recipe.

It goes well with large slices of tomatoes, but you can use smaller, bite-sized tomato halves such as cherry tomatoes.

Arugula: Peppery arugula is delicious in this cottage cheese salad recipe. Any left arugula can be used in a future arugula salad!

Cottage Cheese: I prefer full-fat cottage cheese for this recipe. However, low-fat cottage cheese works well in this recipe, too. You could substitute cottage cheese for ricotta cheese, goat cheese, or mozzarella cheese. 

 

Arugula Cottage Cheese Salad on a plate with salad dressing

The Other Ingredients in This Arugula Cottage Cheese Salad

Green onion: Green onion is so delicate and “oniony”, it’s perfect raw in a salad! Another fantastic addition to this salad could be pickled red onions!

Fresh Herbs: Basil is a fantastic herb to serve alongside tomatoes. Moreover, basil grows well alongside tomatoes in the garden. 

Fresh or dried oregano, fresh flat-leaf parsley, marjoram, mint, and cilantro would go nicely alongside the tomatoes and onion.

Salt & Pepper: I use flakey sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper.

Optional ingredients: Option to use pine nuts, parmesan cheese, thinly sliced bell peppers, chicken breast, or sunflower seeds.

 

Salad Dressing

Basil Balsamic Dressing: Check out my recipe and article about this Basil Balsamic Dressing!

 

Step – By – Step Instructions

You can finish this recipe with lots of fresh herbs and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. 

Make The Dressing

In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, black pepper, and kosher salt.

Assemble The Salad

Slice tomatoes into 1/4-inch thick rounds, adjusting thickness to personal preference, and arrange them around the plate. Sprinkle tomatoes with a pinch of salt and pepper. Layer arugula over the tomatoes and place cottage cheese in the center of the platter. Scatter green onions and fresh herbs over the top.

Dress The Salad and Serve

Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad just before serving.

 

Serving Companions for Tomato and Herb Salad

Eat this recipe as a meal or side dish. 

This salad is excellent alone or with crackers, pita, or pita chips. It also pairs well as a side, with a cup of soup, sandwich, or grilled meat or fish.

In addition, this creamy Arugula and Cottage Cheese Salad would also make a wonderful dish at a cookout or summer picnic with family and friends! Perhaps even pair this salad with some Squash Blossom Fritters!

 

arugula and cottage cheese salad over sliced tomatoes with a balsamic vinaigrette to the top left hand corner of the image

Check Out These Recipes!

Strawberry Smoothie Bowl [Vegan and High Protein]

Panera Mexican Street Corn Chowder: An Easy Copycat Recipe

Dehydrated Cucumber Recipe [Cucumber Chips!]

Arugula Cottage Cheese Salad on a plate with salad dressing

Arugula Cottage Cheese Salad

Sarah Harper MS, RD, LDN
This Arugula Cottage Cheese Salad with Balsamic Dressing is a wonderful and quick weeknight side, light lunch, or an easy addition to a family cookout or picnic.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 248 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Plate or Serving Platter

Ingredients
  

  • 3 large tomatoes
  • 2 cup arugula
  • cup full fat (4% milk fat) cottage cheese or 2%, I do not recommend skim
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt to taste
  • ¼ tsp fresh ground black pepper to taste
  • garnish with lots of fresh basil and mint see recipe notes

Basil Balsamic Dressing

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp dijon mustard
  • 4 basil leaves chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

Make the Dressing

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, black pepper, and kosher salt.

Assemble the Salad

  • Slice the tomatoes into 1/4 inch thick rounds (thicker or thinner per eater preference), and arrange around your plate.
  • Sprinkle tomatoes with salt, pepper.
  • Place arugula over top the tomatoes.
  • Add Cottage cheese in the center of the platter.
  • Add green onions and fresh herbs.

Dress the Salad and Serve

  • Drizzle the dressing over the salad.

Notes

Many other fresh herbs will work in this recipe i.e. flat leaf parsley, thyme, dill, cilantro etc!
 

Nutrition

Calories: 248kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 10gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 420mgPotassium: 377mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 1177IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 101mgIron: 1mg
Keyword easy, vegetarian
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Sarah Harper in her kitchen with a cutting board, broccoli, carrots, and a fruit bowl.
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Hi, I'm Sarah Harper. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves to cook, eat, and talk about food! Here at The Addy Bean, you'll discover an array of flexitarian recipes. My mission is to inspire and encourage others to eat and explore the world of plant-based foods!

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