2 plates of springy arugula salad with lemon mint dressing

Lemon Mint Dressing with Arugula Spring Salad

In Mains, Sides by sarawalkenbach6 Comments

Homemade dressing is what takes a salad from good to unforgettable. And this Lemon Mint Dressing? It’s fresh, zippy, and the perfect match for my Easy Peasy Arugula Salad. Sure, there are a few decent bottled dressings out there—but when it’s this quick, easy, and budget-friendly to make your own, why not go fresh?

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Burst of Fresh Flavor
The lemon mint dressing brings a bright, refreshing zing that perfectly balances the peppery arugula. It’s light, vibrant, and feels like a little sunshine on your plate.

Quick and Simple
This salad comes together in minutes—perfect for busy weekdays, last-minute lunches, or when you just don’t feel like cooking. Minimal effort, maximum flavor.

Whole-Food Ingredients
Every bite is made with real, nourishing ingredients—no weird additives, just wholesome goodness. The lemon mint dressing is homemade with pantry staples and fresh herbs, making it a clean and healthy choice.

Springy Salad with Lemony Mint Dressing.
Arugula, peas, and strawberries are all Springy ingredients that are delicious together in this salad.

Need an easy dinner recipe? Try Artichoke Chicken tonight!

Lemon Mint Dressing Ingredients

  • White Balsamic Vinegar (or White Wine Vinegar)- good quality
  • Lemon Juice – freshly squeezed
  • Fresh Mint
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Honey
  • Salt & Pepper

This is a great salad dressing base. Swap out vinegar types. Use different herbs. It’s delicious anyway!

Traditional vinaigrettes usually follow a 3-to-1 ratio of oil to acid—but I like to flip the script. I love a good quality vinegar (seriously, I could drink it), so this recipe uses a tangier ratio that’s more my style.

Bonus: less oil means fewer calories. That said, if you prefer a classic vinaigrette, feel free to go with 1/3 cup olive oil and 1 tablespoon each of lemon juice and vinegar.

Fresh lemons with a sprig of mint and sprinkling of peas.
Fresh lemon juice is best for homemade salad dressings.

Easy Way to Make Lemon Mint Dressing:

  • Grab a Mason Jar with a Lid
  • Put in all Dressing Ingredients
  • Screw on Lid
  • Shake it Up (really well)
  • It’s Seriously That Easy!

If you don’t have a lidded jar a small bowl and whisk work just as good.

Arugula Salad Ingredients

Arugula

Springy and a little peppery, arugula is a tender green that is good for your bones. Arugula is high in Vitamin K and calcium!

Peas

There are plenty of good reasons to eat more peas—starting with their immune-boosting powers. Just one serving is packed with vitamin C and zinc, both of which help keep your immune system strong. Peas are also a surprisingly great source of plant-based protein.

According to Real Food for Life, here are even more health perks of adding peas to your plate:

  • Supports weight management
  • Helps prevent certain cancers, including stomach cancer
  • Contributes to anti-aging
  • Aids in preventing osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s
  • Helps regulate blood sugar
  • Prevents constipation

Have I convinced you yet? Just promise me one thing: skip the canned peas (blek). Frozen peas are the next best thing to fresh—and they taste so much better, too.

All the delicious ingredients for this spring salad, and homemade Lemon Mint Dressing.
Easy Peasy Spring Salad ingredients.

Strawberries

Strawberries are another springtime gem—and honestly, eating more of them is always a good idea. These vibrant little superfoods are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and flavonoids that help protect against chronic illness. Fun fact: strawberries actually pack more vitamin C than an orange!

Goat Cheese

Tangy, soft and earthy, goat cheese is one of my favorite cheeses! It’s full of vitamins, minerals, and is one of the healthier cheese options.

If you love goat cheese like I do, you’ll love these Tangy Goat Cheese Crackers.

Nuts or Seeds

Every salad needs a little crunch, and almonds are a perfect match for this one. Don’t have almonds? No problem—pecans or sunflower seeds work just as well and add their own delicious twist!

If you like this salad recipe, you’ll love Spinach Salad with Easy Pesto Dressing.

Arugula, goat cheese, strawberries, and peas on a white plate with a drizzle of lemony mint dressing sprinkled with sliced almonds.
Homemade dressing is where it’s at! It’s as simple as putting the dressing ingredients into a mason jar with lid and shaking!

How to Make Assemble

Salads are the best, as they are one of the easiest dishes to prepare.

  1. In serving bowl, place arugula.
  2. Add in strawberries, peas, and cheese.
  3. Before serving, drizzle with Lemon Mint Dressing and toss.
  4. Sprinkle with almonds and enjoy!

This Lemon Mint Dressing with Spring Arugula Salad is proof that real food can be simple, flavorful, and totally crave-worthy. With fresh ingredients, no weird additives, and a zippy homemade dressing, it’s a salad you’ll actually want to eat on repeat. Give it a try and let your taste buds (and your body) thank you!

Looking for other salad options? Try these:

Freckle Face Foodie is a healthy food blog.

Thanks for reading along. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. If you would like more healthy recipes like this one sent right to your inbox, sign up for my Recipe Drops. They’re always FREE.

easy peasy arugula salad with fresh straberries, goat cheese, peas, and almonds

Lemon Mint Dressing with Arugula Spring Salad

A salad with all the Spring flavors, and a tasty, fresh, & easy homemade dressing. Your tastebuds will be happy.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 212 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 5 oz Arugula pre-washed / 1 tub
  • 1 cup Strawberries quartered
  • 3/4 cup Frozen Peas
  • 3 oz Goat Cheese crumbled with fork
  • 1/2 cup Sliced Almonds, Chopped Pecans, or Sunflower Seeds

Lemon Mint Dressing

  • 1/3 cup Olive Oil extra virgin
  • 1 tbs White Balsamic Vinegar good quality
  • 1/4 cup Lemon Juice freshly squeezed
  • 1-2 tbsp Honey
  • 1 tbsp Fresh Mint minced
  • Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Place frozen peas in a bowl of cool water to thaw. Once thawed, drain water, place peas on tea towel to get off excess water.
  • Make the dressing: Put all dressing ingredients into either a mason jar with tight fitting lid or a small bowl. If using a mason jar, shake. If using a bowl, whisk. Taste, add more salt if needed. Set aside.
  • In a large serving bowl, toss in the arugula, strawberries, peas, and goat cheese.
  • Drizzle salad with desired amount of dressing. Top with almonds, toss, and enjoy!

Video

Notes

There are so many types of delicious vinegar out there. Go to your local spice and olive oil shop. A good quality vinegar makes all the difference when making your own dressings.
Since arugula greens are so tender, this salad should be consumed once dressing is on. It doesn’t keep well. Wait until just before serving to dress.
This salad makes a delicious entree salad too. Cut recipe to 1/4 or 1/2, if making it for an entree. Peas offer up protein, but chicken, shrimp, or salmon would be tasty on here too.

Nutrition

Calories: 212kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 7gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 47mgPotassium: 259mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 664IUVitamin C: 22mgCalcium: 94mgIron: 1mg
Keyword arugula pea salad, lemon mint dressing, spinach arugula salad, spring salad, strawberries and peas
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Comments

  1. I absolutely loved this salad, peas and all! The dressing was absolutely amazing and makes the salad!!!

    1. Author

      Kristen, thanks for the “pea challenge” and the kind words! Glad you liked my salad!

  2. 5 stars
    I have tried several Freckle Face Foodie recipes, Salad and Fruit Salad recipes are delicious. Her recipes are very easy to follow. Love the variety.

    1. Author

      Thanks for trying my recipes Linda! So glad you like them.

  3. I’m going to swap the peas for edamame and the almonds for pine nuts. Can’t wait!

5 from 1 vote

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