Rocket and Parmesan Salad is a peppery and tangy side dish made with rocket (arugula) leaves, parmesan shavings, red onions, and tomatoes dressed with a simple dressing consisting of olive oil and balsamic.
I love using fresh rocket-arugula leaves in salad as they have a fresh, bitter, and peppery flavor.
This Rocket and Parmesan Salad complements most meat or seafood dishes such as Hamsi Tava - Crispy Fried Anchovies, is very easy to make, and only takes 10 minutes to put together.
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What is Rocket?
Rocket (or Arugula) is a delicious and peppery green plant from the Brassicaceae family as broccoli, cabbage, or watercress.
They originated from the Mediterranean and have a slightly nutty and strong spicy - peppery flavor.
Rocket is also known as Arugula, Rocca, Roka, and Italian Cress in different parts of the world.
They are easy to grow, and readily available in most supermarkets.
Why This Recipe Works?
- This Rocket Salad is usually served in fine-dining restaurants or bistros but you can enjoy your homemade version with this simple recipe.
- Ready in just 10 minutes and you can make it with a few ingredients you already have in your fridge.
- Rocket and Parmesan Salad is very light and has a refreshing flavor that complements many fish or meat dishes.
- You can make this delicious salad using different leaves such as lamb lettuce, watercress, or baby spinach.
Ingredients You'll Need
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.
- Rocket leaves - Arugula or rocket leaves are the most common salad leaves available in the shops and you can buy them all year round.
- Parmesan cheese - Freshly shave the parmesan cheese with a peeler just before adding it to the salad. You can also use pecorino cheese.
- Red onions - I like using red onions for their sweetness but you can substitute them with shallots or omit them.
- Cherry tomatoes - Perfectly pairs with spicy rocket leaves. You can use any other type of tomato you like to have with your salads.
- Olive oil - Always use a good quality extra virgin olive oil for salads and dressings.
- Balsamic glaze - It has a thick & syrupy consistency and a slightly sweet taste which goes perfectly with peppery rocket leaves. You can use balsamic vinegar and add a pinch of sugar to the dressing instead of the glaze. They are widely available in supermarkets or online on Amazon.
Other Ingredients You Can Add to Rocket Salad
- Avocado
- Pine nuts
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Beets
- Green onions
Step-by-Step Instructions
This is a very simple recipe with a few easy steps to follow to achieve the best results:
Wash the rocket leaves thoroughly and make sure they are totally dry.
Place the rocket leaves in a large bowl.
Cut the cherry tomatoes in halves and then add them to the rocket leaves.
Make parmesan shavings using a vegetable peeler.
Make long peels of parmesan block the same way you’re peeling a big carrot and add the shavings to the bowl.
Thinly slice the red onions and add them to the salad.
To make the dressing for the salad, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic glaze, and sea salt.
Add the dressing to the salad mixture in the bowl.
Gently toss them together to combine with your fingertips.
Transfer the salad to individual salad bowls or to a large big salad bowl.
Top Tips From the Chef
- Dress your Rocket Salad at the last minute to avoid the rocket leaves from wilting or becoming soggy before serving.
- If your rocket leaves (or any other salad leaves, fresh herbs) are a bit wilted and not looking as fresh, the best way to make them revive is to put them in lukewarm water and soak them for 20 minutes. I have done it many times and works much better than cold or iced water.
- Make sure your rocket leaves are totally dried after washing them. The quickest and most efficient way to dry salad leaves is to use a salad spinner. Alternatively, you can shake the salad leaves and drain them in a colander for about half an hour.
Serving Suggestions
This salad pairs perfectly with seafood dishes like Creamy Shrimp Risotto With Peas, Thai Fish Cakes (Tod Mun Pla), Creamy Shrimp Pasta, or Cheesy Baked Shrimp (Karides Guvec) as well as meat dishes like Hunkar Hegendi (Sultan's Delight), Grilled Cheese Burrito - Taco Bell Recipe, Jamaican Style Pepper Steak, or Aubergine Meatball Wraps (Islim Kebabi).
Recipe FAQs
Although rocket is an edible fresh herb from the mustard family, it is often eaten as a vegetable and can be bought from supermarkets' salad sections.
You can use rocket leaves with some fresh or roasted vegetables and fruits such as cucumber, artichoke, pear, watermelon, onions, red peppers, beetroot, and tomatoes. They also go perfectly with cheeses such as feta, parmesan, or goat's cheese as well as walnuts and pinenuts.
There is only 83 kcal in one portion of this delicious rocket salad if you follow my recipe.
Related Recipes
For more healthy salad dishes why not try:
Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.
I hope you enjoy the process of making this healthy and delicious Rocket and Parmesan Salad as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂
Bon appétit! / Afiyet olsun!
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Rocket and Parmesan Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 100 g baby rocket leaves (washed and dried)
- 10 cherry tomatoes (halved)
- ¼ red onion (finely sliced)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 30 g parmesan shavings
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Wash and dry the rocket leaves and put them in a large bowl.
- Cut the cherry tomatoes in halves and add to the rocket leaves.
- Whisk olive oil, sea salt, and balsamic glaze to make a dressing.
- Thinly slice the red onions and add them to the bowl along with the dressing.
- Gently toss them to combine with your fingertips and transfer them to individual salad bowls or a large big salad bowl.
Notes
- Dress your Rocket Salad at the last minute to avoid the rocket leaves from wilting or becoming soggy before serving.
- If your rocket leaves (or any other salad leaves, fresh herbs) are a bit wilted and not looking as fresh, the best way to make them revive is to put them in lukewarm water and soak them for 20 minutes. I have done it many times and works much better than cold or iced water.
- Make sure your rocket leaves are totally dried after washing them. The quickest and most efficient way to dry salad leaves is to use a salad spinner. Alternatively, you can shake the salad leaves and drain them in a colander for about half an hour.
Nutrition
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Michaela
So simple and delicious! Thank you for sharing,