Stuffed Date and Arugula Salad Recipe

Name: Stuffed Date and Arugula Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 5 ounces baby arugula (washed and dried); 1 cup chopped radicchio; ½ cup walnuts (chopped); ¼ cup red onion (sliced); ¼ cup dried apricots (chopped); 10 dates; ¼ cup blue cheese; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 lemon (juiced); 2 cloves garlic (chopped); 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; 1 tablespoon honey (or pure maple syrup); Salt and pepper (to taste)

Jump to Recipe

This stuffed date and arugula salad recipe is a hearty appetizer or side dish that is sweet, salty, savory, and SO delicious. Ready in 20 minutes, this impressive salad is perfect for entertaining, potlucks, or for your next dinner party.

A great way to enjoy dates in a salad, especially when they are stuffed. Follow our step-by-step photos below and make this fantastic salad today.

Want more sweet and savory salad ideas? Try our strawberry and quinoa salad, our cranberry orzo salad, and our favorite vegan Hawaiian macaroni salad.

stuffed date salad with arugula and radicchio and blue cheese dates

Table of Contents

I recently visited Death Valley in California, and stayed at Stovepipe Wells where I had the most fantastic desert salad with local dried dates and apricots and a tasty vinaigrette. It was so good I had to make a version to share on this site!

This salad has a great mix of ingredients, textures, and a wonderful sweet and salty flavor combination. I love that it features dried desert dates, stuffed with a tangy and delicious blue cheese. This salad would be perfect for an appetizer or holiday potluck any time of year. It’s super unique and just as delicious.

Notes from Our Kitchen

This salad is a great side dish, but is hearty enough for a full lunch meal.
It’s versatile, see our notes below on additions or substitutions.
The 5-minute vinaigrette really pulls together all the flavors in the salad.
Stuffing the dates adds a wonderful flavor and texture.
Cooks of any skill level can make this date salad recipe by following our step-by-step photos and directions below.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!

The base of this salad is fresh and spicy arugula greens, which have a delicious bold flavor! I love how they pair with the crunchy red radicchio, which combines into a delicious base for this salad. We also add in chopped red onion and walnuts for delicious crunch and texture.

This salad is also loaded with dried dates (pitted preferred) and dried apricots for a delicious fruit flavor. These dried fruits add a really wonderful sweetness to this salad. And I stuff the dates with blue cheese which makes a delicious addition!

The dressing is a simple and delicious vinaigrette made with olive oil, lemon, garlic, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper. It takes just 5 minutes, but is the perfect dressing.

Additions and Substitutions

Add your favorite protein for a heartier meal. Crispy baked tofu with cornstarch, panfried tempeh, or cooked chicken, shrimp, or beef if desired.

For a vegan version, omit the blue cheese or use a plant-based substitute.

Instead of (or in addition to) the dried apricots, you can use more dried fruits like dried cranberries, dried cherries, prunes, or even golden raisins.

Or add in fresh fruit! Fresh apricots, peaches, or strawberries would be excellent in this salad.

Step-By-Step Photos and Directions

a bowl of arugula and radicchio greens in a bowl for a salad

Step 1: In a large bowl , add the chopped arugula and radicchio.

a salad with arugula and dates and dried apricots

Step 2: Add in the chopped walnuts, sliced red onion, chopped apricots to the salad.

apple cider vinegar dressing for arugula salad with dates

Step 3: Make the dressing: in a mixing bowl or a mason jar with a tight lid, add all the dressing ingredients together, and mix well to combine.

dressing poured over a salad with rocket and radicchio

Step 4: Pour the dressing over the salad, and toss well to combine.

dates stuffed with blue cheese for a salad

Step 5: Right before serving, halve the dates and remove the pits if you are using unpitted dates. Stuff the date halves with blue cheese.

a sweet and salty salad with dried fruits and nuts for holidays or christmas

Step 6: Top the salad with the stuffed dates, and serve immediately.

Recipe FAQs

Can you make this date salad ahead of time?

While this salad is best fresh, you can make the stuffed dates and the dressing ahead of time, up to 4 days in advance.

What dried fruit is best in salad?

This salad features both dried dates and dried apricots for a unique sweet/savory combination. You can also use other dried fruits like cranberries, cherries, raisins, or prunes instead.

How to store leftover salad

While this salad is best fresh, you can store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 1 day in the refrigerator. Once the arugula is tossed with the dressing it will begin to wilt, so this salad is best fresh.

Expert Tips

If you have an extra 15 minutes, I highly recommend pickling the red onions first. Add them in a bowl or mason jar with 1 tablespoon sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, and cover with white vinegar. Let them soak and add them to the salad.
Want to meal prep this salad? Make this salad as-is, but don’t toss the dressing with the salad until right before serving.

american desert salad with dried dates and apricots with stuffed dates

More Hearty Salad Ideas

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