Carrot Arugula Salad with Fig, Goat Cheese & Avocado

Found on: ambitiouskitchen.com

Yields1 Serving
For the carrots:
 4 large carrots, cut in half vertically and stems/tops removed
 1 tbsp avocado oil
 Freshly ground salt and pepper
For the salad:
 5 oz baby arugula
 ¾ cup dried fig halves
  cup walnuts halves and pieces
  cup goat cheese crumbles
 1 avocado, sliced
 ½ cup roasted chickpeas (optional, for extra protein)
Maple Tahini Dressing:
 ¼ cup drippy tahini (I always use Soom Tahini)
 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
 12 tsp pure maple syrup
 ½ tsp dijon mustard
 ¼ tsp garlic powder
 23 tbsp warm water, to thin out a bit
 ¼ tsp salt
 Freshly ground black pepper
1

Add vertically cut carrots to a large bowl or a platter and drizzle with avocado oil then season with freshly ground salt and pepper. Use tongs or clean hands to coat the carrots with the oil.

2

Preheat the grill to medium high heat (about 400 degrees F) and grill the carrots for 15-25 minutes total or until slightly tender, flipping halfway through. Please note, if you don’t want to grill your carrots, you can roast them at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes or until tender on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

3

Toast walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until toasted and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

4

While the carrots are cooking you can make your dressing: in a medium bowl, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup, dijon, garlic powder, water (1 tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency) and salt and pepper. Set aside.

5

Add arugula to a large platter (or you can keep it in a large bowl) and then layer with the toppings: grilled carrots, dried fig halves, toasted walnuts, goat cheese crumbles, avocado slices, and roasted chickpeas (if using).

6

Drizzle tahini dressing all over the top and season with freshly ground salt and pepper. Divide into bowls and enjoy! Salad keeps well for 2-4 days. Serves 4 as a main and 6 as a side salad.

Recipe Notes
7

To roast the carrots: add the carrots to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and roast them at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes or until tender.

8

If you’re not into a tahini dressing, I suggest my simple light maple apple cider vinaigrette for this salad. You can toss it with the arugula first or simply place it on the side and have guests drizzle over their salad before serving: 3 tablespoons olive oil, 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey and freshly ground salt and pepper to taste.

Ingredients

For the carrots:
 4 large carrots, cut in half vertically and stems/tops removed
 1 tbsp avocado oil
 Freshly ground salt and pepper
For the salad:
 5 oz baby arugula
 ¾ cup dried fig halves
  cup walnuts halves and pieces
  cup goat cheese crumbles
 1 avocado, sliced
 ½ cup roasted chickpeas (optional, for extra protein)
Maple Tahini Dressing:
 ¼ cup drippy tahini (I always use Soom Tahini)
 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
 12 tsp pure maple syrup
 ½ tsp dijon mustard
 ¼ tsp garlic powder
 23 tbsp warm water, to thin out a bit
 ¼ tsp salt
 Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1

Add vertically cut carrots to a large bowl or a platter and drizzle with avocado oil then season with freshly ground salt and pepper. Use tongs or clean hands to coat the carrots with the oil.

2

Preheat the grill to medium high heat (about 400 degrees F) and grill the carrots for 15-25 minutes total or until slightly tender, flipping halfway through. Please note, if you don’t want to grill your carrots, you can roast them at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes or until tender on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

3

Toast walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until toasted and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

4

While the carrots are cooking you can make your dressing: in a medium bowl, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup, dijon, garlic powder, water (1 tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency) and salt and pepper. Set aside.

5

Add arugula to a large platter (or you can keep it in a large bowl) and then layer with the toppings: grilled carrots, dried fig halves, toasted walnuts, goat cheese crumbles, avocado slices, and roasted chickpeas (if using).

6

Drizzle tahini dressing all over the top and season with freshly ground salt and pepper. Divide into bowls and enjoy! Salad keeps well for 2-4 days. Serves 4 as a main and 6 as a side salad.

Recipe Notes
7

To roast the carrots: add the carrots to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and roast them at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes or until tender.

8

If you’re not into a tahini dressing, I suggest my simple light maple apple cider vinaigrette for this salad. You can toss it with the arugula first or simply place it on the side and have guests drizzle over their salad before serving: 3 tablespoons olive oil, 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey and freshly ground salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

Carrot Arugula Salad with Fig, Goat Cheese & Avocado