Baby Arugula Salad Improvisation

This is very light and refreshing. Pre-washed baby arugula in a bag or box is widely available, but check for freshness, as it goes bad easily. 

• In a large salad bowl, mix very fresh baby arugula with some minced fresh dill, very thinly sliced raw fennel (a mandoline works great for this but don’t cut yourself!), and a few fresh orange sections, cut in half.
• For the dressing, mix white wine or champagne vinegar, salt, pepper, and fresh minced garlic. Slowly add your favorite extra virgin olive oil. I use equal parts vinegar to oil, but you can vary that as you like. 

Experiment! Try white balsamic vinegar or golden balsamic vinegar or sherry vinegar instead of the wine or champagne vinegar. Mix in some fresh baby spinach; or use a little chopped red onion instead of the garlic; or add sliced turkey or ham for a healthy spring lunch.

NOTE: This is an “improvisation,” not a complete recipe. In an improvisation, I suggest some basic ingredients and techniques to inspire you to create your own dish based on your mood and the ingredients you have on hand. For traditional recipes, check out those without the word “improvisation” in the title.