The most beautiful and tasty salad you'll make this summer

If you've never experienced the wonderfully nutty flavor of arugula, this gorgeous, jewel-toned salad is the perfect introduction, Duplin Dine & Wine host Frank says.

Arugula is a leafy green available in the produce section of most supermarkets. Some chefs describe it as tasting a little like walnuts. Others say arugula has a subtle bitterness. Either way, arugula plays well against sweet and salty flavors like the fresh oranges, ruby-red pomegranate, golden raisins and shaved parmesan cheese in this salad.

Frank and his wife discovered their favorite arugula salad in a supermarket recipe flyer. Dressed in lemon vinaigrette and tossed with almonds and golden raisins, the salad got Frank thinking about Duplin Gourmet Muscadine Orange Poppy Seed Dressing.

“I’m always looking for a shortcut when it comes to making dinner, so I thought, why make a lemon vinaigrette when I could use Duplin Gourmet Muscadine Orange Poppy Seed Dressing. Plus, the Duplin dressing was a chance to give our favorite salad a new spin.”

Playing off the dressing’s sweet-tang, Frank added fresh orange and tart pomegranate. “The colors are just so awesome. And they make this salad work as a main course, especially when we add seared salmon, steamed shrimp or roast chicken,” Frank says. “When we want to eat light, keep things vegan, we skip the seafood and just sprinkle on extra almonds.”

Pair this salad with a mid-sweet to sweet Duplin wine like Muscadine Moscato, Sangria Rosé, Scuppernong Blush or Sunset Red.