A Goat Cheese, Spinach & Arugula Fig Salad with a simple balsamic fig dressing. Perfect as a side salad, dish-to-pass, or make it a meal by adding your favorite toppings and protein.

FIG FRIDAY.

We’re making it a thing… At least this week we are. No promises for next.

Before we start talking about the food… can we just talk about Target for a hot minute or two? K, thanks.
So we got back from up north early in the day on Labor Day Monday so I took the time to clean up my office, put some clothes in a goodwill box, catch up on some laundry, aannnnddddd do a much needed #targetrun. Ya know what I’m sayin’?

Target does this thing to me where if I haven’t gone in a couple weeks, I need to go and get my Target fix. I don’t need to be going for anything in particular, I just want to go and browse. Check some things out, see what’s new.

Being Labor Day I also had the thought “Well maybe this is my chance to get some good deals and freshen up my wardrobe a bit…” Spoiler alert: it happened. All women’s clothing was 25% off. EVEN THE CLEARANCE.

Okay, so I haven’t been shopping for clothes in… I don’t even know how long, but I’m not sure what is going on with the trends these days, guys. I legit saw a striped bodysuit and dress I probably had when I was seven years old.

I’m not sure if I can do it…

Oh… oh dear. Look what I just came across >> The 22 Most Embarrassing Pages Of The 1990 J.C. Penney Christmas Catalog

Ohhh my word! Number 22, anyone? I had so many iron-on puffy paint sweatshirts and my mom was totally rocking those decked out bandanas.

Sorry for the derailment. Anyways, yeah so how do you feel about the style going on at the moment?

Even though my degree is in fashion, I honestly can say even when I was in school and studying trends, I never thought that full out 90s attire was going to make a comeback. But then again I guess my parents were likely saying the same thing with the 80s, huh? Everything old is new again, always.

A Goat Cheese, Spinach & Arugula Fig Salad with a simple balsamic fig dressing. Perfect as a side salad, dish-to-pass, or make it a meal by adding your favorite extra toppings and protein.

So this fig salad, eh?

Yes, we are jumping from topic to topic here. This year was probably the first time I’ve had a fig in my entire life. Is that strange? Well, other than in the form of a fig newton… Anyways, I kept seeing them on the ‘gram and naturally had to pick them up the first time I saw them at Whole Foods. Then Pal went ahead and told me to look up “fig and wasps”… Which didn’t really ruin them for me at all. It’s actually just pretty interesting. #science ya’ll. For those of you grossed out now… eeee sorry.

When I realized how amazing figs were, the next thing to do was create a recipe with them for you! I asked over on Instagram in August what kinds of recipes you would like to see more of. There were lots of requests for easy lunches, salads and simple dressings… So here we are!

So here we have a super simple goat cheese and fig salad that would be great to throw together for a party, use as a side dish or add more toppings and protein for a meal. The dressing is a balsamic fig dressing that can be made in a small blender or food processor. It’s paleo-friendly too!

For the Salad

figs
goat cheese
spinach & arugula
extra toppings, as you wish

For the Dressing

figs
balsamic vinegar
extra virgin olive oil
pure maple syrup
stoneground mustard
minced garlic
salt & pepper

I use my NutriBullet* for pretty much all of my homemade sauces and dressings and it couldn’t be easier. You just throw everything into a blender and you have yourself a quick, easy, healthy homemade salad dressing. It will last about a week or so in the fridge!

And you can make this salad a meal by adding your favorite protein. 🙂

Seasoned stir-fried tempeh is shown here. But a balsamic grilled chicken or even a roasted pork loin would be a great addition!

Let me know if you make this recipe by leaving a comment and rating below! It helps others learn more about the recipe too! Xx, Ashley

Let’s chat

Thoughts on today’s fashion?
Have you heard about the fig and the wasp?

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rachel @ athletic avocado says

9/9/2016 at 7:23 am

I have been OBSESSED with figs since I bought them last week! I went through a whole box of them in 2 days because they were just so delicious. Can’t stop thinking about the fig-balsamic dressing <3

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Allie @ Miss Allie's Kitchen says

9/9/2016 at 8:21 am

OK I have never bought figs either!!!! I keep looking but they are nowhere to be found (small town probs). Loving this dressing tho! NOM. And as for current fashion…IDK. I’m going to sound like my mother here, i know, but I feel like I’m such a classic gal. I’m loving the cold shoulder, bell bottom, and the laid back vibe, but I can’t get into the jumpsuits and crazy high waisted pants. Or crop tops lol. I’m a solid 5’9″ so I feel like everything looks like I shopped at baby gap? Yikes haha.

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michele @ paleorunningmomma says

9/9/2016 at 9:09 am

I love figs but don’t buy them enough – had to click on the wasp thing, hmm interesting lol. Not ruined for me though! This salad looks so good and I love easy dressings.

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Theresa@aloveafare says

9/9/2016 at 9:59 am

OK. I love the article about figs and wasps! Fascinating! I also tried fresh figs for the first time this year. And yes they were always in the form of a fig newton before. BTW, That was my favorite breakfast in the 90’s. Your salad has three of my favorites, spinach, figs, and goat cheese. All together yay! As far as fashion, I feel it’s pretty much the same except the ripped jeans have just gone waaay too far. Come on. If your parent has to ask you what happened to the rest of your pants, there’s a problem:)

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Marina @ A Dancer's Live-It says

9/9/2016 at 10:10 am

Oh my GAWDDDD this salad is gorgeous. There’s something about the creamy goat cheese and the peppery arugula. I’ve been putting off eating fresh figs….until now. I honestly had a hard time eating them because of texture! Fig Newtons though, I can do those! 😉

★★★★★

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Erin @ Erin's Inside Job says

9/9/2016 at 10:12 am

I think I’m prob the only person who doesn’t love figs. Also, I saw a girl in yellow jellies w socks yesterday and was like WHAT YEAR AM I IN?!?!

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Britney says

9/9/2016 at 11:06 am

Looks like your love for figs is here to stay! 😉 This salad looks delicious! Today’s fashion… let’s see, I’m wondering if tall riding boots are out and if booties are now taking over the world?

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Emily says

9/9/2016 at 11:22 am

Wow, I didn’t know you could make dressings in the Nutri Bullet too. Is it similar to the Vita mix, just smaller? Also, figs are just so pretty, I want to try some some day soon.

Styles change so fast I can’t keep up with them, so I just stick with the same ones. 😀

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- Ashley says
  
  9/10/2016 at 8:53 am
  
  Yes the NutriBullet is my favorite! You can do so many things 😀 I don’t have a Vitamix but I am guessing it is kind of similar but just on a much smaller scale, and maybe not quite as powerful.
  Fashion still has a place in my heart but sometimes I am just not sure what’s going on!
  
  Reply
Cassie says

9/9/2016 at 12:41 pm

Can we PLEASE make Fig Friday a thing?! I always make sure to open my figs so I don’t end up eating a wasp in mine, hahahaha!

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Elaine says

9/20/2017 at 3:06 pm

Hi Ashley,
I LOVE this!
Thank you so much for sharing it – I just can’t stop admiring how you combined all these ingredients. Thank you for a bit of motivation for this week! 😉

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Goat Cheese Spinach Arugula Fig Salad

For the Salad

For the Dressing