Rocket Salad With Mushrooms Recipe

Why We Like This Recipe

This rocket salad with mushrooms recipe is one of Rob's FAVOURITE salads right now. It is super easy and seems really upscale so it is perfect for wowing guests at dinner parties. The flavours in this recipe rocket salad are a perfect balance of slightly sweet with the caramelised onions, earthy mushrooms, and peppery from the lettuce.

This is one of the date night recipes we make at home that is also top 9 free, gluten free, and vegan. The kids are not super fond of this salad and I would not call it kid-friendly. It definitely has a taste that is best for a more adult palate that is looking for more than chicken nuggets and spaghetti.

The Ingredient Low Down

Rocket Lettuce, or mixed greens

Rocket, or arugula as it is sometimes called, is the lettuce we love to use in this peppery soft variety. It can be a bit on the acquired side. Some of the arugula you find in North America can have a bit of a bitter taste.

If you haven't found rocket is your favourite lettuce you could switch it for mixed green lettuce, baby kale, or another soft lettuce variety.

Mushrooms

Fresh are a must for these mushrooms for salads in our recipe. Don't swap them out for dried or canned. We like to use white button mushroom for this recipe but you can use brown/crimini, or even large diced portabella mushrooms. A mild mushroom is best for this recipe over a more earthy flavoured one.

Yellow Onion

We use yellow onions, shallots, or white onions could also be used. We do not recommend red onions. Do not substitute the onions for dehydrated onions. You can caramelise the onions in advance and use them in the salad.

Lemon

We use a whole fresh lemon cut in half for this salad. By charring it the tartness is taken out of the citrus and it becomes sweet and bright to offset the mushrooms and compliment the caramelised onions. 

Trim the pointy ends off the lemons. You want to cut it so they can sit flat on the plate but leave a tiny bit of pith between the end that was cut off and the yellow flesh.

Neutral Oil

We use avocado oil for the cooking of the mushrooms and onions as it has a higher smoke point. Another high temperature oil can be used, if needed. It just needs to be safe for you and your food allergies.

For the dressing we use olive oil for the taste it brings to the rocket salad with mushrooms recipe. You can use whichever neutral flavoured oil is safe for you in this recipe rocket salad.

White Wine Vinegar

White Wine vinegar is a way to add a bright flavour to the salad. If white wine vinegar is not suitable for you you can use unseasoned (unsweetened) rice vinegar, or apple cider vinegar as substitutes. Do not use malt vinegar as it is not considered gluten free and is made from barley. Balsamic vinegar is too sweet to use for this recipe.

Maple Syrup 

To add a hint of sweetness we love to use real maple syrup for this recipe rocket salad. Not maple flavoured corn syrup but real maple syrup. Make sure it is soy free as some manufacturers use soy oil to cut the foam as it is made.

Honey can be used instead but will no longer be vegan.

If you need a sugar free alternative use agave syrup or monk fruit in reduced amounts. 

Instructions and Tips

Step 1

Pour all the dressing ingredients, olive oil, white wine vinegar and maple syrup in a small jar. Either combine well with a whisk or screw the lid on the jar and shake well. Set aside. Stir or shake again before pouring on the salad.

Step 2

In a medium pan, heat ½ Tablespoon olive oil over low-medium heat. To the pan add thinly sliced yellow onion. Slowly saute the onions, stirring often. The heat should not be so hot the onions start to crisp on the edges. Cook until the onions are caramelised, then season with half the salt and pepper. Remove from the pan and let cook until assembling the salad.

To speed up the process to under 10 minutes you can add a tiny splash of water and maple syrup and mix well.

Step 3

In the same medium pan, add the rest of the 1 tablespoon from the salad ingredients. Heat it over high heat. Add the sliced white mushrooms to the pan. Stir continuously as the mushrooms cook and season with the remaining salt and pepper at the end of cooking. Saute until cooked but try not to have them release all their water. About 3 -5 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside to cool.

If they do, drain the water off right away and keep cooking.

Step 4

Using the small pan, over high heat place both the lemon halves with the large cut side down in the pan. Place a tablespoon of water and cover the pan with a lid. Let cook for 2 minutes. Remove the lid and let the water boil off. Move the lemon around the pan keeping the cut side down. When it starts to char, remove it from the pan. Place one half on each salad serving dish.

Step 5

Around the lemon, carefully place half the rocket or mixed greens lettuce. Dish out half the soaked onions and mushrooms on top of the rocket lettuce. Drizzle half the dressing over each rocket salad and serve immediately.

Substitutions, Variations, & Adaptations

• Meaty - Add a sliced grilled chicken, shredded chicken, sliced pork or beef to top the salad.
• Vegan Protein - Canned chickpeas can be added either plain, marinated chickpeas, or roasted chickpeas.
• Kale - Switch the rocket out for baby kale.
• Spicy - Add a couple of drops of chili oil to the dressing for a spice kick.
• Reduced Sugar - Swap out the maple syrup for agave or monk fruit sweetener. Use 1 teaspoon of the sugar replacement. They tend to be a lot sweeter in taste than maple syrup.
• Croutons - Make your own gluten free, top 9 free croutons by chopping bread into ½ inch cubes tossing them with a bit of olive oil, and a sprinkle of our garlic seasoning. Toast under the broiler until golden brown, flipping them as needed to get all sides browned.
• Roasted Garlic - Instead of caramelised onions or shallots roast 1-2 heads of garlic in the oven with olive oil in foil packets for about 40 minutes at 400F.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Storage

If the rocket salad is assembled it should be served right away. It doesn't keep well plated.

Fridge

The rocket salad can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store the caramelised onions, lettuce, charred lemon, dressing, and sauteed mushrooms in separate airtight containers. Don't store them together; the cooked ingredients will wilt the lettuce.

Freezer

Only the caramelised onions and charred lemons can be frozen in separate airtight containers. Do not freeze the lettuce, dressing or mushrooms.

Reheating

This rocket salad with mushrooms recipe is perfect for gatherings as the components can be made ahead and assembled right before serving. Sometimes we even the charred lemons or freeze caramelised onions in small portions. Thaw them before using them on the rocket salad.

Stove Top

What we do is make big batches of sautéed mushrooms the night before the dinner and pop them in the fridge. They will keep for a couple of days in an airtight container. You can use the mushrooms warm or cold. Both taste amazing! 

Then we do the same for caramelised onions. They can be put on the salad warm or refrigerator cool. If you want them warm, reheat them in a skillet over medium heat with a touch of water until heated through. They can be reheated together or separately.

The lemon is a half a meyer lemon that has been seared in a hot pan until the juices started to caramelise. You can do a few up ahead of time and keep them in the fridge in a ziploc for up to 3 days. Crisp it up in a pan after reheating the mushrooms and onions.

Equipment

• Small Jar with lid - To make the dressing in. If you shake it to mix the dressing a lid is needed.
• Small Whisk - If you prefer to stir the dressing rather than shake it you'll need a whisk to mix it.
• Medium Pan - To cook the ingredients in.
• Pan Lid - For covering the pan as the lemons cook.
• Cooking Utensils - To stir the mushrooms and onions as they saute. 
• Knife and Cutting Board - For cutting the mushrooms, onions, and lemons.
• Salad Plates - This salad makes 2 lunch sized salads or 4 starter sized salads, if you cut the lemon in 4. We like to serve it on pretty plates to help showcase it as the stunning meal it is.

What To Pair With

This recipe rocket salad is the perfect lunch recipe but also is a fabulous starter for a dinner party where you want to impress your guests. Serve it alongside a pork dish, like our pickle marinated pork roast, or with a chicken main course. My favourite chicken dishes with this rocket salad with mushrooms recipe are our lemon chicken thighs and potato sheet pan, chicken shawarma, or rosemary lemon roast chicken. 

Other Recipes You May Enjoy

Food Safety

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Contact the manufacturer of products, regarding cross contact and ingredients, to ensure they are safe for you
• Always check ingredients for allergens
• Do not use the same utensils on allergen free food, that previously touched allergens
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

Allergy Resources

If you are struggling with allergies or which foods are safe for you we encourage you to contact your medical team to help determine what is best for you. 

For additional  resources please check out the following allergy education and advocacy pages:

In the United States:

• Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT) - Home Page
• Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) - Home Page
• U.S Food & Drug Administration (FDA) - Food Allergies - Home Page
• Recalls, Reporting and Alerts on Food - in The United States of America
• Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA - Recalls
• US Food & Drug Administration, FDA - Recalls
• Celiac Disease Foundation - Home Page
• National Celiac Association (NCA) - Home Page
• Beyond Celiac - Home Page
• Celiac.com - Home Page 

In Canada

• Food Allergy Canada - Home Page
• Celiac Canada - Home Page
• The Government of Canada - Health Site- Food Allergies
• The Government of Canada - Food Allergen Labelling, the List of Ingredients and Allergens on Food Labels, and Allergens and Gluten Sources Labelling

Recalls, Reporting and Alerts on Food - in Canada