Name: Arugula and Dried Cherry Salad
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 to 5 servings

Joanna Gaines is the co-founder of Magnolia, a home and lifestyle brand, a bestselling author, and editor-in-chief of Magnolia Journal. Alongside her passion for design and food, nothing inspires Jo more than time at home with family—messing with recipes in the kitchen or planting something in the garden.

Joanna Gaines

“This salad strikes that sweet spot between simple and elevated. It's all the more enjoyable because it surprises people with unexpected flavors. Arugula is a peppery green, so combining it with cherries gives this recipe a nice blend of sweet and spice. Since the prep work for the cherries can happen the night before, this side is a favorite of mine whenever I'm hosting. I like to pair it with whitefish or grilled chicken, but really, it's delicious on the side of anything.” – Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Table, Volume 3

Joanna Gaines' Arugula and Dried Cherry Salad

Arugula and Dried Cherry Salad

Meet The Creator

"A dish that looks fancy but is secretly simple will always have a place on my table. Wedge salads in general are great at pulling this off—and fortunately, everyone in our family enjoys them. I like to slice the iceberg wedges beforehand, then serve the toppings family-style so everyone can tailor their own. The kids and I like to dress our salad with ranch, but Chip always prefers blue cheese. Since this is one of Chip's favorite salads, that classic take is what I've shared here." – Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Table, Volume 3

Joanna Gaines' Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing

Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing

"An antipasto salad is meant to be enjoyed, quite literally 'before the meal,' and I love to use this recipe as an introduction for what's to come in the courses that follow. It also works well for lunch, since the mix of meats, cheeses, and greens make it pretty hearty—something that can stand alone." - Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Table, Volume 3

Antipasto Salad

"Lobster rolls will forever remind me of our honeymoon. We flew to New York City for a few days, then rented a car and hit the road toward Maine. It was on this trip that I had my first-ever lobster roll. I can still remember the taste of that lobster paired with a buttered bun. Simple, fresh, and just delicious." – Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Table, Volume 3. (This recipe has been slightly adapted from the Lobster Rolls featured in Magnolia Table, Volume 3.)

Lobster Rolls

TIP: For quick assembly, substitute the homemade pie crust with a store-bought 9-inch pie crust. 
“Since I was a kid, cherry pie has always been my favorite. But no one in my house likes it all that much. I was disappointed until I discovered this recipe. Now I’ve realized that being the only person who likes cherry pie in a house where there’s fresh cherry pie isn’t a bad thing, because I have the whole pie to myself!” — Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Table, Volume 3

Cherry Pie with Streusel

Do you like happiness? If you don’t, then this recipe isn’t for you. But if you do, then let’s make my macaroni and cheese together. This is the dish that put me on the map. It’s the one everyone talks about and the one that every person who comes over for dinner begs me to make. And the beauty is, it’s so simple. You’ll have friends begging you for this recipe.

Macaroni and Cheese

"An easy way to gather vegetables for this recipe is to keep a baggie in the freezer and whenever you have leftover vegetables you can just toss them in. That way, as soon as you cook a recipe that leaves you with chicken bones, you have what you need to make the stock—you can just put it all in a large pot on the stove and let it simmer. I always try to make as much of this stock as possible so that I can freeze at least half the batch. There is satisfaction in using every last bit of food you can, and knowing that nothing is going to waste." – Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Table, Volume 3

Homemade Chicken Stock

I had a version of this citrus guacamole at a restaurant that is no longer open, and it was so delicious that I created my own version. The pop of citrus in your mouth is unexpected and pairs beautifully with the rich butteriness of avocados. The flavors keep building as you eat it. You can use oranges, grapefruits, or whatever your favorite citrus fruit is! I’m sure you’ll love this recipe so much it will become your go-to guac recipe.

Citrus Guacamole

“There are some meals you know are special because of the time they require or the long list of ingredients they call for. Other times, I find joy in recipes that can be as creative or straightforward as I want. The base of this recipe offers that flexibility. Flatbread is delicious with a simple, traditional hummus or dip, but I also love piling on veggies from the garden, or as this recipe calls for, a little bit of prosciutto and arugula.” — Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Table, Volume 3

Joanna Gaines' Balsamic-Glazed Prosciutto Flatbread

Balsamic-Glazed Prosciutto Flatbread

"Serve this rich bisque with thick slices of crusty bread, such as warm ciabatta or a baguette. I like to put out a couple of shallow dishes of really good olive oil on the table to dip the bread in. I also like to top the bisque with crème fraîche, which is creamier, thicker, and less tangy than sour cream. The bacon and chives on top add a bit of crunchy texture to the velvety bisque." – Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Table, Volume 1

White Cheddar Bisque

In this episode of Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines, Jo shares some of her go-to recipes for seafood and sides, from Lobster Rolls to Hush Puppies and more.

Joanna Gaines holding basket of hushpuppies

Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines: Season 8, Episode 2

Chicken Marsala is one of my dad’s favorite dishes. I learned to make this recipe by cooking it for him over time. This recipe has a really delicious balance of Marsala, mushrooms, garlic, and lemon. It’s an easy stovetop meal that can be made quickly, but is satisfying and rich in flavor.

Chicken Marsala

"My girls love pink sauce and they love zizi—so this recipe is their absolutely favorite combination of pasta. I have to say, it's become a favorite of mine, too!" - Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Table, Volume 3

Pink Baked Ziti

With the holidays in full swing, I wanted to share a few of my favorite side dishes that highlight the flavors we all know and love this time of year. For our

Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines: Season 4, Episode 4

On any given weekend at the Gaines’ house, you’ll likely find us pulling out all the stops for breakfast, which is Chip’s favorite meal of the day. I asked

Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines: Season 6, Episode 2

I could eat this vegetable strata every week and never tire of it. The layer of bread at the bottom of the dish soaks up the cheese blend while it bakes, so that each slice is full of many delicious flavors. I like to bring this to a weekend brunch or potluck because it’s one of those unexpected dishes that inevitably ends up being devoured well before any of the usual favorites.

Zucchini Squash Strata

This episode is an ode to all things biscuits—because this is a food that epitomizes so much of what I love about getting creative and having fun in the

Magnolia Table with Joanna Gaines: Episode 6

"When hush puppies are cut too large, they tend to end up with what my kids call "mushy middles." I prefer to cut them on the smaller side, so they'll keep a firm consistency all the way through. Hush puppies are delicious on their own, but I can't imagine serving fried fish without them. On those occasions, I'll have a plate prepped and ready to fry right before dinnertime so I can serve them my favorite way—piping hot." – Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Table, Volume 3

Joanna Gaines' Hush Puppies with Homemade Tartar Sauce

Hush Puppies with Homemade Tartar Sauce

We serve this burger at Magnolia Table, and I have to confess that it’s one of my favorite things on the menu. My boys love burgers of just about any kind, so I could probably get away with serving something a little plainer to them (and, of course, you can leave any part of this out if you have picky eaters—or let everyone pick their own toppings). I just love how a grilled buttered brioche bun holds a savory burger, sweet drip jam, creamy melted cheese, and peppery fresh arugula, so that every single bite is an amazing combination of flavors and textures.

Gaines Brother Burgers with Drip Jam

There’s no doubt that Jo’s brownie pie from the Magnolia Table cookbook is a crowd favorite—but when swirled layers of sweet raspberry preserves, tangy

Raspberry Cheesecake Brownie Pie Recipe

This is my dad’s favorite pie. There are lemon people and chocolate people, and he is a lemon person, so I love to make this pie for him. The lemon filling is bright and fresh, and the meringue is fluffy as a cloud. It is a beautiful dessert, with a crust that is flaky and delicious but holds the pie together so well.

Elizabeth Poett's Classic Lemon Meringue Pie

Arugula and Dried Cherry Salad

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