Arugula pesto is one among my favourite recipe parts. It deserves the highlight! If you happen to take pleasure in arugula and basil pesto, you’ll love arugula pesto. It’s simply as beautiful because the common form.
As a lot as I admire conventional pesto made with basil, arugula pesto has a number of benefits. For one, it provides an fascinating twist on a well-known taste profile. It’s additionally cheaper—shopping for contemporary basil can add up on the grocery retailer. 12 months-round, it’s typically simpler to seek out good arugula than basil. Lastly, arugula pesto doesn’t flip brown on the highest like basil pesto can (no blanching required).


Make Arugula Pesto
To make arugula pesto, you’ll want some fundamental components, beginning with contemporary arugula. I’ve loved this pesto made with a wide range of nuts—take your alternative of walnuts, pecans, almonds or pepitas. For greatest taste, toast them earlier than utilizing (see the 1st step).
You’ll additionally want Parmesan (freshly grated, please), garlic, lemon juice, salt and extra-virgin olive oil.
The combination comes collectively simply within the meals processor. You’ll mix all the pieces however the olive oil, then drizzle within the oil whereas mixing. Attempt to not over-process the combination so the oil doesn’t turn out to be bitter.


Arugula Pesto Serving Ideas
Like basic basil pesto, this arugula pesto is implausible on pasta (together with pasta salad), pizza, grilled or roasted greens, sandwiches, stirred into chickpeas (add crumbled feta), and extra.
Listed here are recipes on Cookie and Kate that already function arugula pesto or might:
Toss Pesto with Pasta
Place a liquid measuring cup within the sink earlier than you drain your pasta. Then, pour about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water into the measuring cup earlier than draining off the remainder.
Off the warmth, toss the pasta, pesto and small splashes of pasta cooking water collectively till you’re glad with the consistency (I used roughly ⅓ cup reserved pasta cooking water for ½ pound of linguine).

Extra Pestos & Herbed Sauces
If you happen to take pleasure in this arugula pesto, try these irresistible herbed sauces. They will make a meal!
Please let me understand how your pesto seems within the feedback. I really like listening to from you and am keen to listen to how you employ this sauce.

Arugula Pesto
Arugula basil is an easy and scrumptious twist on basic basil pesto! This recipe is simple to make, inexpensive and filled with contemporary taste. Recipe yields simply over 1 cup pesto, which is sufficient to toss with 8 to 12 ounces of pasta, relying on how saucy you prefer it. Double the recipe to make use of a whole container of arugula (you possibly can freeze the leftovers).
- In a big skillet over medium warmth, toast the walnuts, stirring often, till aromatic, about three to 5 minutes. Switch them to the bowl of a meals processor and allow them to cool for a couple of minutes.
- Add the arugula, Parmesan, garlic, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and salt. Course of the combination whereas drizzling within the olive oil, till it’s largely easy.
- Switch the pesto to a bowl. Style and add extra lemon juice, for zing (as much as 1 tablespoon), or salt, for general taste. Use as desired. Leftover pesto retains nicely within the fridge, lined, for as much as 1 week. Or, freeze it for as much as 6 months. (I prefer to freeze pesto in ice dice trays. As soon as frozen, come out the cubes and retailer in a freezer-safe bag.)
Notes
toss pesto with pasta: Place a liquid measuring cup within the sink earlier than you drain your pasta. Then, pour about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water into the measuring cup earlier than you drain off the remainder of the water. That pasta cooking water is pure gold—it comprises starches that create a creamy emulsion and assist connect the sauce to the pasta. Off the warmth, toss pasta, pesto and small splashes of pasta cooking water collectively till you’re glad with the consistency (I used roughly ⅓ cup reserved pasta cooking water for ½ pound of spaghetti).
Make it dairy free/vegan: Omit the Parmesan. You may like to complete your dish with a sprinkle of my vegan Parmesan.
Make it nut free: Substitute pepitas (inexperienced pumpkin seeds) for the nuts. They are going to toast extra shortly—they’re performed after they’re turning golden on the perimeters and making little popping sounds. Or, strive hemp hearts as a substitute.
Diet
The data proven is an estimate offered by an internet vitamin calculator. It shouldn’t be thought of an alternative choice to knowledgeable nutritionist’s recommendation. See our full vitamin disclosure right here.