Spice Up Your Life! 15+ Ways to Enjoy Arugula
What’s green, super fresh, and also spicy? Arugula! Don’t be fooled by the fact that arugula may look like just another leafy green. Unlike lettuce, spinach, and kale, arugula has a delightfully spicy flavor that can elevate almost any dish.
Whether you want to toss it in a salad, add it to pasta, or sprinkle it over your pizza, check out over 15 of our favorite arugula recipes.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Easy Arugula Salad Pizza
Part pizza, part salad, this recipe calls for just 7 simple ingredients for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. The contrast between chewy, warm crust, sauce and cool, spicy greens makes this pizza super satisfying.
Ingredients
1 14-inch pre-baked pizza crust, thin
3 tablespoons thick pizza sauce
4 ounces Romano cheese
2 ounces arugula, washed and dried
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Place the pizza crust on a sheet pan. Spread the sauce over the crust and shred 1 ounce of the cheese over the top. Bake the crust for 10-12 minutes, depending on the thickness of the crust, to crisp it.
While the crust bakes, use a vegetable peeler to shave the remaining cheese into thin slivers. Toss the arugula, oil, lemon juice and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a bowl.
When the crust is hot and crisp, top with the arugula and cheese shavings and cut into four slices. Serve immediately
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Smoked Salmon & Arugula Salad
This 4-ingredient salad calls for a bright and healthy salad dressing that lets the smoked salmon and arugula do all the talking.
Ingredients
For the Dressing
1 small clove garlic
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt, fat free
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
For the Salad
4 cups arugula, washed and dried
1 large carrot, shredded
2 cups cherry tomato, halved
8 ounces lox, thinly sliced, cut in bite-sized pieces
Directions
In a blender or food processor, mince the garlic, then add the yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, sugar and salt and puree. Scrape down and repeat if necessary, then drizzle in the olive oil with the machine running. Reserve.
On each of four salad plates, arrange the arugula, then top it with carrot shreds and tomatoes. Pile the salmon in the center. Drizzle with dressing and serve immediately.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Citrus & Arugula Salad with Balsamic Dressing
If you’re reading this blog post in the midst of winter citrus season, you’ll definitely want to toss together this simple salad.
Sweet and juicy Cara Cara and blood oranges contrast well with zippy grapefruit and spicy arugula.
Ingredients
For the Dressing
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic, pressed
1 pinch dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
For the Salad
1 large red grapefruit
1 large Cara Cara or navel orange
2 large blood oranges
1 small shallot, thinly sliced
4 oz. arugula
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or 4 oz. crumbled feta, optional
Directions
First, make the dressing. In a jar or small bowl, combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, oregano and salt and shake or whisk to mix. Reserve.
Using a sharp knife, cut off both ends of the grapefruit and each orange to expose the flesh and make a flat surface. Place on the flat, cut side and use your knife to pare away the peel and pith, leaving just the flesh of the citrus exposed. Place each trimmed fruit on its side and slice thinly. Remove any seeds and reserve.
Spread the arugula on a large platter or place in individual bowls. Arrange the citrus rounds on top of the arugula, with the blood oranges on top. Sprinkle with shallots and drizzle with dressing. Add walnuts or feta, if desired. Serve immediately.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Springtime Pesto
Pesto, but make it spring! Arugula and parsley are subbed in for basil to create a light, fresh pesto perfect for pasta or appetizers.
Ingredients
4 cups lightly packed arugula
1/2 cup lightly packed fresh parsley leaves
1 clove garlic
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1 pound whole wheat penne pasta
Directions
Process the arugula, parsley, garlic, Parmesan and peas in a food processor until they form a smooth paste, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl twice. Add the lemon juice, salt and olive oil and process, scraping down as needed, to make a smooth, creamy pesto. Place the pesto in a bowl, and stir in the lemon zest.
Cook the pasta according to package directions; drain and toss with the pesto. Serve with additional Parmesan cheese, and freshly-ground black pepper to taste.
Photo Courtesy of Co+op
Prosciutto & Grilled Nectarine Salad
Spicy arugula, sweet nectarines, and salty proscuitto come together to create a well-rounded salad that’s as satisfying as it is summery.
Ingredients
6 nectarines, halved and pitted
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
4 cups arugula
1 cup fresh basil, coarsely chopped
3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, chopped
Directions
Heat the grill to high. Brush the cut sides of the pitted nectarines with olive oil. When the grill grate is hot, use tongs and paper towels to rub vegetable oil on the grate. Place the nectarines, cut side down, on the grill. Cook until marked, about 2 minutes, then turn. Cook for 1 minute longer, just to soften. Remove to a plate to cool.
In a cup, whisk the remaining olive oil, orange juice, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Reserve. In a large salad bowl, place the arugula and basil and about half of the dressing and toss to mix. Top with prosciutto and grilled nectarines. Drizzle the remaining dressing over it all and serve immediately.
Recipe and photo adapted from Co+op
Linguine with Arugula, Garlic & Parmesan
A dinner you can make with just a handful of pantry ingredients? Yes, please!
In this recipe from Gimme Some Oven, linguine pasta is tossed up with butter, garlic, baby arugula, and parmesan to create a light dish that pairs well with grilled chicken or salmon.
Serve it along with a slice of Co-op Rustic Garlic Sourdough Bread and a big green salad.
Photo Courtesy of A Couple Cooks
Pesto Breakfast Sandwich with Arugula
When it’s a busy morning but you still want something delicious (and healthy) to power you through your day, try this 5-minute vegetarian breakfast sandwich!
Egg, pesto, and arugula are paired with a toasty multi-grain English muffin to create a protein-packed, herby breakfast sandwich to hold you over till lunch.
If you want to add some more protein without adding any extra time in the morning, cook up some bacon or a sausage patty the night before and warm it up in the microwave before adding it to the sandwich.
Lemony Chicken Arugula Quinoa Salad
Spicy arugula, lemony chicken, and perfectly chewy quinoa come together to create an easy low-carb salad that has summer written all over it.
Chicken breast is oven baked and cooled before being paired with a couple large handfuls of arugula, cooked quinoa, avocado, and scallions. A homemade creamy basil dressing brings the whole salad together.
If you want to make this recipe vegan friendly, simply sub out the chicken for chickpeas or your favorite plant-based meat.
Photo Courtesy of Well Plated
Roasted Eggplant with Crispy Chickpea Arugula Salad
Not sure what to do with all the eggplant you grew this summer? Try this vegetarian-friendly roasted eggplant!
Eggplant is halved lengthwise before being oven-roasted with salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil.
A mixture of arugula, chickpeas, and blue cheese is then stuffed into the eggplant.
Watermelon Cucumber Salad with Arugula
Sweet summer in a bowl! This watermelon cucumber salad with arugula checks all the boxes: sweet, spicy, cool, and a little salty!
Cubed watermelon is paired with sliced cucumbers atop a big bed of arugula before a homemade poppy seed dressing is drizzled over everything. Don’t forget the feta and the torn basil; it really bring everything together.
Serve your salad at your next summer BBQ or as a weekend lunch alongside some grilled chicken.
Photo Courtesy of Cookie + Kate
Colorful Strawberry Arugula Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Strawberries, arugula, red onion, and basil come together to create a well-balanced summer salad that’s as colorful as it is delicious.
Goat cheese adds a dash of saltiness while sunflower seeds provide a satisfying crunch.
Enjoy this quick and easy salad when you don’t want to turn on the oven or as a side dish for a larger BBQ meal.
Skirt Steak Salad with Arugula & Blue Cheese
Calling for just 8 ingredients, this steak salad from Smitten Kitchen is simple but packed full of flavor.
Skirt steak is either grilled or seared in a cast iron pan before being arranged on a bed of arugula.
Blue cheese, halved cherry tomatoes, and a homemade steakhouse mustard vinaigrette add the finishing touches to this summer dinner.
Find the full recipe at Smitten Kitchen
More Arugula Recipes
Berry With Arugula and Prosciutto Pizza from Foodie Crush
Japanese Arugula and Daikon Radish Sprouts from The Spruce Eats
Chicken With Goat Cheese and Arugula from Simply Recipes
Basil Parmesan Pasta with Crispy Chicken, Prosciutto, and Arugula from Half Baked Harvest
Sautéed Arugula from EatingWell