Learn how to make arugula pesto, a zesty and peppery sauce that you can use to jazz up any dish. This paleo, Whole30, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly recipe is super easy and versatile!
Table of Contents
Flavor boosters for the win!
I’m a big believer in prepping sauces, dips, and dressings to keep on hand in my freezer and fridge—it’s one of the keys to whipping up quick and easy meals when I don’t have time or the energy to cook. That’s why I devoted a whole “Get Set” chapter in my yellow cookbook, Ready or Not!, to all the make-ahead stuff you need to cook effortlessly anytime, from All-Purpose Stir-Fry Sauce and Green Beast Dressing to XO Sauce and Sriracha Ranch Dressing.
And while you won’t find this arugula pesto in my book, it’s an excellent example of a simple and versatile flavor booster that takes your food from ho-hum to nomtastic in no time flat.
What is arugula pesto?
Arugula pesto is my favorite peppery spin on traditional pesto! Classic basil pesto is made with basil leaves, pine nuts, parmesan cheese and pecorino cheese, crushed garlic, salt, and olive oil, but cheese ain’t paleo, pine nuts require a special trip to the grocery store, and in the wintertime, fresh basil is hard to come by. Luckily, spicy arugula and slivered almonds make tasty pinch hitters. This paleo, Whole30, and even vegan-friendly arugula pesto freezes really well, so if you plan ahead, you can pop out a cube of pesto whenever you need it!
Ingredients
- Arugula: I like to use baby arugula in this recipe because it’s less peppery than regular arugula and it gives the pesto a bright green color.
- Italian parsley
- Toasted almond slivers: I prefer using toasted almond slivers in this pesto, but feel free to sub toasted walnuts or pine nuts.
- Capers: Make sure to rinse the capers if you use salt-packed capers.
- Garlic
- Lemon juice
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
How to make arugula pesto
In a food processor or blender, combine the arugula, parsley, almonds, capers, and garlic cloves. (I don’t use a mortar and pestle because a food processor is so much faster!)
Add the lemon juice.
Pulse until finely chopped, scraping the sides down if needed.
Then, while the food processor is running, pour the olive oil through the feed tube.
Process until smooth (or your desired chunkiness). Season to taste with salt and pepper.
How to store arugula pesto
Arugula pesto can be refrigerated in an airtight container (e.g., a mason jar) for 4 days or frozen in ice cube trays for up to 6 months. I normally add a drizzle a thin layer of olive oil on the top of the pesto before refrigerating or freezing it so it won’t discolor as easily. (You won’t be sorry if you decide to double the recipe!)
How can you use arugula pesto?
Personally, I recommend that you toss a heaping spoonful of Arugula Pesto on just about anything, and it’ll make your final dish taste incredible. Try it on roasted vegetables, Pressure Cooker Crispy Potatoes, Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash, cubed roast chicken (like Weeknight Roast Chicken), Pan-Seared Salmon, Meatza, or scrambled eggs. I even have a Sheet Pan Salmon Supper recipe that uses it! You can also whisk the pesto with mayonnaise, and you’ll end up with a tasty dipping sauce for crudités or a fab marinade for Pesto Chicken! (Not paleo? You can use this fab pesto on pizza, sandwiches, or pasta.)
Still scratching your head about what to do with this Arugula Pesto?
One of my favorite no-cook meals with arugula pesto
Spiralize your favorite vegetable (e.g. zucchini, parsnip, kohlrabi, carrot, etc.) and toss the veggie noodles in a bowl. Yep, I don’t even bother with cooking them. Then, add a dollop of Arugula Pesto…
…some leftover cooked protein (e.g. chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, etc.), and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well and chow down!
Remember: This is just one example of what you can do with Arugula Pesto. The possibilities (pesto-bilities?) are endless!
Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017), and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2022).
PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD
Arugula Pesto: A Whole30, Keto, and Vegan Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 cups tightly packed baby arugula
- 1 cup tightly packed Italian parsley
- ½ cup toasted almond slivers
- 1 tablespoon capers rinsed and drained
- 1 medium garlic clove
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a food processor or blender, combine the arugula, parsley, almonds, capers, garlic cloves, and lemon juice. Pulse until finely chopped, scraping the sides down if needed.
- Then, while the food processor is running, pour the olive oil through the feed tube.
- Process until smooth (or your desired chunkiness). Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
what do you like to substitute for nuts (allergy?). I’ve done sunflower seeds, but am looking for other ideas.
See above for Debbie’s tip!
Pepitas or pumpkin seeds are also good if prepared in a nut free facility. Or, if you cook your own pumpkin, using the shelled seeds from that will ensure there is no cross contamination. My family has multiple food allergies, so I’ve learned a lot over the years.
Great tip!
Thanks for this tip. I am going to try it. In the past, I just leave it out completely.
I made this last night and served it with shrimp and zucchini noodles! Very delicious. I have lots of watercress sitting in my fridge, and I wonder if this would also work if I substituted watercress for the arugula?
I bet it would work AND it would be packed with nutrients!
I have everything but the parsley… Which would be better as a sub – basil or cilantro? Thank you!
Basil!
Thank you!
I can’t wait to make this pesto but is there anything I could use in place of the capers? Thank you!
You can leave them out and add more lemon juice or use green olives!
I love pesto! Can’t wait to try this recipe out.
Delicious Pesto! I put it on roasted spaghetti squash. Thank you.
Hi! I just froze a bag of arugula before going out of town for the holidays. I’m wondering if I could use it to make this pesto. Thoughts?
I love the brightness and I’m sure the flavor of this pesto must be amazing as well. It’s always great to be able to add an extra burst of flavor into meals, especially when the process is simple to do.
This pesto is incredible! Followed recipe as is. Made it for Christmas Eve dinner. A great garnish with prime rib. And even more fabulous with zoodles. This will be a staple in our kitchen. Thanks, Michelle!