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Home Recipes by Diet Nut Free
30 30 Minutes or Less GF Gluten-Free VG Vegetarian

Arugula Pesto Recipe – Nut Free

4.18
/5
5 mins
8 Comments
Jump to Recipe
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 07/31/2017Updated: 06/14/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Switch up your pesto game with this arugula pesto. It's great on pasta, pizza, and so much more!  Get the pesto recipe on RachelCooks.com!

Switch up your pesto game with this arugula pesto. It’s great on pasta, pizza, and so much more! 

Switch up your pesto game with this arugula pesto. It's great on pasta, pizza, and so much more!  Get the pesto recipe on RachelCooks.com!

The first time I tried arugula, I hated it. I thought, why is this green stuff spicy? But eventually, as I have with many things, I grew to love it. The bold flavor it brings is such an asset in so many recipes. Toss a pile on top of pizza, serve it with a baked chimichanga, stir it into soup or pasta sauce, or of course, make a killer salad with it!

Or of course, make arugula pesto out of it. I’m obsessed with this pesto, you guys. I love the spice that arugula has – it’s not a hot spicy, just enough to wake up your taste buds a bit. Also in this pesto is lemon juice, which adds a refreshing brightness to contrast that subtle spiciness from the arugula. You’ll want to pick a high-quality olive oil because it gives this pesto tons of great flavor. Don’t skimp!

Switch up your pesto game with this arugula pesto. It's great on pasta, pizza, and so much more!  Get the pesto recipe on RachelCooks.com!

I kept it nut-free because that’s how we have to do things at my house, but if you’re fortunate enough to be able to eat nuts, this would be great with a handful of walnuts, pine nuts, or almonds tossed into the food processor or blender.

I developed this arugula pesto recipe to make  Grilled Pizza With Arugula Pesto, Corn, and Ham.  You guys are going to love the bright summer flavors in this grilled pizza. Get creative with the toppings, using the arugula pesto as a base. Not crazy about ham? Try grilled chicken or shrimp. It would also be fantastic stirred into pasta (I’m thinking with some nice Italian sausage and tons of fresh vegetables).  

Switch up your pesto game with this arugula pesto. It's great on pasta, pizza, and so much more!  Get the pesto recipe on RachelCooks.com!

Know what else it would be fabulous for? Dipping bread. Forget plain ol’ olive oil. Ooooooh the damage I could do with this arugula pesto and a loaf of french bread. Just pass me all the carbs and no one gets hurt.

Looking for more irresistible pasta sauces? Try these: 

  • Carrot Pesto (so unique and so good!)
  • Fresh Tomato Cream Sauce (we call this pink pasta)
  • Skinny Alfredo Sauce
  • Creamy Enchilada Sauce (so surprisingly good on pasta)
  • Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
  • Tomato Peach Sauce from Eats Well With Others
  • Creamy Avocado Pasta from Two Peas and Their Pod

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Switch up your pesto game with this arugula pesto. It's great on pasta, pizza, and so much more!  Get the pesto recipe on RachelCooks.com!
Recipe

Get the Recipe: Arugula Pesto Recipe

4.18 from 29 votes
Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 5 mins
Print Rate Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
Switch up your pesto game with this arugula pesto. It's great on pasta, pizza, and so much more! 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups tightly packed fresh arugula
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (about ½ lemon)
  • pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
  • ⅓ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • ½ cup good extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Combine arugula, garlic, lemon juice, red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese in a blender or a small food processor.
  • Pulse until combined and then, with the blender or food processor running, drizzle in olive oil until a pesto forms, scraping down sides as needed.
  • Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/6 of recipe, Calories: 180kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 19g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g, Cholesterol: 3mg, Sodium: 127mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk
Did You Make This?Be sure to upload a photo & tag me at @RachelCooksBlog. I love seeing what you made!
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Verdict: This is definitely a new go-to for me.
Husband’s take: Ben loves this!
Changes I would make: Nada.
Difficulty: SO stinking easy.
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  1. Sm says

    December 11, 2022 at 10:47 am

    1 star
    The recipe doesn’t warn that the pesto could turn out bitter, which mine did! Probably should have blanched the arugula first. Using raw arugula totally ruined my pesto.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      December 12, 2022 at 8:01 am

      Mine has’t been bitter, but thank you for the feedback.

      Reply
  2. Maria says

    November 26, 2021 at 8:02 am

    I really find the recpies fun that are quick and easy to make. I believe this can be made in 3 to 5 minutes. I just found your website and you have a ton of amazing and unheard recipes.

    Thanks Rachel for the good work. :-)

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      November 28, 2021 at 9:49 am

      Glad you’re enjoying them!

      Reply
  3. Marcel Nagel says

    February 13, 2021 at 10:07 pm

    I have a bunch of arugula I need to use up!! Can you store leftovers of the pesto in the fridge? How long does it stay fresh?

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      February 14, 2021 at 7:27 am

      Yes, store leftovers in the fridge for 2-3 days. I also imagine it might freeze well, but I haven’t tried it. Regular pesto freezes well, though so I don’t see why this wouldn’t.

      Reply
  4. Nowhere Girl says

    January 13, 2021 at 10:22 am

    Is arugula the same as rucola? I’ve literally never seen this name.
    (By the way, English is not my first language and I think that “rucola” isn’t correct English either. But calling it “rocket” annoys me horribly – who has come up with such a name, what the heck does it have to do with space rockets??? ;))

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      January 16, 2021 at 4:46 pm

      Yes, I believe they are the same!

      Reply

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