Name: Arugula Pesto Recipe with Almonds
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Ingredients: 200 gr arugula; 1/4 cups almond flakes; 5 cloves garlic; 3 anchovies; 1 chilli pepper; 2 tbsp lemon juice; 1/4 cup olive oil; salt

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Arugula mixed with almonds makes a great pesto to dress up a sandwich or serve topped on any meat.

Pesto is one of the sauces I simply adore in many dishes. Either pasta, meat, or fish, pesto – especially a homemade pesto – is always welcomed and tasty.

For this time, I have tried another kind of pesto made of arugula and almonds, instead of the famous basil and parmesan. It is a vegan sauce, if you skip anchovies, that pairs so delicious with anything. Since I have got mad about Chimichurri sauce, which is finger-licking, this arugula pesto has also conquered my heart with its easiness to make and bright it brings to a dish.

It takes about 5 minutes to make this arugula pesto recipe at home and more minutes to enjoy it next to anything.

One more hint here lays in adding some anchovies and optional chilli pepper. Nothing too complicated.

This arugula pesto is another best alternative to basil pesto that pairs great with meat, fish, or salads.

For example, arugula pesto can be a great dress up for a sandwich or panini.

Topped on a roasted chicken or turkey meat or as a dip to dive in.

Toss in pasta and mix well to incorporate all aromas.

Also, a great idea is a dip for baked or fresh veggies.

What is great about this arugula pesto is that you can easily make it ahead and use it for some days. I have found some recipes suggesting adding parmesan cheese, however, I didn’t add, nor didn’t exclude that it can have a nice tasting aroma. I adore parmesan, a lot of it, in my chimichurri sauce, however, here I have skipped it.

Why is my arugula pesto bitter?

It may have a bitter taste if you use more mature arugula that has darker shades of green as well as lobed leaves. It may cause your pesto to taste bitter, but I usually try to use fresh arugula leaves that have a fresh green colour.

How long will pesto last in the fridge?

Arugula pesto can last in the fridge for some days and even a week. I always try to make more arugula pesto to have it in more dishes. Easily make it ahead and use it up to 7-10 days.

Should I toast pine nuts for pesto?

If you have more time, you can easily toast almonds or pine nuts to add more flavour and colour. I didn’t toast them as I was in a hurry, but honestly speaking I adore toasted nuts in sauces.

For note; can use any nuts you like, such as walnuts, almonds flakes, pine nuts, and others.

Do you heat pesto?

Pesto is a kind of sauce that is served cold. No need for heating is needed, on the contrary, heating it you will lose the authentic arugula pesto taste and flavour. However, if you mix it in pasta, try to use it at room temperature while the pasta is already boiled.

How to make Arugula Almond Pesto?

Making a dish at home is not too complicated, nor too easy. However, inventing a sauce that pairs so great with your dish is a masterpiece. I adore dishes where sauces are welcomed, it is like the final cheery on the cake.

This is the case with this arugula pesto recipe. It saved my dry chicken meat and added colours and flavour.

The ingredients:

- 200 gr (7 oz) fresh arugula
- ¼ cups almond flakes
- 5 cloves of garlic
- 3 anchovy ( rinse off the oil and pat dry)

Green chili pepper cut halves
2 tbsp lemon juice
¼ cup olive oil, best quality
Seasoning

This is a simple arugula pesto recipe that needs no mess and fussy moments.

Take your food processor and start adding all the ingredients.

Start with adding arugula, almonds, whole cloves of garlic, anchovies, lemon juice, olive oil, a pinch of salt and start mixing until smooth and looks like a paste. It takes about 1 minute to process all ingredients.

Try it, and if you feel that it didn’t suit your liking adjust lemon, salt, or garlic for better taste.

Enjoy it dressed up on a fresh baguette as me, or next to anything.

Savour!