Arugula is a wonderfully versatile vegetable. Also called rocket, this peppery, nutty-tasting member of the mustard family has blossoms and leaves that have long been a popular ingredient in the cuisines of Italy, Morocco, Portugal, and Turkey. It’s naturally great in salads, like this citrus and ricotta-filled one, or paired instead with radicchio and fennel. But you can also combine it with pasta or toss a few leaves on a lamb burger for a little extra bite.
Pasta salads are essential summer food: they travel well; they’re easy to adapt to whatever produce you have on-hand; and they’re simple to make in large portions, making them perfect dishes to carry to parties, picnics, and barbecues. Get the recipe for Sausage and Arugula Pasta Salad »
Fermentation revivalist Sandor Katz makes this punchy pesto to capture the essence of spring. Chickweed, a spicy herb, is his green of choice to pair with ramps, to which he adds mild herbs and sunflower seeds, but you can replace chickweed with watercress, arugula, or any other peppery green. The same goes for the ramps—this pesto works just as well with spring onions or garlic. It will keep in the fridge for a few weeks, and Katz uses it throughout the day: on grits or eggs for breakfast, slathered on sandwiches for lunch, and tossed with potatoes or pasta for dinner. Get the recipe for Ramp and Wild Greens Pesto »
A chunky cashew pesto made with sharp, pungent Västerbotten cheese is tossed with chopped arugula to yield an unctuous salad with a robust umami flavor. Get the recipe for Arugula and Cashew Pesto Salad »
A rich, bright pesto offsets peppery arugula in this creamy quiche.
Arugula forms a peppery base of this squash salad and spiced sweet pecans add a layer of crunch.
