Alpha Gal Friendly Basil-Pesto Arugula Salad
This vibrant green salad is everything you want on a warm day — peppery arugula, cool cucumber, crisp radishes, and a punchy homemade pesto that ties it all together with bright lemon and fresh basil. The pesto is where this recipe really shines, and the clever swap of tiger nut flour in place of traditional pine nuts or parmesan keeps it completely free of mammalian-derived ingredients without sacrificing that rich, herby depth. For anyone navigating alpha-gal syndrome, store-bought pesto is almost always off the table thanks to dairy and sometimes hidden meat-based additives — making a quick batch at home the only way to enjoy it safely. The food processor does the heavy lifting here, blending garlic, basil, lemon, and olive oil into a thick, spoonable paste that coats every leaf beautifully. Tossed together at the last minute, the salad stays crisp and fresh, with flaky sea salt adding just the right finishing touch. It works as a light lunch on its own or as a stunning side alongside whatever else is on the table.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the pesto
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp tiger nut flour
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
For the salad
- 5 oz baby arugula (about 6 cups loosely packed)
- 4 radishes, thinly sliced
- 1 cup cucumber, thinly sliced into half-moons
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- flaky sea salt, to taste
For serving
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, torn (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the 2 cups packed basil leaves, garlic cloves, tiger nut flour, 2 tbsp lemon juice, and fine sea salt in a food processor. Pulse 8–10 times until the mixture is coarsely chopped and the garlic is broken down.
- 2
With the processor running, stream in the 1/3 cup olive oil in a slow, steady pour until the pesto comes together into a thick, spoonable paste — it will be slightly textured, not completely smooth. Scrape down the sides and pulse once more to incorporate. Taste and adjust salt if needed.
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