Black Pepper Free Basil-Pesto Arugula Salad
This bright, herby salad is the kind of thing that looks impressive on the table but comes together with minimal effort and maximum flavor. The star is a homemade basil pesto that skips pine nuts entirely in favor of tiger nut flour, giving it a subtly nutty, creamy body without any of the usual suspects that can sneak unwanted heat into a dish. Crisp baby arugula, paper-thin radishes, and cool cucumber slices form the base, all tossed in a simple lemon-and-olive-oil dressing before the pesto goes in. Because every component is made from scratch here, you stay in full control — no store-bought sauces, no spice blends, no mystery seasonings to second-guess. The pesto itself is punchy with fresh garlic and lemon juice, so the salad never tastes like it's missing anything. Torn basil scattered over the top at the end adds one last burst of freshness that makes the whole bowl feel garden-fresh and alive. Serve it immediately while the arugula still has its bite and the pesto clings to every leaf.
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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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