Brazil Nut Free Basil-Pesto Arugula Salad
Bright, peppery arugula meets a vibrant homemade pesto in a salad that feels restaurant-worthy but comes together in minutes. The pesto skips pine nuts entirely — tiger nut flour steps in as the thickening agent, giving the sauce a slightly nutty, earthy body without any tree nut involvement whatsoever. That swap is the quiet genius of this recipe, because store-bought pestos almost always rely on pine nuts or mixed nuts that can make label-reading a real chore. Here, you blend fresh basil, garlic, lemon juice, and good olive oil into a thick, spoonable paste that clings beautifully to every leaf. Crisp radishes and cool cucumber slices add crunch and freshness, balancing the bold, herby dressing with every bite. A final scatter of torn basil over the top makes it look effortlessly gorgeous on the table. Serve it immediately while the arugula still has its bite — this one doesn't wait around.
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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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