Oats Free Basil-Pesto Arugula Salad
Bright, peppery arugula meets a vibrant homemade pesto in this salad that feels both fresh and deeply satisfying. The dressing is the real star — blitzed together in a food processor with packed basil, garlic, lemon juice, and a drizzle of good olive oil until it becomes a thick, spoonable paste that clings beautifully to every leaf. The clever swap here is tiger nut flour in place of the pine nuts or other thickeners you'd typically find in a classic pesto, keeping the whole dish completely free of oats and grain-based fillers without sacrificing that rich, herby body. Thinly sliced radishes and cool cucumber half-moons add crunch and a little brightness to balance the bold dressing. Because everything is made from scratch with whole, simple ingredients, there's no need to scrutinize labels or worry about hidden additives sneaking in through a store-bought shortcut. It comes together quickly, looks stunning in the bowl, and tastes like something you'd order at a nice bistro — torn fresh basil on top and all.
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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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