Spice Free Basil-Pesto Arugula Salad

Total time15 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time0 min

4.6

(7)

Bright, herby, and genuinely refreshing, this arugula salad is built around a vibrant basil pesto that skips the usual heat-forward additions entirely — no red pepper flakes, no black pepper, nothing that would make a spice-sensitive eater hesitate. The pesto itself comes together in a food processor with fresh basil, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and tiger nut flour, which steps in as a nut-free thickener that gives the sauce a satisfying, slightly textured body. Crisp radishes and cool cucumber slices bring crunch and freshness to the peppery arugula base, while a simple drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice keeps the dressing clean and uncomplicated. Everything is tossed together at the end so each leaf gets evenly coated in that gorgeous green pesto. It's the kind of salad that looks impressive on the table but comes together with minimal effort and zero fuss. Serve it immediately while the arugula is still lively and the pesto is at its most fragrant.

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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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