29 Arugula Recipes for Your Peppery Greens Era
Salads might come to mind first if you’re thinking about arugula recipes, but your (and our) favorite peppery greens can do so much more. We rounded up a few go-to dishes below, and while you’ll find lots of arugula salad recipes, there are also arugula pasta dishes, pizzas, sandwiches, flavor-packed condiments, and even cocktails.
A few key things to keep in mind when working with arugula, or rocket, as the English say: You want to choose a bright, fresh-looking bunch with a clean scent and no signs of wilting. Arugula is quite perishable, so don’t rinse it until use, and store it tightly wrapped in a plastic bag (or silicone container) in the refrigerator for up to two days. Pre-washed, boxed or bagged arugula is also available at most supermarkets these days.
Prefer a peppery flavor with a little less edge? Try this crunchy, cilantro-heavy salad. But for those of us who are very much in the leafy-green-with-extra-bite camp, find 29 of our favorite arugula recipes below.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Sean Dooley1/29Vinegary Chicken With Raisins
The first of our arugula recipes has all the makings of a great weeknight dinner: It’s ready in under an hour and is basically a main dish and side dish in one. The roasted chicken sits on a a bed of peppery arugula, with the pan sauce acting as salad dressing.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jaime2/29Sheet-Pan Gnocchi
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Emma Fishman3/29Tomatoes and Feta With Chickpeas
Speaking of sheet-pan dinners, this one has it all: jammy roasted tomatoes, crispy chickpeas, warm and melty feta cheese, and minimal dirty dishes to clean later. A handful of arugula on top means you don’t need a side salad.
Photograph by David Cabrera, Prop Styling by Adriana Bonin, Food Styling by Adriana Paschen4/29Citrusy Arugula Salad With Fennel and Parmesan
Photograph by Joyce Lee, food styling by Brandon Gray, prop styling by Chloe Kirk5/29Summer Squash and Arugula Pesto Pizza
Yes, the arugula is in the pizza, in pesto form. (Here’s another arugula pesto with pistachios instead of pine nuts.) If you prefer it on the pizza, try this recipe with prosciutto, gorgonzola (or goat cheese if you want something slightly less pungent), figs, and balsamic vinegar.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime6/29Fusilli With Battuto di Erbe
This is more than an arugula pasta; it’s an arugula-mint-basil-celery-leaf-and-whatever-other-greens-and-herbs-are-lying-around pasta. As for the garnish? Shaved Parmesan cheese. (And you don’t need a fancy tool; just use a vegetable peeler.)
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Taneka Morris, prop styling by Tim Ferro7/29Herby Cauliflower Fritters
This main dish calls on a clever shortcut ingredient to make prepping a breeze: riced cauliflower. It’s time we remove this staple from its low-carb confines and allow its true culinary merits to shine.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Taneka Morris, prop styling by Suzie Myers8/29Tinned-Salmon Niçoise Sandwich
You already know we’re tinned fish fans, but today we’re here to say: Canned salmon doesn’t get nearly the love that canned tuna does, but it should. Let this recipe prove it to you.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Suzie Myers9/29Cheesy Dutch Baby With Green Sauce
What becomes fluffy and eggy with a browned cheesy top starts entirely in the blender. Yes, both the pancake batter and the arugula salad dressing get made with the same tool you use for your smoothies.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Dayna Seman10/29Avocado and Bulgur Salad
This hearty arugula recipe is the love child of a grain bowl and a salad, with charred scallions, avocado, and thinly sliced jalapeño for smokiness, richness, and heat.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca11/29Pan-Fried Pizza With Peaches and Burrata
Photograph by Isa Zapata. Food Styling by Cyd McDowell. Prop Styling by Paige Hicks12/29Crispy Rice Cakes With Halloumi Cheese and Gochujang Brown Butter
Photograph by Emma Fishman. Food Styling by Pearl Jones.14/29Shrimp and Crispy Rice With Citrus
The combination of juicy mixed citrus with sliced avocado, fresh arugula, and sautéed shrimp is striking and, yes, delicious—but we all know that the bed of crispy rice is why you’re here.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman16/29Roasted Carrots and Chickpeas With Herby Cashew Cream
Carrots and chickpeas rise to stardom with the help of a bright, herb-spiked cashew cream, crunch from toasty almonds, and a green canvas of fresh arugula leaves.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Maggie Ruggiero17/29Herb Jam
This jam is a great way to use up a variety of herbs and greens that you might have in your crisper drawer. Here are some other arugula-based sauces: Gjusta’s Green Harissa, Herby Lime Dressing, and Arugula Salsa Verde.
Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio19/29Halloumi Saganaki
Photo by Alex Lau, styling by Judy Mancini20/29Grilled Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches
Some sandwiches are just better open-faced. Speaking of which, here’s another option that also comes with a hefty dose of arugula: Open-Face Steak Sandwich With Parmesan Dressing. In both cases, the peppery greens work almost like mustard to balance out the richness of the other toppings.
Photo by Alex Lau, Styling by Sue Li22/29Arugula Gimlet
Yes, arugula can and should be considered a useful ingredient for your home bar. It’s spicy kick makes it a natural pairing for gin.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Nicole Louie23/29Spicy Tomato and Black Olive Grandma Pie
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich25/29Lamb Burgers With Yogurt Sauce and Arugula
If you’re more of a chops kind of person, here’s a recipe for Grilled Lemongrass Lamb Chops with a side of (what else?) arugula. But we love our lamb in burger form, especially with lemony yogurt and dressed arugula.
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott, food styling by Andy Baraghani, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski26/29Arugula With Italian Plums and Parmesan
We curated a dinner menu for you: Serve this platter of arugula and plums with Romano bean salad, paccheri with shellfish, and grilled red mullet. Finish with brioche au rhum, if you want to be extra.
Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott28/29Carrot Pancakes With Salted Yogurt
With a texture somewhere between a latke and a pancake, these vegetarian fritters are also gluten-free. (Thanks, chickpea flour.) Bitter greens boost the calcium, vitamin A, potassium, and vitamin C, and add a punch of fresh flavor.
Alex Lau29/29Celery Slaw With Seeds and Dates
Despite the ingredient not being in the title, this is one of our all-time favorite arugula recipes. Persian cucumbers, celery, and those leaves make this crunchy picnic dish a study in green.