Simple Arugula Pesto with Walnuts

I planted twice as much arugula in my garden this year compared to last year! Why?

Because this incredible homemade Arugula Pesto recipe is simply irresistible—it’s delicious, healthy, and bursting with flavor.

Every time I gather fresh arugula leaves, I whip up a batch of this amazing pesto sauce and freeze it, so we can enjoy it all year round! No worries if you don’t have a garden; you can use store-bought arugula leaves for this fantastic pesto recipe too!

Healthy Arugula Pesto Recipe

Arugula pesto is a delicious variation of the traditional Italian Basil Pesto sauce made with arugula as the main ingredient. Fresh, young arugula leaves provide the distinctive peppery flavor that sets arugula pesto apart.

In addition to arugula, the other essential ingredients in arugula pesto recipe includes:

Garlic: It provides a pungent and aromatic element to the sauce.

Parmesan cheese: Grated Parmesan cheese adds a rich and salty taste to the pesto.

Walnuts: These nuts give the pesto a pleasant nutty taste and texture.

Extra-virgin olive oil: This is used as a base to bind the ingredients together and create a smooth consistency. It also contributes to the overall flavor and richness of the pesto.

Wine vinegar or Lemon juice: A small amount of lemon juice adds a tangy and refreshing element to the pesto, balancing out the bitterness of the arugula.

Why this Arugula Pesto is Healthy and Good for You?

This Arugula Pesto is a healthy and nutritious recipe for several reasons:

Nutrient-rich: Arugula is packed with essential nutrients and antioxidants. It is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, which are important for immune function, vision, and bone health.

Healthy fats: Arugula pesto contains some olive oil and nuts. These ingredients provide healthy fats, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats which are beneficial for your health.

Low in calories and Macro-Friendly: This arugula pesto recipe is made with minimal added oil and nuts, making it a relatively low-calorie option compared to traditional pesto. This can be beneficial if you’re watching your calorie intake or trying to maintain a healthy weight. One tablespoon of this arugula pesto contains:

• 88 kcal
• 8g fats
• 2g carbs
• 2g protein

What To Do with Arugula Pesto?

This Arugula Pesto can be used in various ways:

• as a pasta sauce – toss it with cooked pasta to create a delicious and flavorful dish.
• as a spread on sandwiches or toasts.
• as a topping for grilled meats, vegetables, or pizzas – try it with this Cauliflower Crust Pizza, this Roast Beef, or make this Oven Baked Pesto Chicken which is so popular on the blog.

How To Freeze Arugula Pesto?

Freezing Arugula Pesto is a great way to preserve it for later use. To freeze homemade pesto, transfer it into small containers, ice cube trays, or silicon muffin cups. Then put the frozen pesto into Ziploc bags.

Place back in the freezer, and when ready to use, thaw the pesto in the refrigerator or at room temperature before enjoying. Frozen pesto can be stored for up to nine months!

Ingredients for Arugula Pesto

• arugula leaves
• walnuts
• Parmesan cheese, grated
• red or white wine vinegar or lemon juice
•  extra virgin olive oil
• garlic
• honey meal mustard (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste

How To Make Arugula Pesto

1. In a food processor or blender, add the arugula leaves, walnuts, grated Parmesan cheese, wine vinegar or lemon juice, olive oil, garlic cloves, and honey mustard if using. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Pulse the ingredients a few times to break them down. If the mixture is too thick, slowly add 2-3 tablespoons of water until the mixture forms a smooth paste.
3. Taste the pesto and adjust the seasoning if needed. You can add more vinegar or lemon juice, salt, or pepper according to your preference.
4. Transfer the arugula pesto to a clean jar or container and enjoy! Store it in the refrigerator or in the freezer for up to nine months.

How Many Calories in Arugula Pesto?

Simple Arugula Pesto with Walnuts

I planted twice as much arugula in my garden this year compared to last year! Why? Because this incredible homemade Arugula Pesto recipe is simply irresistible—it's delicious, healthy, and bursting with flavor. Every time I gather fresh arugula leaves, I whip up a batch of this amazing pesto sauce and freeze it, so we can enjoy it all year round! No worries if you don't have a garden; you can use store-bought arugula leaves for this fantastic pesto recipe too!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Total Time 10 mins

Course Sauce, Snack

Servings 10 servings

Calories 88 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 3 cups or 70g arugula leaves
• 1/3 cup or 35g walnuts
• 1/2 cup or 35g Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 Tbsp. or 20g red or white wine vinegar or lemon juice
• 1/4 cup or 45g extra virgin olive oil
• 3-4 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp. honey meal mustard optional
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2-3 Tbsp. water

Instructions

 

• In a food processor or blender, add the arugula leaves, walnuts, grated Parmesan cheese, wine vinegar or lemon juice, olive oil, garlic cloves, and honey mustard if using. Season with salt and pepper.
• Pulse the ingredients a few times to break them down. If the mixture is too thick, slowly add 2-3 tablespoons water until the mixture forms a smooth paste.
• Taste the pesto and adjust the seasoning if needed. You can add more vinegar or lemon juice, salt, or pepper according to your preference.
• Transfer the arugula pesto to a clean jar or container and enjoy! Store it in the refrigerator or in the freezer for up to nine months.

Notes

How Many Calories in Arugula Pesto?

Calories (1 TBSP, 25g): 88 kcal	Calories (100g): 353 kcal
Fat: 8.0 g	Fat: 32.0 g
Carbohydrates: 1.9 g	Carbohydrates: 7.8 g
Protein: 2.3 g	Protein: 9.3 g

Keyword arugula,homemade arugula pesto,pesto recipe,delicious,healthy,pesto sauce,made with arugula,italian basil pesto