Arugula Pesto

Recipe courtesy Michael Chiarello

Show: Easy Entertaining with Michael ChiarelloEpisode: Polenta Party

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (8)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(8)

Cook Time:
1 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
2 cups

Times:

Prep: 10 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 1 min
Total:: 11 min

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Ingredients

4 cups packed fresh arugula
1 tablespoon minced garlic
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 cup pure olive oil
2 tablespoon pine nuts, toasted, plus 1 tablespoon
1/8 teaspoon vitamin C (optional)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Directions

Prepare an ice water bath in a large bowl, and bring a large pot of water to a boil. Put the arugula in a large sieve and plunge it into the boiling water. Immediately immerse all the arugula and stir so that it blanches evenly. Blanch for about 15 seconds. Remove, shake off the excess water, then plunge the arugula into the ice water bath and stir again so it cools as fast as possible. Drain well.

Squeeze the water out of the arugula with your hands until very dry. Roughly chop the arugula and put in a blender. Add the garlic, salt and pepper to taste, olive oil, 2 tablespoons of the pine nuts, and the vitamin C, if using. Blend for at least 30 seconds. In this way the green of the arugula will thoroughly color the oil. Add the cheese and pulse to combine. The pesto will keep several days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.

Pull out before dinner to get to room temperature. Before serving, add the remaining 1 tablespoon toasted pinenuts.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Arugula Pesto
Alex Las Vegas, NV 05-29-2009
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Delicious!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I added some fresh basil and left out the vitamin C. Might try adding a squeeze of lemon juice next time as a substitute for... the vitamin C. Delicious!Read more
recipe Arugula Pesto
Anonymous 01-02-2008
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Excellent
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Great (perhaps better) taste than basil pesto
recipe Arugula Pesto
terri Rumson, NJ 07-08-2007
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pretty good
Rated: 3 stars out of 5

good on hot pasta, a little overpowering on just bread. added a little lemon and extra cheese to lighten it up a bit.
recipe Arugula Pesto
Wendee Montgomery, TX 04-10-2007
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Pesto
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

This was good, but I think I would prefer it w/basil as well.
recipe Arugula Pesto
Anonymous 10-11-2006
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Delicious!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This recipe exceeded my expectations. The only change I made was to add a squeeze of lemon juice, which provided a nice tang... and balance. I served the pesto over angel hair pasta with sauteed zucchini and shrimp. Yum!Read more
recipe Arugula Pesto
heidi fairfax, VT 06-26-2006
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Caution: you WILL be addicted!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

this recipe is so easy and so delicious!! my favorite is to spread on toasted baguette slices. also great with pasta...... endless possibilities. i've made four batches this month. i can't get enough!! LOVE IT!Read more