America's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated LogoAmerica's Test Kitchen LogoCook's Country LogoCook's Illustrated Logo

Arugula and Almond Pesto

By Andrew Janjigian

Published on March 19, 2018

Time

15 minutes

Yield

Makes about 1½ cups

Arugula and Almond Pesto

Ingredients

¼ cup almonds, lightly toasted4 garlic clove, peeled4 anchovy fillets, rinsed and patted dry1 serrano chile, stemmed, seeded, and halved lengthwise6 ounces (6 cups) arugula ¼ cup lemon juice (2 lemons)¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

Before You Begin

For a spicier pesto, reserve, mince, and add the ribs and seeds from the chile. The pesto can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours. If refrigerated, let the pesto sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

Instructions

  1. Process almonds, garlic, anchovies, and serrano in food processor until finely chopped, about 15 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add arugula, lemon juice, oil, and salt and process until smooth, about 30 seconds.
Arugula and Almond Pesto
Photography by Carl Tremblay.

Arugula and Almond Pesto

Save

Time

15 minutes

Yield

Makes about 1½ cups

Ingredients

¼ cup almonds, lightly toasted
4 garlic clove, peeled
4 anchovy fillets, rinsed and patted dry
1 serrano chile, stemmed, seeded, and halved lengthwise
6 ounces (6 cups) arugula
¼ cup lemon juice (2 lemons)
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

Ingredients

¼ cup almonds, lightly toasted
4 garlic clove, peeled
4 anchovy fillets, rinsed and patted dry
1 serrano chile, stemmed, seeded, and halved lengthwise
6 ounces (6 cups) arugula
¼ cup lemon juice (2 lemons)
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

Ingredients

¼ cup almonds, lightly toasted
4 garlic clove, peeled
4 anchovy fillets, rinsed and patted dry
1 serrano chile, stemmed, seeded, and halved lengthwise
6 ounces (6 cups) arugula
¼ cup lemon juice (2 lemons)
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

Why This Recipe Works

For a more assertive, slightly spicy alternative to traditional basil pesto, we first processed almonds (toasted first to enhance their rich flavor) with lots of garlic, anchovies, and a serrano chile until the mixture was finely chopped. Then we processed the mixture in a food processor with peppery arugula, lemon juice, and olive oil until the sauce was smooth.

Before You Begin

For a spicier pesto, reserve, mince, and add the ribs and seeds from the chile. The pesto can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours. If refrigerated, let the pesto sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

Instructions

  1. Process almonds, garlic, anchovies, and serrano in food processor until finely chopped, about 15 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add arugula, lemon juice, oil, and salt and process until smooth, about 30 seconds.

Gift This Recipe

Enjoyed this dish? Let others know by sharing it as a gift recipe.

This is a members' feature.