19 Healthy Arugula Recipes - Her Highness, Hungry Me (2024)

Got some arugula at home and want to use it as more than a topping for pizza? Well, here are some of the best healthy arugula recipes including salads, quesadillas, pasta and more!

If by any chance you’ve been wondering how to make your diet more diverse while at the same time keeping it healthy, you’ve finally found your answer! Arugula is the thing you’ve been looking for. I missed out on this flavorful leafy green for quite a large portion of my life, but now it’s become one of my favorite vegetables.

Not just in the kitchen, but in the garden as well. Why? Because it seems to be very resilient. No matter how often I forget to water it, this plant grows like it doesn’t care. Like “you focus on what you’ve got to do, and I’ll just keep developing and spreading everywhere”. And I’m very happy about it, especially when I get to use it in healthy arugula recipes like the ones below. So if you get lonely, grow some arugula, you don’t need a cat to talk to you. Miau.

That’s a smooth transition, isn’t it? You didn’t even notice how we became best friends, I showed you around my garden and shared with you how my husband calls arugula “an evil weed” and cleans it off his pizza whenever someone dares to forget he didn’t actually want it. Even when he hasn’t mentioned anything while ordering.

Opposites truly do attract. Just like arugula and Parmesan cheese. One is lean and green, the other one is fat and kinda yellow. It’s all about balance, as you’ll find out once you try some of the tasty healthy recipes with arugula below.

How Healthy Is Arugula, Actually?

Arugula is a leafy green, most popular and commonly found in Mediterranean meals. And as we know, if you’re enjoying a Mediterranean diet you will for sure become a healthy centenarian. Well, might be wishful thinking, but when you look at the health benefits of foods involved, such as arugula, it’s not surprising (source):

• Anti-inflammatory effect. Like many other leafy greens, this vegetable can help fight against the development of tumors and ulcers.
• Antioxidant activity. The leafy green contains flavonoids, which are incredibly useful when it comes to inhibiting free radicals in your body. That’s why this vegetable is considered a cure for renal disease (end-term kidney failure).
• It’s full of minerals and vitamins. (source) Ascorbic acid, folic acid, iron, calcium, copper, manganese and zinc are just some of the essential vitamins and minerals you’ll be adding to your body if you eat arugula regularly!

There are many other reasons to eat this leafy green, such as it being very low in fat and rich in fiber, which makes it a perfect food for people trying to lose and/or maintain weight.

Filling Arugula Lunch Recipes

Let’s start the list of healthy arugula recipes with some filling and tasty lunch ideas that are incredibly easy to make!

Arugula, Parmesan and Asparagus Salad. Remember my favorite combo of arugula and Parmesan cheese? Well, here it is. We’ve also got some roasted asparagus and cherry tomatoes to complete the team!

Cheesy Chicken Quesadilla. This is a pretty easy and quick meal, which you can adjust as much as you like. The main stars of the show are the shredded chicken, cheese, arugula, tortillas and cream cheese.

Pesto and Arugula Pasta. This pasta dish is a creamy vegetarian goodness and you’ll definitely be making it often after you try it. To make this arugula recipe you’ll need pasta, cream cheese and pesto.

Arugula Avocado Shrimp Salad. This is a great salad if you’re looking to stay lean. It’s light, flavorful and fresh, but also filling and packs a lot of protein, fiber and healthy fats in it.

Anti-inflammatory Salmon Arugula Salad. Fight chronic inflammation by eating the right foods! Exhibit A: this salmon and arugula salad recipe. Try it!

Healthy Arugula Recipes That Aren’t Salads

Switch things up and use the leafy green in these healthy arugula recipes that aren’t salads…Yes you can use this tasty vegetable in wraps, tostadas, risottos and quesadillas!

Easy Lamb Doner Kebab. Got some leftover lamb at home? Then try this tasty doner kebab recipe! It will also work with shredded or rotisserie chicken, pork or any other type of meat you have available.

Easy Healthy Chicken Tostadas. Chicken tostadas, but healthy! Use whatever type of tortillas you like for the base and top them with this flavorful chicken and veg recipe!

Easy Tomato Basil Quinoa Risotto. For the days, when you’re needing to clean out the fridge, save this recipe. You can use up any cooked quinoa, rice or bulgur, some zucchini as well as the arugula you’ve forgotten to eat during the week.

10-Minute Healthy Pizza Quesadillas. The premise here is simple – make a healthy filling from tomatoes, zucchini, arugula and cheese, put it into a tortilla, then toast the tortilla on both sides. Result? A delicious quesadilla that will satisfy your pizza cravings!

Healthy Vegan Arugula Recipes

If you don’t eat animal products, check out these truly refreshing healthy vegan arugula recipes.

Cucumber, Avocado and Arugula Salad. This is a super green salad (literally), which definitely brings crunch and freshness. You’ll love it, and as a plus – it’s super easy to make.

Tomato, Avocado and Arugula Salad. Another healthy and easy to prepare meal. You can eat it as a side dish or have it by itself. What you’ll definitely need for this arugula recipe is tomatoes, avocado and onion. The rest is all up to you – seasoning, herbs, lemon or lime juice, and additional veggies. Go wild, make the meal in such a way that you’ll enjoy it. That’s what’s important.

Tomato, Garlic and Chickpea Salad. This salad is super tasty and very quick to make – doesn’t take more than 10 minutes, even if you’re a slow chopper.

Mediterranean Recipes With Arugula

If you’re paying attention, you remember that arugula is often used in Mediterranean cuisines. The following healthy Mediterranean recipes with arugula might not be authentic authentic, but they are nutritious and full of flavor.

Healthy Quinoa Salad. This salad is great for a nice, warm summer evening. You’ll need cooked quinoa, arugula, feta cheese and more veggies – onions, cucumber, whatever you like, really.

Mediterranean Black Bean Salad. This salad bursts with flavor and is super easy and fast to prepare. This makes it perfect for when you’re in a hurry, or you’re just tired, but still want to have a delicious and healthy meal. Your main ingredients are arugula, black beans, olives, feta cheese, and whatever veggies and toppings you’d like to add.

Mediterranean Salmon Salad. In case you’ve got some cooked salmon, you can put it to good use in this amazing salad. Cut up some vegetables – cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, whatever you like eating.

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad is packed with protein and flavor. What is there not to love about it? To make this arugula recipe you’ll need canned chickpeas, lemon juice, feta, avocado and whatever else you can think of or have laying around in your kitchen.

Cooked Arugula Recipes

Usually I’m not a huge fan of cooked greens, nutritionally and taste-wise, but these healthy cooked arugula recipes are a different story. You won’t be cooking the leafy green for a long time, so that most nutrients remain intact, but also – the result will blow you away!

Quinoa With Chicken and Kale. Another recipe to make with leftovers! Yay, I’m telling you, cleaning out the fridge is one of my top 5 weekly priorities. For this one you’ll need cooked quinoa and cooked chicken. Then come a ton of vegetables, garlic and of course – some cheese!

Pesto Chicken Cauliflower Rice. Eat your cruciferous vegetables without the struggle and enjoy this amazing 15-minute recipe! You’ll need caulfilower rice, pesto and cooked chicken (I know: “do you ever actually eat chicken that’s not a leftover” / and the answer is no, please shed a tear for me).

Keto Garlic Squid. Super easy to make, super quick and SO SO good! This recipe with squid, tomatoes, garlic and arugula is a must-make, whether you’re eating low-carb or not!

Garlic Shrimp and Broccoli. Ahhh, the divine combo is here again. We know, Parmesan + arugula = LOVE, but add shrimp, garlic, cream cheese and broccoli and honey, we’ve got a mouthwatering WINNER recipe. Sorry, I called you honey, especially if you’re on a keto diet.

One-Pan Seafood and Quinoa Skillet. Last but not least, the only recipe using quinoa that isn’t relying on leftovers can you believe it? It’s really good, make it.

More Healthy Vegetable Recipes

Well, I truly, really do hope you make, taste and love these super delicious healthy arugula recipes! And if you’re trying to eat more vegetables every single day, here are some collections of vegetable recipes you need to check out:

• 10 Healthy Cauliflower Recipes
• 18 Easy Spinach Recipes
• 14 Healthy Lettuce Recipes

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