Comments on: Spinach Arugula Pesto

By: Farmgirl Susan

Farmgirl Susan — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:54:50 +0000

This sounds wonderful, Andrea. And your arugula and scallions – along with the rest of your garden that I’ve seen – is just beautiful. What a wonderful job you did with the garden this year. And your stories and photos are so inspiring. : )

P.S. Arugula is extremely cold hardy (and also reseeds itself very easily) so you could probably enjoy a late fall and even early winter harvest. The flavor also stays milder for a lot longer in cooler weather. I picked arugula from the same plants for several weeks last winter, whereas in the late spring they would have had to be eaten within days. (I don’t even bother growing it in summer.)

By: Lynda

Lynda — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:17:55 +0000

What a good idea to combine the spinach with the arugula. I have tired of basil in my pesto, and welcome variations. Not only is this recipe super-healthy but the earthiness of the spinach is a perfect balance to the peppery arugula.

By: Susan at Sticky,Gooey,Creamy,Chewy

Susan at Sticky,Gooey,Creamy,Chewy — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:24:02 +0000

Thanks, Andrea. I’m heading to Wal-Mart this weekend!

By: Kalyn

Kalyn — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:08:38 +0000

I made some arugula pesto about a week ago, but although it was okay, it just seemed too strong. I’ll try again with some spinach added; great idea.

By: Meeta

Meeta — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 09:08:19 +0000

I have often made argula pesto with cashews. But I really like the idea of using pine nuts and spinach in this.

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 07:34:01 +0000

Arugula (we call it rocket in England) is one of my favourite salad leaves, I grew my own this year too!

I never thought of making pesto, what a great idea!

By: Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:16:08 +0000

Thanks everyone! Susan, my seeds were the Ferry & Morris brand (organic), and I found mine at Wal-Mart, though I've seen them at Lowe's, too. Seeds of Change and Cook's Garden are good sources for vegetable and herb seeds. We don't use anything fancy for pots, just the Plant Spa pots from Wal-Mart. I've had very good luck with those, and they are inexpensive. The box that the arugula is in is 8 years old. For easy gardening, you can't beat green onions. Just save about 2 inches of the white part with fresh live roots, and plant them in a pot with a good potting mix. They'll start sprouting new green tops within a week. Most greens and lettuces are pretty easy to grow, though they usually prefer cooler weather; mint, basil, and sage are easy. Oregano and parsley are low maintenance, though they can take some time to sprout. I hope this helps!

By: Victoria

Victoria — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:32:50 +0000

Yes, arugula is easy to grow and the rewards are great. I’ve made arugula pesto too and I love it. This one looks great!

By: Susan at Sticky,Gooey,Creamy,Chewy

Susan at Sticky,Gooey,Creamy,Chewy — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:56:54 +0000

Your arugula is so beautiful, Andrea! It’s my fave salad green. I would love to grow my own. Can you tell me where you got your seeds and were they any particular kind? Also, what kind of containers are you using and where did you find them? Also, are there any other “crops” that are not too temperamental that you could recommend to a novice vegetable gardener? All of your produce looks so wonderful! I’ve really got a bee in my bonnet lately!

By: RobinSue

RobinSue — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:17:31 +0000

I had no idea arugula got stronger with age. Good idea to add with spinach. Great recipe!