Almonds supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
arugula
+ Add to WorkbenchAbout this ingredient
A Mediterranean salad green (Eruca sativa and Diplotaxis tenuifolia) with distinctive peppery-bitter bite from glucosinolates (particularly glucoerucin, which…
55 pairings
Editorial
Flavor profile
Arugula's peppery character comes from glucosinolates (mustard-family compounds activated by the enzyme myrosinase when cell walls are broken — by chewing or cutting), making it more intensely flavored when torn than when left whole, and more pungent when mature than when young. Baby arugula is milder; wild arugula (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) is dramatically more peppery. Heat wilts arugula immediately and mellows the glucosinolate pungency. Classic raw uses: Roman pizza bianca with arugula and parmesan (arugula added after baking to preserve the peppery freshness); carpaccio di manzo (thinly sliced beef with lemon-dressed arugula and parmesan shavings — the combination of mild fatty meat and peppery bitter green is a paradigm of Italian cooking); in composed salads with strong flavors (aged cheeses, prosciutto, roasted beets, candied walnuts). Wilted uses: quickly sautéed in olive oil and garlic as a side vegetable; tossed with just-cooked pasta (the residual heat wilts it without cooking it); on top of finished flatbreads and pizzas.
Pairings
Flavor relationships
Pairs well with
almonds
basil
beans, white
bell peppers
cheese, cabrales
cheese, feta
cheese, goat
cheese, mozzarella
cheese, parmesan
chicken
cilantro
clams
corn
cucumbers
dill
eggs
endive
fennel
fish
garlic
grapes
lemon juice
lettuces
lovage
mesclun salad greens
mint
mushrooms
mussels
nuts
olive oil
olives, black
oranges
pancetta
parsley
pasta
pears
pesto
pine nuts
potatoes
prosciutto
radicchio
radishes
risotto
salads and salad greens
salt
shallots
shellfish
tomatoes
tuna
vinaigrettes
vinegar, balsamic
vinegar, champagne
vinegar,
red wine, sherry, white wine
watercress
almonds
Almonds supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
basil
Basil layers another aromatic note onto arugula, creating a more complex herbal profile.
beans, white
White beans reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
bell peppers
Bell peppers layers another aromatic note onto arugula, creating a more complex herbal profile.
cheese, cabrales
Cheese, cabrales cushions arugula's sharper herbal notes with fat, making the pairing feel smoother and more rounded.
cheese, feta
Cheese, feta cushions arugula's sharper herbal notes with fat, making the pairing feel smoother and more rounded.
cheese, goat
Goat cheese uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
cheese, mozzarella
Mozzarella cushions arugula's sharper herbal notes with fat, making the pairing feel smoother and more rounded.
cheese, parmesan
Parmesan cushions arugula's sharper herbal notes with fat, making the pairing feel smoother and more rounded.
chicken
Chicken uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
cilantro
Cilantro layers another aromatic note onto arugula, creating a more complex herbal profile.
clams
Clams supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
corn
Corn supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
cucumbers
Cucumbers supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
dill
Dill layers another aromatic note onto arugula, creating a more complex herbal profile.
eggs
Eggs supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
endive
Endive supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
fennel
Fennel reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
fish
Fish uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
garlic
Garlic layers another aromatic note onto arugula, creating a more complex herbal profile.
grapes
Grapes plays well against arugula's peppery green bite, adding sweetness and acidity that make the herb taste fresher.
lemon juice
Lemon juice plays well against arugula's peppery green bite, adding sweetness and acidity that make the herb taste fresher.
lettuces
Lettuces reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
lovage
Lovage supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
mesclun salad greens
Mesclun salad greens reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
mint
Mint layers another aromatic note onto arugula, creating a more complex herbal profile.
mushrooms
Mushrooms reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
mussels
Mussels uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
nuts
Nuts supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
olive oil
Olive oil supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
olives, black
Black olives supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
oranges
Oranges plays well against arugula's peppery green bite, adding sweetness and acidity that make the herb taste fresher.
pancetta
Pancetta uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
parsley
Parsley layers another aromatic note onto arugula, creating a more complex herbal profile.
pasta
Pasta supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
pears
Pears plays well against arugula's peppery green bite, adding sweetness and acidity that make the herb taste fresher.
pesto
Pesto supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
pine nuts
Pine nuts supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
potatoes
Potatoes reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
prosciutto
Prosciutto uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
radicchio
Radicchio reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
radishes
Radishes supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
risotto
Risotto supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
salads and salad greens
Salads and salad greens reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
salt
Salt supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
shallots
Shallots supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
shellfish
Shellfish uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
tomatoes
Tomatoes reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
tuna
Tuna uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
vinaigrettes
Vinaigrettes sharpens arugula's freshness and helps it read cleanly in salads, sauces, and garnishes.
vinegar, balsamic
Balsamic vinegar sharpens arugula's freshness and helps it read cleanly in salads, sauces, and garnishes.
vinegar, champagne
Vinegar, champagne uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
vinegar,
Vinegar, sharpens arugula's freshness and helps it read cleanly in salads, sauces, and garnishes.
red wine, sherry, white wine
Red wine, sherry, white wine supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
watercress
Watercress supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
Basil layers another aromatic note onto arugula, creating a more complex herbal profile.
White beans reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
Bell peppers layers another aromatic note onto arugula, creating a more complex herbal profile.
Cheese, cabrales cushions arugula's sharper herbal notes with fat, making the pairing feel smoother and more rounded.
Cheese, feta cushions arugula's sharper herbal notes with fat, making the pairing feel smoother and more rounded.
Goat cheese uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
Mozzarella cushions arugula's sharper herbal notes with fat, making the pairing feel smoother and more rounded.
Parmesan cushions arugula's sharper herbal notes with fat, making the pairing feel smoother and more rounded.
Chicken uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
Cilantro layers another aromatic note onto arugula, creating a more complex herbal profile.
Clams supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
Corn supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
Cucumbers supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
Dill layers another aromatic note onto arugula, creating a more complex herbal profile.
Eggs supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
Endive supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
Fennel reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
Fish uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
Garlic layers another aromatic note onto arugula, creating a more complex herbal profile.
Grapes plays well against arugula's peppery green bite, adding sweetness and acidity that make the herb taste fresher.
lemon juice
Lemon juice plays well against arugula's peppery green bite, adding sweetness and acidity that make the herb taste fresher.
Lettuces reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
Lovage supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
mesclun salad greens
Mesclun salad greens reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
Mint layers another aromatic note onto arugula, creating a more complex herbal profile.
Mushrooms reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
Mussels uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
nuts
Nuts supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
Olive oil supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
olives, black
Black olives supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
Oranges plays well against arugula's peppery green bite, adding sweetness and acidity that make the herb taste fresher.
Pancetta uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
Parsley layers another aromatic note onto arugula, creating a more complex herbal profile.
Pasta supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
Pears plays well against arugula's peppery green bite, adding sweetness and acidity that make the herb taste fresher.
pesto
Pesto supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
Pine nuts supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
Potatoes reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
Prosciutto uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
Radicchio reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
Radishes supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
risotto
Risotto supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
salads and salad greens
Salads and salad greens reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
salt
Salt supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
Shallots supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
Shellfish uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
Tomatoes reinforces arugula's green character while adding another texture or earthy counterpoint.
Tuna uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
vinaigrettes
Vinaigrettes sharpens arugula's freshness and helps it read cleanly in salads, sauces, and garnishes.
Balsamic vinegar sharpens arugula's freshness and helps it read cleanly in salads, sauces, and garnishes.
Vinegar, champagne uses arugula's aromatic bite to cut richness and add a fresh top note.
vinegar,
Vinegar, sharpens arugula's freshness and helps it read cleanly in salads, sauces, and garnishes.
red wine, sherry, white wine
Red wine, sherry, white wine supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.
Watercress supports arugula's peppery green bite by adding contrast, freshness, or structure.