Along with doing your laundry and appreciating your parents, enjoying the taste of arugula is another sign that you’re growing up. This little green guy is packed with protein and potassium and is basically one of the best foods you can give your body. And with creative ways to sneak arugula into whatever meal you’re feasting on, this veggie is no longer just for salads (although it’s still worth tossing from time to time). Add it to pasta, chicken, pizza, even grilled cheese to give your meal a healthy punch. Go on, give your bod the green it needs.
1. Shiitake and Arugula Ravioli: Complement arugula’s peppery taste, with these shiitake and soy sauce-filled yummies that hide any bitterness. (via No Recipes)
2. Springtime Mushroom + Asparagus White Burrata Pizza With Balsamic Drizzle: There’s no better way to eat your veggies than to put them on top of bread and cheese. (via Half Baked Harvest)
3. Gruyere, Fig Jam and Arugula Breakfast Sandwich: As if breakfast sandwiches needed improvement… (via How Sweet Eats)
4. Fennel, Leek and Arugula Risotto: Flavored with chicken stock, lemon zest and white wine, this risotto recipe has summer dinner party written all over it. (via Canelle et Vanille)
5. Salad Sicilia: There’s a major crunch factor from the nuts, sweetness from the orange and bitterness from the radish. Basically you’ve covered all sensations that could possibly happen in your mouth at the same time. (via Delicious Days)
6. Mini Burgers With Smoked Mozzarella and Arugula: Adding this green to a burger can turn it from a mere snack to balanced-ish meal. (via I am a Food Blog)
7. Smoked Salmon, Arugula and Avocado Salad: The fish, avocado and arugula together make this the most nutrient-packed salad of all time. (via Fuss Free Cooking)
8. Chicken Milanese: It’s hard to pick a main dish arugula wouldn’t complement, so go ahead and get creative. Steak or fish would work just as well as breaded chicken. (via Borrowed Salt)
9. Caprese Grilled Cheese With Arugula Pesto: Arugula pesto is easy to make and can be used to brighten up pasta, chicken and — duh — grilled cheese! (via Feasting at Home)
10. Linguine With Arugula, Garlic and Parmesan: These simple ingredients come together wonderfully to make a somewhat light, anytime meal. (via Gimme Some Oven)
11. Shrimp, White Bean and Corn Salad over Arugula: Your body thanks you in advance. (via Yummy Mummy Kitchen)
12. Papaya Pear Arugula Salad: Haven’t ever put papaya in your salad? Spread your wings, little bird. Explore the world of roughage. (via I am a Food Blog)
13. Avocado and Gouda BLT Corn Fritter Stacks: Health food (plus bacon) has never looked so good. (via Half Baked Harvest)
14. Arugula with Yogurt Dressing and Granola: The creator of this recipe created a different salad every day for a month, so the combinations got pretty unique. Here’s day 25 in all its granola-y, yogurt-y, argula-y glory. (via Kitchen Corners)
15. Brussels Sprout Chips With Arugula Pesto: The green sauce strikes again. This time Brussels sprout chips are taking a bath in it. (via Brit + Co.)
16. Orecchiette With Cherry Tomatoes and Arugula: If you’re going to make homemade pasta, orecchiette is one of the easiest options. (via Smitten Kitchen)
17. Buckwheat Blini With Caramelized Shallots, Wilted Arugula and Crème Fraîche: Serving this hors d’oeuvres at your next get together? You fancy, huh? (via Eat Live Travel Write)
What other ways can you sneak arugula into your favorite dishes? Did we miss any super unique salad ingredients? Let us know in the comments below.