Meatless Monday!: Summer Spaghetti with Arugula and Tomatoes
Greens.
Wouldn’t it be nice if they tasted like funnel cake or pepperoni or piping hot doughnuts (PHDs)? I would never forsake a sack of doughnuts. All eating your greens offers is a feeling of moral superiority and … nutrition. Folic acid. Lutein. Vitamin C. Calcium. Protein.
Greens are filled with the magic of baby unicorn hiccups.
Anyway, I’ve finally found a recipe I like that has a Significant Amount of Greens: Summer Spaghetti with Arugula and Tomatoes. I made it for lunch Wednesday. And then I made it again Thursday. And Friday. And I kept on until we ran out of arugula, which NEVER HAPPENS. I fully expect the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!™ experts to arrive any day now and swab the crisper.
The recipe calls for stemming and slicing the arugula, but if that feels fussy, just throw a few handfuls straight from the bag into a pasta dish. Then add the heated tomatoes and spaghetti, and toss everything until the arugula wilts. The bulk provided by the arugula will help you feel full if you’re limiting yourself to an Actual Serving of Pasta. Plus, the bitter, peppery flavor of the greens is pretty aggressive, so you wind up with a healthy pasta dish that doesn’t require cheese. It doesn’t taste like funnel cake, but it won’t give you a third buttock, either. Fair trade.
Summer Spaghetti with Raw Arugula and Tomatoes
Adapted from Jack Bishop’s “The Complete Italian Vegetarian Cookbook”
Serves 4
- 4 cups stemmed arugula leaves
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
- 3 medium, ripe tomatoes, cored and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- Kosher salt
- 1 pound spaghetti
1. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package.
2. Wash and dry the arugula. Slice the leaves crosswise into thin strips, and set them aside in a bowl large enough to hold the spaghetti.
3. In a large skillet, heat the oil to medium heat. Add the garlic, and sauté until golden, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and salt and cook, stirring occasionally, just until the tomatoes are heated through, about 2 minutes.
4. Toss the cooked pasta and tomato sauce with the arugula, mixing until the arugula wilts. Divide among individual bowls, and serve immediately.
We must have been on the same wave length.. Onion soup sided with fresh warm garden tomatoes topped with a smidge of aioli and sinful sweet lemon basil scattered all over the tops. In 102 degree heat.. who wants meat? Nor do I wish to ah.. 'turn the other cheek' yet.. heehee
This looks so fresh and summery, almost makes me forget that I'm stuck in a wet, dreary seemingly interminable South Australian winter!
I'm not crazy about raw arugula in a salad — perhaps it's something about the local produce but it seems slightly too woody — but wilted it's great. I've had great results with combining it with gorgonzola (my gorgonzola cream sauce for gnocchi has arugula, so it *must* be healthy!).
What a lovely summer dish.
This looks wonderful and I'm definitely going to try it tonight. I too have a bottomless bag of arugula in the fridge. Wonder if its the modern day equivalent of the loaves & fishes story from the Bible.
so beautiful to look at. I can imagine it tastes fresh and good. I really like the simplicity of the dish. I think adding some crushed red pepper to the oil while cooking might make it a keeper for me!!!
Thank you, Rebecca — I now know what we are having for dinner tonight.
"The magic of baby unicorn hiccups". That made my day!
You are killing me with your photos – they're always so crisp and gorgeous! They make me want to run into the kitchen immediately and make whatever you've posted :)
YUM. Great recipe. Perfect for summer.
This looks so fresh and delicious! Love the baby unicorn hiccups phrase too…funny!
Love the look of this dish! so perfect for summer!
I love meatless monday! Arugula is one of my most favorite things to cook with, this dish sounds perfect.
Just a touch of basil… and I could eat that for dinner every night! Such a simple but perfect dish.
Mmmm…I love arugula. As if it isn't obvious. ;-)
What a great summer dinner, light and with some wonderful vegetables. I love caprese salads so this would be a perfect dinner.
What's the point of trying to be healthy if you're not going to go all the way? Axe the gluten sticks!
I just found your site, and I seriously am in complete love. I "stumbled" onto your meatless section, and now I'm starving. Everything looks incredible, and you're giving some amazing ideas. Everything looks delicious, especially this spaghetti! Yum. :)