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Home » Side Dish Recipes » Sautéed Arugula with Red Bell Peppers

Sautéed Arugula with Red Bell Peppers

Published: Apr 2, 2021 · Modified: Feb 19, 2023 by Cooking Chat · This post may contain affiliate links

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Sautéed Arugula with Red Bell Peppers and plenty of garlic is a tasty and easy vegetable side dish. Delicious with chicken, fish or burgers. Some of the wine suggested here was provided as a complimentary sample.

arugula sautéed with red peppers and served on a white plate.

Baby arugula is so handy to have in the fridge. It’s great in salads, and sautéed arugula can be a nice addition to a pasta dish. Arugula can also be the star of a simple side dish, as in today’s Sautéed Arugula with Bell Peppers recipe.

I tend to put most of my cooking energy into the main course, and sometimes the side dish is a bit of an after thought. I gravitate toward the same salads and simple sides.

But it can be a nice addition to give more attention to that side dish, to round out a special dinner, or spruce up a simple entree. Today’s sautéed arugula is one simple side you can try if you haven’t already cooked up something like this in your kitchen.

Jump to:
  • Tips for making this recipe
  • Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
  • What to serve with this dish
  • More arugula recipes
  • Wine pairing
  • Recipe card

Tips for making this recipe

sautéed arugula with red bell peppers

I like to cut the red bell pepper for this recipe into long, thin slices. Sauté the pepper until it starts getting nice and soft with a bit of brown, quickly add the garlic before stirring in the arugula.

The recipe calls for baby arugula, as I tend to have it on hand a lot. But you could definitely use one bunch of fully grown arugula if you like. You still cook that until it starts to wilt, just might take another minute or two.

You can use a yellow or orange bell pepper instead of red if you like. I wouldn’t suggest using a green bell pepper.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What does cooked arugula taste like?

Arugula has a peppery flavor profile, making it a welcomed addition to salads and other dishes. Arugula retains the peppery flavor when cooked, although it does get slightly milder. In this recipe, the peppery flavor combines with the garlic and sweet tasting sautéed peppers for a nice variety of tastes.

What happens when you cook arugula?

Like most greens, arugula cooks down a lot when you cook it. The 4 cups of loosely packed arugula quickly cooks down to 2 modest side dish servings.

Is arugula healthy?

Arugula is a very healthy green. Arugula is nutrient dense, high in fiber and antioxidants.

Is arugula the same thing as “rocket”?

Yes, arugula is the same vegetable as rocket. The term arugula is used more in the US, I have come across the term rocket more in Europeans sites.

What to serve with this dish

burger plated with sautéed red peppers and greents.

This Sautéed Arugula with Red Bell Peppers makes a nice side dish for chicken or fish; perhaps along with some couscous to round out the meal. We also enjoyed it with burgers recently. Here are a couple of recipes that this arugula would complement:

  • Baked Haddock with Pasta
  • Easy Olive and Avocado Chicken
  • Chicken Mushroom Bowtie Pasta
  • Pan Seared Mahi Mahi with Orange Soy Marinade

More arugula recipes

If you are looking for more arugula recipes, I have you covered! Try some of these ways to use this healthy green.

  • Burgers with Garlicky Arugula for #SundaySupper
    Grilled Burgers with Garlicky Arugula
  • arugula salad with maple vinaigrette
    Arugula Salad with Maple Vinaigrette
  • penne with arugula, garlic and beans
    Penne with Arugula, Garlic and Beans
  • Arugula Steak Salad with Farro

And for another sautéed veggies dish, try our Sautéed Spinach and Mushrooms!

Wine pairing

Typically I am more focused on the entrée than the side dish when coming up with the wine pairing for a meal. But this arugula recipe does bring a lot of flavor to the table, so does become a factor for picking the wine.

A crisp white wine like a Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling can cleanse the palate nicely, and could work here. Italian white wines could be a great choice here, such as the Cococciola we served with the baked haddock.

When making this recipe again recently, I was serving the arugula alongside veggie burgers and some rosemary fries. So a red wine came to mind.

cooked arugula and red peppers on a white plate with a burger, served with a red wine.
Pedroncelli Cabernet Sauvignon with sautéed arugula and peppers

I intended to open a Zinfandel, but after popping the cork noticed I had actually opened a Cab from Pedroncelli. My first association with this producer is their good Zinfandels, thus my confusion. A happy accident!

The 2017 Pedroncelli Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon ($28, 14.4% ABV) from Dry Creek Valley worked nicely with our burgers and side of arugula. Violets on the nose, cherry, camphor and rosemary on the palate (good with the fries!). Notes of graphite, and supple tannins. A pleasant Cab to sip and food friendly.

Print

Recipe card

Sautéed Arugula with Red Bell Peppers

arugula sautéed with red peppers and served on a white plate.
Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 11 reviews

Arugula sautéed with red bell peppers and garlic makes an easy and tasty side dish.

  • Author: Cooking Chat
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 15 mins
  • Yield: 2 servings 1x
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: stove top
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 cups loosely pack baby arugula (about 2 to 3 ounces)
  • 1 tsp balsamic vinegar (optional)
  • salt to taste
  • pinch red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Start the peppers: Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat. Add the red bell peppers, sauté for 7 to 10 minutes, until they begin to soften and turn brown.
  2. Add garlic: Add the minced garlic to the skillet, and sauté for another minute.
  3. Stir in arugula: Gradually stir in the arugula, and cook until the arugula begins to wilt, about 3 minutes. Add salt to taste and pinch of red pepper flakes if using. Stir in the balsamic vinegar if using.
  4. Serve immediately, or cover and keep warm on very low heat until the rest of the meal is ready.

Notes

  • Read the arugula packaging to determine if it has already been washed or not. A lot of the bigger brands at grocery stores come pre-washed; but lately we’ve been getting arugula from local farms that need washing before using. 
  • We have two arugula eaters here so this quantity is perfect for us. But you could easily use a whole 4 oz container to make enough for 3 or 4 people. 

Keywords: arugula, sautéed arugula, side dishes, cooked greens

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @CookingChatWine on Instagram and hashtag it #CookingChat

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sautéed arugula with red bell peppers on a white plate.
cooked arugula with red bell peppers served on a white plate.
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michelle

    August 24, 2020 at 5:37 am

    Just made this because I’m not a big fan of arugula yet I incorporate it into my diet. The balsamic vinegar added that acidity and flavor that was much needed. I really may use this recipe going forward, thanks to you!

    Reply
    • Cooking Chat

      August 24, 2020 at 5:52 am

      Glad you liked it, Michelle! A bit of balsamic adds a nice flavor!

      Reply
  2. Allyssa

    April 07, 2021 at 6:53 am

    looks very yummy! Would love to try it soon! Thanks for this recipe! it’s very helpful! 🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Cooking Chat

      April 07, 2021 at 7:44 am

      Thanks Allyssa!

      Reply
  3. Lauren Vavala

    April 07, 2021 at 7:34 am

    I rarely make arugula cooked. This sounds delicious and is a great idea for a side dish that’s not the same old thing. Great recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Cooking Chat

      April 07, 2021 at 7:44 am

      Thanks Lauren! I do like arugula raw in salads & wraps, too, but cooking it is a nice option!

      Reply
      • Eydie

        March 04, 2022 at 6:08 am

        What a nice change! I loved this recipe and will make it again!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Cooking Chat

          March 04, 2022 at 6:55 am

          Glad you liked it, thanks for the feedback!

          Reply
  4. Claudia Lamascolo

    April 07, 2021 at 7:54 am

    The flavors are fabulous I would eat this everyday its so good except for one thing, I would make 3 times that sized plate its so yummy~!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Cooking Chat

      April 07, 2021 at 5:47 pm

      That’s the spirit Claudia!

      Reply
  5. Lauren

    April 07, 2021 at 8:07 am

    Arugula is my all time favourite green! I can’t wait to add this healthy side to our summer rotation!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Cooking Chat

      April 07, 2021 at 5:47 pm

      We love arugula here! Especially the version we’ve been getting from a local farm lately.

      Reply
  6. Katherine

    April 07, 2021 at 8:12 am

    I only ever have arugula raw, so I’m excited to try it cooked in this dish!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  7. Nancy Frohling

    June 23, 2021 at 7:19 pm

    Delicious recipe. Added chicken and stir fry sauce. Has a beautiful color appeal

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Cooking Chat

      June 24, 2021 at 6:17 am

      Glad you liked it! I could definitely see adding chicken to make it a complete meal.

      Reply
  8. Sandra

    August 15, 2021 at 4:54 pm

    Yummy! I added this dish to a little pasta with a bit more olive oil and it made a great dish. Thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Cooking Chat

      August 17, 2021 at 6:07 am

      That sounds tasty, Sandra! Good idea!

      Reply
  9. Holly

    February 05, 2022 at 7:34 pm

    I know this has nothing to do with arugula but if you were to make mashed cauliflower I mean what could you add to it to add more taste?

    Reply
    • Cooking Chat

      February 06, 2022 at 7:27 am

      Roasted garlic is the first thing that comes to mind! Alternatively a roasted garlic olive oil or other such flavored olive oil. And/or various spice blends. We make a roasted cauliflower with garam masala, an Indian spice blend. That flavor combo works well. https://cookingchatfood.com/indian-roasted-cauliflower/

      Reply
  10. Lindsay Parks

    September 11, 2022 at 6:55 pm

    Love this recipe! I used a mix of arugula, baby kale and baby spinach because it’s what I had. I plan to make again this week, but also hope to use up a yellow summer squash and a zucchini….seems like I cook slice and sauté before adding the greens. Hope it turns out!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Cooking Chat

      September 12, 2022 at 5:40 am

      Glad you like it, Lindsay. Yes, I would think that’d be a good idea, to add the squash a few minutes before the greens. I would suggest slicing it pretty thinly.

      Reply
  11. Doreen Glavac

    October 09, 2022 at 5:49 pm

    Yummy!!!

    Reply
  12. TLM

    October 13, 2022 at 3:24 pm

    Loved the easy recipe… it was really delicious

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Cooking Chat

      October 13, 2022 at 8:18 pm

      Glad you liked it!

      Reply
  13. tracey

    December 01, 2022 at 1:23 pm

    I just finished this for my lunch. This was a very nice to change to the norm. I did add some tomatoes and red pepper flakes. This is a keeper Thank you for the recipe. I truly enjoyed this dish and its so versatile.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Cooking Chat

      December 03, 2022 at 4:54 am

      That sounds like a nice healthy lunch! Thanks for the notes on your additions.

      Reply

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Hi there! I'm David. I love creating tasty, (mostly) healthy recipes, finding great wine pairings, and sharing good food with family and friends. learn more about me!

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