Okay, so the other day I was making this awesome salad, you know, the kind with a little bit of everything? And I realized, oh snap, I’m out of arugula! I really wanted that peppery kick, but what could I do?
I started rummaging through my fridge. First, I spotted some spinach. I thought, “Hmm, spinach is healthy, it’s green, it’s leafy… could it work?” I tasted a leaf. It was mild, definitely not peppery like arugula, but it had a nice fresh taste. I decided to use some, but it needed something more.
Looking for that “Bite”
Then I remembered I had a bag of mixed baby greens. I checked the label – it had some romaine, some red leaf lettuce, and… YES! Some baby spinach and some radicchio. Radicchio! That’s got a bit of a bitter bite, which could kind of mimic the peppery-ness of arugula, I thought.
I took a little bit of everything – the spinach, the mixed greens, a few leaves of radicchio (not too much, that stuff can be strong!) – and tossed it all together. To add a little more interest, I also found some leftover watercress.
The Taste Test
- Spinach: Mild and fresh, a good base.
- Mixed greens: Added some variety in texture and color.
- Radicchio: Gave it a little bit of that “kick” I was missing.
- Watercress: A extra peppery punch.
I whipped up my usual lemon vinaigrette, tossed the salad, and took a bite. You know what? It wasn’t exactly arugula, but it was GOOD! The spinach provided a nice base, the mixed greens added some variety, and the radicchio and Watercress gave it a little bit of that bitter, peppery edge I was craving.
So, next time you’re out of arugula, don’t panic! Just get creative with what you’ve got. Spinach, mixed greens, a little radicchio, and watercress. You might be surprised at how good your “substitute” salad can be!
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