Wash the arugula well under running water. Pat dry or use a salad spinner to dry it. Also, peel and thinly slice the garlic.
Heat the oil in a skillet. On low to medium heat, add the garlic and fry until golden (1-2 minutes). Carefully scoop it out and set it aside.
Using the same oil, fry the pine nuts until golden. This won't take long (just 1-2 minutes) – pine nuts tend to burn easily, so keep an eye on them. Remove the pine nuts from the pan and set aside.
Add the arugula to the skillet for a few minutes. Cook until it's wilted this happens quickly (just about 2-3 minutes). But keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn or wilt too much. Use tongs to stir.
Remove the sauteed arugula from the pan and transfer it into a serving dish. Serve with a squeeze of lemon juice, then add salt and pepper to taste. Top with the toasted garlic and pine nuts. Enjoy!
Notes
Optional add-ins:
Seasoning for flavor – I love to use red pepper flakes.
Herbs – basil, fennel, mint, parsley, and cilantro all work well.
Use butter instead of olive oil.
Sauteed arugula is a great side dish. Check the blog post for serving recommendations.