Arugula

Guide Note

Arugula is a common name of the plant, Eruca sativa, which is a member of the cabbage family, Brassicacea.

Fast Facts

1. A winner of VH1's Best Week Ever
2. Rich in Iron and Vitamin C
3. Formerly popular and cheap in the U.S.
4. Virtually disappeared following a postwar decline in home gardening and local produce
5. Resurfaced as a luxury salad green

Arugula has peppery, somewhat strong-tasting leaves, and it is often used, in Mediterranean cuisine, in small-to-medium quantities to add zest to salads. As a cooked green it resembles a milder version of its relatives, the mustard greens, and is used in similar ways.

Arugula is a cultivar whose wild version is native to the Mediterranean and Middle East, and its history as a food plant stretches into prehistory. It is also known as 'rocket,' 'garden rocket,' and 'roquette.'