Garden salad

Garden Rocket (Eruca vesicaria), also known as Arugula, Rucola, Rugula, Colewort, and Roquette, is a leafy green plant used as a salad vegetable. It is a species of Eruca native to the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and Portugal in the west to Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey in the east.

Description

Garden Rocket is an annual plant growing to 20–100 cm (rarely 2 m) tall. The leaves are deeply pinnately lobed with four to ten small lateral lobes and a large terminal lobe. The flowers are 2–4 cm in diameter, arranged in a corymb, with the typical Brassicaceae flower structure; the petals are creamy white with purple veins, and the sepals are green.

Cultivation

Garden Rocket is commonly cultivated for its leaves and is used as a leaf vegetable. It is also grown as an edible plant in the United States. It is hardy, but not frost-tolerant, and prefers full sun to partial shade. The plant is typically harvested when the leaves are young and tender, before the plant flowers.

Culinary Uses

The leaves of the Garden Rocket are often used in salads, either alone or mixed with other greens. They have a rich, peppery taste, and are a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and Potassium. In addition to salads, Garden Rocket can also be used in soups, sauces, and as a pizza topping.

Health Benefits

Garden Rocket is high in Vitamin C and Potassium, and a source of Folate. These nutrients contribute to heart health, bone health, and immune system function. The leaves also contain Glucosinolates, compounds that have been shown to have anti-cancer properties.

See Also

• Leaf vegetable
• Salad
• Mediterranean cuisine