Aruguh

Arugula (*Eruca sativa*), often called **rocket** (in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand), **roquette**, or **garden rocket**, is a leafy green vegetable native to the Mediterranean region. *** ### Key Characteristics * **Family:** It belongs to the **Brassicaceae** (mustard or cabbage) family, which is why it has a distinct taste, unlike lettuce. * **Appearance:** The leaves are vibrant green and can range from smooth and elongated when young to having deep, distinctive lobes as they mature. * **Flavor Profile:** Arugula is prized for its signature **peppery**, tangy, and slightly **nutty** flavor. * **Baby Arugula:** Younger leaves are milder. * **Mature/Wild Arugula:** Older or wild-harvested leaves tend to be more pungent and bitter, especially when the plant starts to "bolt" (grow a flower stalk). * **Culinary Use:** Arugula is one of the most popular salad greens, known for adding a lively kick to cold dishes. It is also often used: * **As a topping:** Added raw to pizza or pasta just before serving. * **Cooked:** The peppery flavor mellows out when briefly sautéed or added to soups and sauces, adopting a more nutty flavor. * **All parts are edible:** The leaves, the small white flowers (which have purple veins), and the young seed pods are all safe to eat. *** ### Nutritional Highlights Arugula is a highly nutritious, low-calorie food. It is an excellent source of: * **Vitamin K:** Crucial for blood clotting and bone health. * **Vitamin C:** A powerful antioxidant. * **Folate** (a B vitamin). * **Vitamin A** (as beta-carotene). * **Calcium** and **Magnesium**. Like other cruciferous vegetables, it contains **glucosinolates**, which give it its pungent flavor and are studied for their potential cancer-fighting properties.