Imported Italian Seed. Arugula is a herbaceous plant found in the wild in the Mediterranean region. Also known as rocket, roquette, rugula, and rucola this herb (lettuce) has a strong, somewhat peppery flavor.
What family is arugula part of?
brassicaceae family
Like other leafy, green vegetables, arugula is a part of the brassicaceae family, which includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, turnips, and kohlrabi. Arugula is a cruciferous vegetable. It is called this because the flowers have four petals and resemble a Greek cross.
Where does arugula come from?
Native to the Mediterranean region, arugula blossoms and leaves have long been a popular ingredient in the cuisines of Italy, Morocco, Portugal and Turkey. In ancient Rome and Egypt consumption of arugula leaves and seeds were associated with aphrodisiac properties.
How do you grow wild lettuce?
Sow in spring or fall, in pots outdoors or directly in beds outdoors. Barely cover seed with soil and tamp securely, then keep cool and evenly moist until germination, which takes 10 to 20 days. In very cold soil conditions (freezing and thawing), germination will take longer.
What is the difference between arugula and wild arugula?
Wild arugula has thin, jagged leaves, a punchier peppery taste and is hardier than standard arugula. Though it’s called wild arugula, this variety is now cultivated and can be found in most specialty grocery stores and farmers’ markets.
Is it okay to eat arugula everyday?
There’s little to suggest arugula is bad for you. But if you take medicine known as blood thinners, too much vitamin K could undo their effects. That’s because vitamin K is important to the blood-clotting process.
Is arugula healthier than kale?
Did you know that arugula has more calcium and zinc than kale? It’s also nutritionally equal to kale in iron and magnesium and has fewer carbohydrates and naturally occurring sugars.
Can you eat arugula raw?
How to use it. Arugula is delicious raw, and it can be used as a healthy add-on topping for pizza, nachos, sandwiches, and wraps. It can be served as a side salad with nothing more than a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. It also makes an excellent base for more substantial salad recipes.
Is arugula a Superfood?
Arugula is a leafy green vegetable with multiple common names, such as salad rocket, garden rocket, roquette and colewort. It is a superfood from the plant family Brassicaceae and is a relative to cabbage, collards and cauliflower.
Which wild lettuce is edible?
Is Prickly Wild Lettuce Edible? These plants are the ancestors of garden lettuce, and the young leaves are bitter but edible. Eat leaves raw or cooked.
What are the different types of wild lettuce?
Wild lettuce
- Lactuca canadensis (North America)
- Lactuca ludoviciana (NW America)
- Lactuca serriola (Southern Europe)
- Lactuca quercina (Eurasia)
- Lactuca floridana (North America)
What does wild lettuce look like in the wild?
Wild lettuce features a bright-green appearance and varies anywhere between 60–200cm in height. Those looking to identify the plant in the wild can often do so by taking a closer look at the leaves. They are oblong and lance-shaped and possess fine teeth-like ridges on the edges.
Where can you find wild arugula?
The peppery green is one of three main species of arugula cultivated for human consumption and is mainly found growing wild in the Mediterranean in open fields, along roadsides, and as a weed in home gardens.
What is the best way to eat arugula?
Arugula can be eaten uncooked or cooked. You can use arugula uncooked in salads, either on its own, or in combination with other lettuces. Because it is quite peppery, it is often used as part of a lettuce blend, especially if the arugula is more mature and stronger in taste. It’s nice in sandwiches as well.
Is baby arugula the same as wild arugula?
Baby arugula is much more mild than wild, surrey or mature arugula.
Is arugula an anti-inflammatory?
Bosserman recommends this recipe for the hot days of spring and summer and says, “Arugula is a powerful antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties, which means it’s great for disease prevention and good for our immune system.
Is arugula healthier cooked or raw?
Sauteing is the most common method of cooking arugula. If you want to make sure you are receiving the maximum nutrition benefits, studies show that it is better to eat arugula raw. This is because cooking arugula can slightly reduce its vitamin C, antioxidant, and mineral content.
Which is healthier arugula or spinach?
The calorie, protein, and fiber content of both vegetables is similar, but the vitamins and minerals tip the scale towards spinach — except for calcium. Spinach has more vitamin A, C, K, folate, potassium, magnesium, manganese, and iron.
What is the healthiest green?
1. Spinach. This leafy green tops the chart as one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables. That’s because 1 cup (30 grams) of raw spinach provides 16% of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin A plus 120% of the DV for vitamin K — all for just 7 calories ( 1 ).
What is the healthiest salad leaf?
Some of the most nutritious greens include spinach, kale, romaine, watercress, and arugula (see “Salad greens by the numbers”). They are rich in a combination of vitamins A, C, and K; several B vitamins (including folate); and potassium.
What is the healthiest lettuce?
So, to answer your question, the most nutritious lettuce is Romaine. Compared to red leaf, green leaf, butterhead (Boston and bib types) and iceberg, it delivers more folate, potassium, beta carotene and lutein.