Rocket Seeds ~ Eruca sativa Seeds ~ Herbs

Eruca sativa, also known as rocket or arugula, is an edible plant native to the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and Portugal east to Jordan and Turkey. It is an annual plant growing to 20–100 cm tall.

Vernacular names include Garden Rocket, Rocket, Eruca, Rocketsalad, Arugula and many more. It is used as a leaf vegetable, which looks like a longer leaved and open lettuce.

It is rich in vitamin C and potassium. It is frequently cultivated, although domestication cannot be considered complete. It has been grown in the Mediterranean area since Roman times, and is considered an aphrodisiac. Before the 1990s it was usually collected in the wild and was not cultivated on a large scale or researched scientifically. In addition to the leaves, the flowers (often used in salads as an edible garnish), young seed pods and mature seeds are all edible.

It has a rich, peppery taste, and is exceptionally strongly flavoured for a leafy green. It is generally used in salads but also cooked as a vegetable with pastas or meats. In Italy, it is often used in pizzas, added just before the baking period ends or immediately afterwards, so that it won't wilt in the heat. It is sometimes used as an ingredient in pesto, either in addition to basil or as a substitute.

On the island of Ischia in the Gulf of Naples, a digestive alcohol called rucolino is made from the plant, a drink often enjoyed in small quantities following a meal. The liquor is a local specialty enjoyed in the same way as a limoncello or grappa and has a sweet peppery taste that washes down easily.