Everything about Eruca Sativa totally explained
Eruca sativa (syn.
E. vesicaria subsp.
sativa (Miller) Thell.,
Brassica eruca L.), also known as
arugula or
rocket, is an edible plant. It is a species of
Eruca native to the
Mediterranean region, from
Morocco and
Portugal east to
Jordan and
Turkey. It is closely related to
Eruca vesicaria and included by some botanists in that either as a
subspecies E. vesicaria subsp.
sativa or not distinguished at all; it can be distinguished from
E. vesicaria by its early deciduous
sepals.
In the US the product is considered to satisfy a
niche market with vast difference between the wholesale and retail price. The plant received attention when American Presidential candidate
Barack Obama commented on the difference to
Iowa Farmers saying "Anybody gone into
Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for arugula?"
Vernacular names include
Garden Rocket,
Arugula (American English),
Rucola (Italian),
Rugola (Italian),
Rauke (German),
Roquette (French),
Rokka (Greek),
Ruca (Catalan),
Oruga (Spanish),
Rúcula (Portuguese, Spanish),
Ruchetta (Italian)
Ecology
It typically grows on dry, disturbed ground.. It is frequently cultivated, although domestication can't be considered complete. It has been grown in the
Mediterranean area since
Roman times, and was considered an
aphrodisiac. Before the 1990s it was usually collected in the wild and wasn't cultivated on a large scale or researched scientifically.
It is now cultivated in various places, especially in
Veneto,
Italy, but is available throughout the world. It is also locally
naturalised away from its native range in temperate regions around the world, including northern Europe and North America.
[
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 and in coastal Slovenia (especially Koper), it's added to the cheese burek. In Italy, it's often used in pizzas, added just before the baking period ends or immediately afterwards, so that it can wilt in the heat. It is sometimes used as an ingredient in pesto, either in addition to basil or as a (non-traditional) substitute.]
On the island of Ischia in the Gulf of Naples, Rucolino is made from the plant, a digestive alcohol that's 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.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Eruca Sativa'.
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