In January we started eating new green sprigs coming back from where the past season plant self-seeded the area around itself. The green is awesome in salads, sandwiches, and homemade pizza. It is also great in soups, stir fries, rice pilafs, pasta and more. However, we both agree that RAW is best to enjoy its full peppery flavor!
We can hardly keep up with what's growing in our garden. Most of our arugula plants are bursting into seed formation. We don't mind all that much, as we are happy to save seed for future 'seed exchange' endeavors AND ALSO, the seed is edible and can be used for sprouts.
With all this arugula in our garden , I wanted to know more about it. Here's what I learned:
Arugula is a green and herb - it is a part of the mustard family, making it related to both the radish and watercress. This explains its hot peppery taste! It is also known as "rocket" ("Perfect...as it's like a 'rocket' of flavor in your mouth!") and it is native to the Mediterranean region. Arugula is traced to the Roman period: they ate the leaves as vegetables, used the seeds to flavor oil and made aphrodisiac and medicinal compounds from the plant. Speaking of medicinal compounds, Arugula is a good source of vitamin A and vitamin C, folate, calcium and magnesium.
I also learned that the Garden Carpet Moth also has a palette for Arugula.
This moth is greyish-white with three irregular black blotches... Adults can be seen any time between April to October. It is known to fly throughout the night, is attracted to light and is most likely one of the moths you will see in your lighted window!
Not only will it feed on your arugula, it will feed on the rest of your mustard family (e.g. radishes) as well as your cultivated brassica family (e.g. broccoli). So now when you spot one of these moths looking pretty in your garden, or eerily perched on your window at night under the light... you know what 'cookie jar' its getting into in your garden. I wonder if dill will deter it, like I've heard it does with the cabbage moth? Won't hurt to try! That is, to throw some dill seeds on the ground around these other garden goodies.
Now what to do with all this arugula... I came across some tantalizing ideas to start with:
Arugula Pesto
(Basically olive oil, garlic, salt and arugula).
Arugula & Avocado & Apple salad!
And I am thinking about experimenting with an arugula & feta stuffed & grilled red pepper tonight for dinner!
No comments:
Post a Comment