Also known as 'rucola', this peppery-tasting veg could win a popularity contest.
History and nutritional content
It's believed that rocket (as we'll call it here for the sake of argument) is native to the Mediterranean. It's certainly been around in its time, judging by the host of names it's known by – Americans know it as 'garden rocket', the French as 'roquette' (not to be confused with Swedish rock duo 'Roxette' – hey, it's easily done), and the Italians... ahhh, the Italians have at least five names for the feisty salad leaf depending on the region: variations include 'arugula', 'rucola' and 'ruchetta'.
It's rich in iron and vitamin C, so it's good for you, whereas and the ancient Romans believed it was an aphrodisiac, which may explain its phallic name...
Growing rocket
Rocket grows wild but has become increasingly cultivated since the 1980s when its appearance on our plates in restaurants led to an almost frenzied craze for the stuff. If you love it, you'll be pleased to learn that it's very easy to grow yourself, though it needs to be planted in March or April, so pop a reminder in your diary for next year.
If you don't grow your own, you can buy rocket all year round in supermarkets, although the natural season in the UK is May-October.
Recipes
Salad greens are not usually known for their dominant tastes, so strong, peppery rocket can be a unique addition to salads, although its overpowering presence is not to everyone's liking.
Use it to add intensity to salads, or do as the Italians do and throw some onto pizza as a topping, and into pasta, risottos, and even pesto.