Arugula, also known as rocket, is a leafy green vegetable that is part of the Brassicaceae family. It has a slightly bitter, peppery taste and is a great addition to salads, pasta dishes, and even as a pizza topping. Cooking arugula is a great way to add variety to your meals and enhance the taste of your dishes. In this article, we will share some tips on how to cook arugula and make delicious dishes with this nutritious vegetable.
Preparing Arugula for Cooking
Before you start cooking arugula, it’s important to prepare it properly. Here are some tips to follow:
Cleaning and Washing Arugula
To clean arugula, start by filling a large bowl with cold water. Immerse the arugula in the water and swish it around to remove any dirt or debris. Remove the arugula from the water and shake off any excess water. You can also use a salad spinner to dry the arugula.
Trimming and Cutting Arugula
After cleaning the arugula, trim off any tough stems or roots. You can also cut the arugula into smaller pieces, depending on how you plan to use it. For example, if you are making a salad, you can tear the arugula into bite-sized pieces. If you are sautéing or grilling arugula, you may want to leave the leaves whole.
Cooking Arugula
Arugula can be cooked in various ways, including sautéing, steaming, and grilling. Here are some tips on how to cook arugula:
Sautéing Arugula
To sauté arugula, start by heating some olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the arugula to the skillet and toss it with tongs until it wilts, which should take about a minute. Season the arugula with salt and pepper to taste, and serve hot.
Steaming Arugula
To steam arugula, bring a pot of water to a boil and place a steamer basket over the pot. Add the arugula to the steamer basket and steam it for about 2-3 minutes, or until it wilts. Remove the arugula from the steamer basket and season it with salt and pepper to taste.
Stay tuned for the next sections, where we will discuss grilling arugula, recipe ideas, serving and storing cooked arugula, and more!
Cooking Arugula (Continued)
Grilling Arugula
Grilling arugula is a great way to add extra flavor to this leafy green vegetable. To grill arugula, start by preheating your grill to medium-high heat. Brush the arugula leaves lightly with olive oil and season them with salt and pepper to taste. Place the arugula directly on the grill grates and grill it for about 30 seconds to 1 minute on each side, or until it is lightly charred. Once done, remove the arugula from the grill and serve hot.
Arugula Recipe Ideas
Arugula is a versatile vegetable that can be used in various dishes. Here are some recipe ideas to try:
Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
- 4 cups of arugula
- 1 cup of cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup of sliced cucumber
- 1/4 cup of chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup of crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup of olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- In a large bowl, combine the arugula, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper to make the vinaigrette.
- Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to combine.
- Sprinkle the feta cheese and chopped walnuts over the top of the salad before serving.
Arugula Pesto Pasta
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of pasta
- 2 cups of arugula
- 1/4 cup of pine nuts
- 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 cup of olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions.
- While the pasta is cooking, combine the arugula, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a food processor.
- Process the ingredients until they form a smooth paste.
- Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and return it to the pot.
- Add the arugula pesto to the pot and toss the pasta until it is coated with the pesto.
- Serve hot.
Stay tuned for the next sections, where we will discuss serving and storing cooked arugula, and the conclusion.
