What Does Arugula taste Like?
This article will tell you everything about arugula. It will be described in detail, including how to store and prepare it. Next, we’ll move on to the recipes.
Let’s get started now.
What is Arugula and what does it taste like?
This leafy vegetable, sometimes called rocket or arugula, belongs to the bitter flavor family. Its bitterness is milder, however, than collard greens.
Arugula is spicy, peppery and slightly tart. Arugula’s tender leaves give it a soft texture. It is often added to salads because of its fresh green color. Arugula is more pleasant when cooked than it is when it’s raw. It also loses some of its spicy flavor.
Is baby Arugula bitter?
It is not the number one trait of bitterness.
Although all types of arugula will have some bitterness, it is true that baby arugula has more. The leaves of mature plants are more pungent..
Wild leaves are believed to have the bitterest leaves. These will reward you with the best taste, if you like the spicy flavor. Wild arugula can be found at your local farmers market or grocery store.
Arugula Texture
Raw arugula is similar to spinach in texture, but it has longer stalks and more delicate leaves.
It will wilt easily when heated, so cook it slowly. Even if you place it on top of some hot food, it will wilt slightly. This is common with this crisp-tasting vegetable.
How do you get the bitterness out of Arugula?
Lemon juice can be used to neutralize bitter flavors in bitter greens. This is especially useful for arugula, as it complements the pepperiness.
Light sautéing can help, too. Sometimes the problem is just the rawness or texture of the arugula. To soften the sharp edges of arugula, you can use a little garlic, olive oils and vegetable stock (and maybe a squeeze or lemon if necessary).
How do you know if Arugula has gone bad?
It is easy to know when your arugula has reached its end. It will look limp and weepy, and may develop dark brown or black spots.
You want a healthy, light-looking bunch that has no dark edges or patches.
It should also smell appealing. It should smell spicy, which is a good sign. However, if it smells particularly earthy or sour, it may be on the way out.
Arugula serving tips
Arugula is a versatile plant. You don’t have to give it any extra attention. You can simply add it to your food or make a simple salad. But you can do more. You can do much more. These videos will demonstrate.
This vegan pesto combines orange with peppery arugula to create a bold, fresh dip or pasta sauce.
Here are the essentials:
- Orange
- Pine nuts
- Avocado oil
- Sea salt
- Arugula
A combination of sweet pears and fresh green arugula is unbeatable.
Here’s what you need to make this salad.
- Walnuts
- Lemon juice
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Arugula
- Fennel bulb
- Pears
- Celery
How to cook Arugula
It is easy to add arugula into your favorite dishes.
To preserve the peppery taste, you will need to add arugula right before serving.
These are just a few of the many ways you can use arugula to spice up your dishes.
It is a great choice for salads because of its soft and chewy leaves.
It is great with pizza, especially if it’s a frozen one.
Arugula can also be added to the pasta.
It makes a great addition to hot sandwiches.
To enhance the flavor of your favorite roasted vegetables, you can add arugula.
Tip: Lemon juice can be used to balance bitterness.
How to Choose Arugula
Here are some ways to choose Arugula.
After planting your arugula, you should keep an eye on it for approximately 5 weeks. Arugula is a fast-growing plant so it is important to harvest it when you are ready.
You should always measure the height of your leaves. Arugula leaves smaller than 3 inches in height have mild flavors, while larger leaves have a stronger flavor.
Picking the arugula leaves is best done in shade. Hot leaves will quickly wilt and die. Don’t pick the leaves in rainy weather. This will cause them to become soggy. To pick the leaves, choose the coolest and driest time of day, preferably at sunset.
Pick arugula leaves by cutting the outer leaves with sharp scissors, just above the soil.
Allow the plant’s new growth to occur in the areas you have cut. Then, continue to trim as necessary.
If you notice a loss of flavor, stop picking the smaller leaves.
Once your plant grows to 12 inches tall, you can pull it out at the roots. When the leaves burst with flavor, this is when you should pull them out. You should harvest the plant before the flowers appear, or the leaves may become bitter.
How to buy Arugula
Look for fresh, vibrant, and green leaves when buying store-bought Arugula. Avoid leaves that appear yellowing or wilting and those with a slimy appearance. Prepackaged arugula should be checked for excess water. Moisture can quickly cause leaves to rot.
How to store and keep Arugula fresh?
Arugula can be stored in the refrigerator. The leaves should be stored in a sealed plastic bag. To give them moisture, you can use damp paper towels. The paper towels will prevent the arugula drying out and absorb any extra moisture.
Wrap the arugula bundles in paper towels, and place them in the bag. The bag should be placed in the crisper drawer of the fridge.
Pro Tip: Wash the leaves just before you use them. This will prolong their lives. To ensure air circulation, make holes in the bag.
You can also freeze arugula. It is more difficult than freezing spinach or other leafy greens. Instead, blanch the spinach and then freeze in heavy-duty freezer bags. The same process can be used with arugula but the leaves will become mushy and not taste the same.
Instead of blanching the arugula leaves to freeze, you can put them in olive oil in a shallow container. The oil should be fully submerged into the leaves. Olive oil will preserve the peppery taste of the leaves. Place the container in your freezer. When the oil has froze, cut the arugula into small pieces. Then put the bag in a freezer bag for later use.
You can keep the entire arugula plant, with all its roots attached, in a mason container. Place the plant in the container and add water to it. Place the plant in the jar and cover it with a plastic bag. The arugula plants will keep fresh for approximately a week.
How long can Arugula be stored?
Raw arugula can last up to 5 days if stored in sealed bags. Once the bag is opened, it should be consumed within two days. Raw arugula can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
What is the difference between Arugula & Spinach?
Although spinach and arugula share many similarities, there are stark differences between the two. The leaves of spinach are oval-shaped and wide, while those of arugula are long with obvious ridges.
Arugula also has a strong peppery taste, as we mentioned earlier. However, spinach is milder and more vegetal. You’ll also notice that spinach is thicker than arugula so it can withstand high heat. Arugula is best when used in its raw form, and then added to the dish at the end.
Wrapping up
What does Arugula taste like?
I am sure this post has given a satisfactory answer to your question, what does arugula taste like? I hope you have enjoyed reading it. It is now clear what it is, how to use it, and how it tastes. You can experiment with it in different salads or other dishes. And if want to enjoy this peppery vegetable at its best, make sure you get the freshest arugula for yourself.
