arshba.ru

Order: Brassicales;
Family: Brassicaceae;
Genus: Eruca;
Species: Arugula (Eruca vesicaria).
Subspecies and synonyms: Arugula, Rocket, Garden rocket (Eruca vesicaria, Eruca sativa).

GBIF: Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa (Mill.) Thell.

Arugula (lat. Eruca vesicaria) is an annual herbaceous plant from the family Brassicaceae, order Brassicales. It grows wild in North Africa, Southern and Central Europe; in Asia — from Asia Minor to Central Asia and India. In Russia, it grows in the European part and in the foothills of the Caucasus (Dagestan). Today, it is cultivated in many places (especially extensively in the Veneto region of Italy). Arugula has established itself in regions with fairly harsh climates (Northern Europe, North America). It grows on dry, loosened soil. Arugula leaves are fed upon by the larvae of some Lepidoptera.

It has been cultivated in the Mediterranean since the time of the Roman Empire, where it was considered an aphrodisiac. It was recommended as a painkiller (for example, those who had been punished with a whip were advised to drink wine with arugula leaves). A mixture of arugula was used to remove freckles. Until the 1900s, wild arugula was mainly collected; it was not cultivated on a mass scale. It has a rich, pungent flavor.

In cooking, arugula is mainly used fresh (in salads), as well as a vegetable addition to meat dishes, pasta, pizza (added shortly before the end of cooking or immediately after), and sauces (pesto — with basil or as a substitute). In coastal Slovenia (especially in Koper), it is added to cheese burek. In the Caucasus, young shoots and leaves are eaten fresh; the seeds are used to make mustard. Arugula pairs well with tomatoes, cheese (Parmesan, feta, mozzarella, ricotta, pecorino, goat cheese), olives, pine nuts, walnuts, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, pepper, basil, mint, honey, berries, fruits, seafood, chicken, prosciutto, bacon, and poached eggs.

Arugula is rich in vitamins (C, A, K, E, B vitamins), folic acid, carotenoids (β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin), flavonoids, glucosinolates, fiber, and minerals (calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium). In folk medicine, arugula is used as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, diuretic, choleretic, laxative, lactogenic, tonic, and general tonic remedy for gastritis, colitis, flatulence, constipation, vitamin deficiency, anemia, diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, hypertension, skin diseases, and for strengthening the immune system.