recipes

One of the secrets to good food is using seasonal ingredients.

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November 2009

rocket

For many, rocket or arugula, was introduced via one of those culinary crazes that happened in the 90’s, about the same time focaccia was doing the rounds. From relative obscurity, rocket was suddenly everywhere and was prized for its intense peppery flavour. A rocket and parmesan salad was often our first introduction and that combination, along with a good balsamic dressing, was a revelation for our taste buds and like most new things in New Zealand, we used rocket on or in everything, for better or worse!

These days, rocket has settled itself as a standard herb to most good cooks and gardeners. Although only a recent hit in our own backyard, rocket has been cultivated in the Mediterranean for thousands of years. A household staple to the Europeans, it’s easy to grow and simply delicious. Pizza in Italy is often finished with rocket, either just before removing from the oven or scattered fresh, on top before serving. In Northern Italy particularly, rocket is commonly added to hot meat and pasta dishes. Further a field, in Slovenia, it is added to Burek, a local cheese and in Egypt it is often eaten fresh for breakfast with stewed fava beans.

Obviously very low in fat and cholesterol, rocket is a great source of dietary fibre and contains many valuable vitamins and minerals including Vitamins A, C and K and calcium, iron and magnesium. Healthy eating at its best!

Growing your own rocket is easy and the rewards are great. Whether growing standard rocket, or adding wild varieties to your vegetable patch, always sow seed direct into rich, well watered soil for best results. Rocket thrives in a lightly shaded environment and requires regular watering and once germinated demands constant picking to maximize yield and help prevent flowering and seeding. The older and larger the rocket, the more bitter and intense the flavour is.

Make the most of summer with a fresh rocket salad, simple and still a classic. Give pizza an extra kick with the addition of rocket and for a definite dinner party showstopper, try handmade rocket and spinach rotollo with wild mushrooms and goats’ curd. This stuffed pasta dish is the perfect dish for spring or summer.