Arugula (arugula)

Arugula is a herb that can be attributed to a salad plant. Belongs to the cruciferous family. This is an annual plant. Its other names are: Italian sorrel, caterpillar, rocket (France, England), eruka, indau, arugula.

Various spellings occur, including "arugula" and "arugula".

Arugula names in other languages:

• Senfrauke, Italienische Rauke, Persischer Senf, Ruke - in German;
• rocket, rocket salad, arugula - in English
• rokuette in French.

In height, arugula can reach 50-60 cm. Arugula leaves are pinnate, covered with fine fluff, shaped like radish leaves. Very meaty and juicy. During the flowering period, the plant throws out a small brush with white (sometimes with a yellowish tint) flowers. Flower petals are colored with dark purple veins.

Arugula fruits ripen in pods. There are about 30 of them there. Seeds will be suitable for sowing within 4 years.

Arugula can be found in Africa (northern part). It grows in the center and south of Europe. Asia Minor and Central Asia, as well as India, are the regions of its growth. As for Russia, the European part, the Caucasus and Dagestan are the area of ​​its distribution.

Arugula is one of the favorite plants of Italians, so in Italy it is grown in very large quantities.

Despite the fact that the favorable climate for arugula is the Mediterranean, it has also adapted to the more severe climate of the northern regions of Europe and America.

Used fresh.

Arugula grows quite quickly, loves moisture and is resistant to frost. At a temperature of -6 ° C, the plant will not die.

The taste of the leaves is bitter. Reminds me of a mixture of mustard and nuts. The aroma is spicy, spicy. Moreover, young leaves exude a weaker aroma than old ones.

Flowers can also be used for food. Their taste is bitter and spicy.

100 grams of leaves contain the following components:

• Water - 91.7 g
• Proteins - 2.6 g
• Carbohydrates - 2 g
• Fiber - 1.6 g
• Ash - 1.4 g

Calorie arugula - 25 kcal per 100 grams.

You can find out more information about arugula from an excerpt from the program "Live great!"

Arugula is very rich in vitamins. 100 grams of greens contains:

• A - 1.4 mg
• B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B9) - 16.34 mg
• Niacin - 0.305 mg
• C - 15 mg
• E - 0.43 mg
• K - 108.6 mg

Macro and micronutrients: K - 369 mg, Ca - 160 mg, Mg - 47 mg, Na - 27 mg, P - 52 mg, Fe - 1.46 mg, Mn - 0.321 mg, Cu - 0.076 mg, Se - 0.0003 mg, Zn - 0.47 mg.

The plant contains a whole complex of vitamins and microelements that improve the functioning of our body. In this regard, arugula has the following beneficial properties:

• Strengthening the immune system.
• Stimulation of the stomach.
• Improving metabolism.
• It has a strengthening effect on blood vessels and increases the content of iron in the blood (hemoglobin)
• Reduces salt deposits in our body.
• Lowers cholesterol.
• Has an antibacterial effect.
• Increases stress resistance.
• Due to its low calorie content, it is very useful for people who are on a weight loss diet.
• Improves appetite.
• Useful for people with diabetes.

• May cause allergies in those whose body does not tolerate turnip and radish roots.
• Abuse of arugula can negatively affect the functioning of the stomach.
• The use of arugula in pregnant women causes a variety of reactions that do not always have a beneficial effect on the state of the female body and the fetus.
• If arugula was collected in places with poor ecology, then it should not be eaten.

• Individual intolerance to plant components.
• Gastritis of the stomach with high acidity.
• With caution during pregnancy and lactation. The use of arugula for pregnant women is useful, but within reasonable limits.
• Urolithiasis disease.

Arugula oil is a very useful product. It is obtained by cold pressing the seeds of the plant. It is very useful for people with a breakdown, anemia, as it contains a lot of iron in its composition.

Arugula oil has a positive effect on the body of a pregnant woman, increasing milk production.

In addition, arugula oil cleanses the body of cholesterol, is a necessary product for people who suffer from atherosclerosis.

Arugula oil can be used as a massage oil.

Another area of ​​its application is cosmetology.

One teaspoon of oil can be added to cooked green salads to add spice and flavor to the dish.

If you decide to improve your health with the help of arugula oil, do not forget about the correctness and moderation of its consumption. And, of course, a preliminary consultation with a doctor.

Arugula juice can treat wounds and ulcers. Due to the antiseptic properties of the plant, the healing process will go much faster. Lotions from juice resolve bruises and hematomas.

• Additive to salads.
• It is used as a side dish with fish and meat dishes. Note that arugula muffles the fishy smell from the corresponding dishes.
• It is a component of various sauces.
• Used in the preparation of sandwiches and snacks.
• French chefs certainly add arugula to mexlen. This is a traditional mixture of various herbs that is served with meat.
• Arugula and cheese are a very good combination. Can be used in canapes.
• Arugula can be added to the marinade when canning and pickling vegetables.

Some useful tips when you prepare any dish with arugula.

• First, after you have washed the leaves, they must be dried.
• Secondly, you don’t need to cut the arugula, just tear it into the right pieces.
• Thirdly, the perfect combination is arugula and olive oil.

And most importantly: a dish that contains arugula should be eaten as soon as you have prepared it. All the beneficial properties of arugula are killed by stewing and frying. The flavor will also be lost. Heat treatment will "distaste" arugula.

The recipe for a healthy and light salad with arugula and shrimp from the chef, see the next video.

Try to cook a spicy spicy dressing, which is just right for the taste of salads. You will need a bunch of arugula, olive oil (8 tablespoons), sea salt (1 teaspoon), a pinch of ground black pepper and garlic (1-2 teeth). All components are mixed in a blender. The gas station is ready.

If you want to surprise your guests, then cook stuffed tomatoes. Suitable for medium sized tomatoes. We will fill them with this mix: cucumber, 250 g of cottage cheese, 200 g of crushed pistachio and walnuts, 200 g of salted herring and pink salmon (they need to be finely chopped), finely chopped greens (to taste), 10 cherry tomatoes, salt and pepper to your liking, olive oil. From the tomatoes that will start, the top is cut off and the pulp with seeds is removed with a teaspoon. Beat cottage cheese into a creamy mass. Add the listed components and tomato juice to it (tear the arugula into pieces). Stuff the tomatoes with the resulting filling, and the cherry tomatoes will serve as a decoration.

Folk medicine finds widespread use of the medicinal properties of arugula for the treatment of many diseases.

• Since arugula is a strong natural antibiotic, it is used as an expectorant for colds.
• The diuretic properties of arugula help in the treatment of cystitis. A decoction of fresh, finely chopped or dry leaves is used. It will take 2 tbsp. spoons of raw materials and half a liter of boiling water. The decoction is infused for about 5 hours. It is drunk 100 ml before eating.
• Arugula heals wounds. Its systematic use can even cure stomach ulcers.
• It is used as a means of improving the potency of the stronger sex.
• Arugula is an aphrodisiac.
• Arugula has tonic properties.

In 0.5 l. boiling water add 2 tbsp. l. finely chopped arugula. Insist 5 hours. Drink 100 ml every day. infusion 20 minutes before meals.

You can learn more about the healing and beneficial properties of arugula from the program "About the most important thing."

Nutritionists recommend using arugula for overweight people. This is an indispensable assistant to our body during fasting days. Indeed, having a fairly low calorie content, arugula simultaneously has a huge range of useful nutrients and vitamins. The fiber contained in it creates the feeling that a person is full. Therefore, arugula is a frequent component of many diets.

1-2 teaspoons of oil inside are very helpful in losing weight. The body receives nutrients, but this will not affect the increase in mass.

The beneficial properties of arugula are used by cosmetologists to maintain beauty and health.

• An excellent moisturizer for facial skin is arugula juice.
• Arugula will relieve peeling of the skin of the face, relieve irritation and redness.
• You can destroy freckles by preparing the following elixir. Grind 200 grams of fresh arugula leaves, pour in 500 ml of olive oil. Insist 2 weeks. Then strain and wipe the problem areas of the skin.
• Arugula has an excellent rejuvenating effect. Mediterranean beauties, in order to preserve their youth and beauty, prepared a mask from the following crushed ingredients: 100 g of arugula and 200 g of olives. The mask is applied to the face and washed off with cool water after 20 minutes.
• Arugula oil helps to cope with the problem of hair loss. For this, a tablespoon of oil is rubbed into the roots. The procedure is done at night. The head should be wrapped up. Wash off the composition in the morning with warm water. The mask is used 2-3 times a week for a month. With excessive dryness of the hair, the oil is rubbed for half an hour, then washed off.

Pour a bunch of arugula with warm milk and beat with a blender until a mushy state.Add a teaspoon of honey, mix everything and apply on the skin for 10 minutes. Rinse with milk half diluted with water. Wash your face with spring water after 7 minutes.

Arugula has long been considered a weed. Now it is grown as a cultivated plant. Moreover, breeders breed different varieties of it. They are given very beautiful and poetic names, for example, Sardinia, Corsica. There is a variety called the Little Mermaid, Gourmet. And the most common is Poker. And the most fragrant variety is Solitaire.

Wild-growing representatives made it possible to develop the Taganskaya Semko, Roket and Euphoria varieties.

Growing arugula will not be difficult and skillful. The plant is quite unpretentious. And this allows you to grow it even on the windowsill.

1. Needs slightly acidic fertile soil. Arugula does not need an abundance of light, so it can be placed on north-facing windows.
2. But what she does not like is the heat and lack of moisture. The abundance of the sun makes the leaves of arugula rough, it "goes into the arrow." The lack of moisture negatively affects the taste. Arugula already has a bitter taste, and with weak watering it becomes bitter.
3. The ambient temperature must be between +16° and +18°.
4. Seedlings of the plant appear on the third day after planting. When it comes time for picking, pay attention to the fact that there should be a distance of 15 cm between plants, row spacing - 10 cm. Planting depth of seedlings - 1.5 cm.
5. As soon as you start to cut off the first leaves, this will serve as an incentive for the intensive development of the plant.

• The Arabs, before secluded with his wife on the marriage bed, ate arugula, considering it an excellent tool that positively affects potency. Apparently, for the same reason, in the Middle Ages, the plant was strictly forbidden to be cultivated at monasteries.
• The metal causes the arugula to oxidize. Therefore, arugula is never cut with a knife.