Arugula, also known as garden rocket, rocket, rocket salad, rugola, or roquette, is a type of leaf vegetable, and although often mistaken for a sort of lettuce, is in fact an herb, being a member of the mustard family.
Scientifically, arugula consists of three species: Eruca sativa, Diplotaxis tenuifolia and Diplotaxis muralis. It has been grown as a vegetable in the Mediterranean area since the Roman times; it was considered to be an aphrodisiac. Still, it was not cultivated on a large scale and not scientifically researched until the 1990s. It was usually collected in the wild. Nowadays, it is cultivated in various places, especially in Veneto, and available throughout the world.
Rocket is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Garden Carpet.
Rocket is especially used in salads, but also cooked as a vegetable with pasta or dry meat. In Italy, its use for pizzas is also common; in this case it is added only after baking. It is sometimes used as an ingredient in pesto, either in addition to basil or as a (non-traditional) substitute. It is rich in vitamin C and iron.
^ The term arugula (from Italian dialect) is found chiefly in the U.S.; both words arugula and rocket ultimately come from Latin eruca.
Wikibooks Cookbook has more about this subject:
Arugula
Rocket: a Mediterranean crop for the world (PDF document)
Check out the following recipes that are tagged "Arugula":
Tuna Club And Peppers, Arugula, Potato & Leek Soup, Seared Arugula Salad, Gazpacho Verde, Leek, Potato & Kielbasa Soup, Lemon And Herb Crusted Swordfish, Grilled Cervena Striploin On Mixed Root Veget, Ginger Salmon Steaks, Potato Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette, Parmesan-Crusted Soft-Shell Crab Sandwiches, Smoked Salmon and Corn Crepe Rolls, Feta Stuffed Eggplant Rolls With Salsa Verde, Prosciutto And Fig Handrolls, Sauteed Radish& Arugula, Charlie's Wrap Sandwich, Hot Smoked Striped Bass With Mustard Vinaigrette, Grilled Portabella Chevre And Arugula Sandwiches, Grilled Tempeh With Red Onion & Eggplant, Grilled Tempeh with Red Onion& Eggplant, Grilled Tempeh W/red Onion & Eggplant, Roasted Langoustines With Bell Peppers,, Ahi Carpaccio, Radicchio & Greens With Hot Dressing, Broiled Sandwich, Tuna Club And Peppers, Grilled Vegetable Sandwiches, Melon Relish, Roasted Vegetable Pan Bagna, Grilled Lemon-Oregano Swordfish Sandwiches w CucumberYogurt, Grilled Polenta With Apples, Fennel, And Gorg, Blt In Bibb Lettuce Cups, Amaranth, Fig And Arugula Salad W/Sesame Dres, Arugula Salad with Orange Couscous & Citrus, Arugula And Nectarine Salad, Arugula and Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese Salad, Arugula Salad, Arugula Salad Orange Couscous and Citrus Vinaigrette, Arugula& Nectarine Salad, Arugula& Tomato Salad, Arugula, Red Onion And Shaved Parmesan Salad, Carpaccio and Artichoke Salad, Chicken, Wild Rice And Pecan Salad In Romaine Spears, Composed California Corn Salad, Bacon, Lettuce and Salsa Sandwich, Dijon Shredded Carrot Salad, Exhibition Salad With Meringue Baked Pecans, Grated Carrot & Date Salad With Gorgonzola, Italian Parsley And Arugula Salad, Market Salad With Parmesan Brittle- Buon'appetito, Nicoise Orzo Salad
