How to Prepare and Cook Rocket
Rocket has several names. For example, you may come across arugula, but what is it exactly? You might also see rocket being sold as 'roquette'. There again, some places call rocket by the term 'rucola'. The important thing to note is that these all refer to the same type of brassica. In short, they’re simply different names for rocket, so you can use any that your chosen recipe calls for.
To prepare rocket:
Step 1: Pick your rocket by pinching it off just above soil level to obtain whole leaves. If your rocket has been supplied from a supermarket, then it will usually be in a bag containing preservative gas. Don’t break the seal until you’re ready to cook.
Step 2: Rinse your rocket leaves to clean them and remove any microbes that may be present on them. There is no need to scrub rocket clean like a carrot since merely exposing it to water for a minute or so will be enough to clean it.
Step 3: Allow your rocket to dry by laying it out flat. To speed this process up, you can pat it with a paper towel.
Step 4: Tear your rocket leaves up to add them to a salad, or you can use them as a garnish since doing so will start to release the brassica’s pungent aroma, adding to the flavour sensation. For a less strong taste, add the leaves whole and serve.
Step 5: If you’re adding rocket leaves to a sauce rather than using them as a salad garnish, then chop the leaves very finely —or better still— blitz them in a food processor.
There are many tasty recipes that use rocket to add a distinctly zingy flavour. A good one that uses the food blender method is linguine with homemade rocket pesto, a quick and easy vegetarian rocket recipe that the whole family will enjoy. Alternatively, take a look at tomato and prawn risotto if you want to learn how to prepare a tasty rocket salad that you can use to accompany many meals.
