Arugula Microgreens

Eruca vesicaria

About

Arugula has been a staple of Mediterranean kitchens for centuries, prized for a peppery bite that mellows into something entirely its own once tossed with good olive oil and lemon. Arugula microgreens carry that same restless, peppery character into a leaf small enough to eat by the handful, letting a Mediterranean classic show up somewhere new.

Flavor Profile & Texture

The flavor is peppery and mustard like, with a faint nuttiness underneath, sharper and more concentrated than mature arugula but without the bitterness the full grown leaf sometimes develops. Texturally, the leaves are tender and delicate with a light, pleasant crunch, edged in the same soft serrations found on the mature leaf, just in miniature.

Nutritional Information

Nutrient Amount (Per 100g, Raw)

Calories ~25 kcal

Protein ~2.6 g

Vitamin K Excellent source

Vitamin C Good source

Folate Good source

Glucosinolates Present

Approximate values, based on general USDA and published nutrient data for this or closely related species. Provided for general educational purposes only, not medical advice.

Keeping It Fresh

Store unwashed in a vented container in the refrigerator, and use within 4 to 6 days, since this is one of the more delicate microgreens on the list. Add it at the very last moment for the sharpest flavor and best texture.

Culinary Uses

● Scattered over a pizza straight out of the oven

● Layered onto sandwiches for a peppery lift

● Tossed into a salad with lemon and shaved parmesan

● Used as a bed under grilled meats or fish

● Blended into a peppery, arugula forward pesto

Complementary Meals

Breakfast: Fold arugula microgreens into a soft scramble with parmesan, or scatter them over a breakfast flatbread. Their pepper cuts through richer breakfast dishes without much effort at all.

Lunch: This is a classic lunchtime pairing: piled onto a sandwich, or tossed into a simple salad with lemon, olive oil, and shaved parmesan, where its sharp bite plays well against something creamy or salty.

Dinner: Pile it fresh onto a finished pizza straight from the oven, or serve it alongside a grilled steak, where the residual heat wilts the leaves just slightly and releases even more of their peppery character.

Drink Pairings

Wine: A bright Sauvignon Blanc matches arugula's peppery snap well. Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery in Dahlonega, GA, produces whites suited to this pairing.

Beer: A hoppy pale ale complements the green's bitterness and pepper. Wild Heaven Beer, based in Avondale Estates, GA, offers hop forward options for this pairing.

Spirits: A classic gin and tonic, bright with citrus, echoes arugula's own brightness. ASW Distillery's Winterville Gin, made in Atlanta, GA, is a fitting choice.

Non-Alcoholic: A citrus kombucha complements the peppery bite nicely. Golda Kombucha in Atlanta, GA, has citrus varieties suited to this pairing.