Herb
Wild Rocket
A tier
Wild rocket usually means perennial Diplotaxis tenuifolia—narrow, deeply cut leaves with a sharper, more persistent pepper than salad Eruca. Texture is firmer; flavour more adult and lingering. Excellent on pizza, with steak, and in robust salads. Heat wilts but does not erase the bite as quickly as cultivated rocket. Often mixed with milder leaves in bags.
Track this ingredient
Unit
Characteristics
Preparations
PizzaRobust MixSaladSteak
Traits
FirmLingering HeatNarrow LeafPerennial TypePremium SaladSharpSharp Pepper
History
IT
Wild rocket-type greens were foraged across Mediterranean landscapes.
IT
Italian cooks distinguished wild rucola from garden types.
Bagged salad industry cultivated wild rocket as a premium peppery leaf.
Chefs specified wild rocket when they wanted stronger mustard heat.