Arugula

Taste: this pleasantly pungent and peppery green is also known as rocket, roquette, rugula, and rucola. It is a staple of Italian fare and often found in mesclun (young tender greens) salad mixes, where it behaves like a cross between lettuce and herb.

Smart Substitutions: Watercress, endive, or young mustard greens.

Recipe Idea: Arugula is great on its own as a salad base, atop sandwiches or pizza, or mixed in with pasta. The peppery taste can jazz up virtually any bland lunch or dinner. Take this peppery shrimp pasta for instance; the arugula adds a herby pepper taste to this dish.

View Recipe: Peppery Pasta with Arugula and Shrimp