Rocket (arugula) is available everywhere these days.
It’s health giving properties are encouraging!
My supplier in Castres market on a Saturday morning is a generous soul.
I buy a hundred or two hundred grams (1.5 euros a 100gms) depending on our plans and every time she pops an extra fistful of green spears in the bag.
I protest–to no avail.
This policy often leaves late arrivals disappointed.
It’s the best looking and tasting rocket in the world–of course!
Well it is and makes a good base for this simple salad from Lombardy–spotted in Paola Gavin’s book Italian Vegetarian Cooking.
for 2/3
a couple of handfuls of rocket leaves
2 largish tomatoes (this green one is a green zebra)–not too thickly sliced
half a red onion–sliced as thin as you can manage
a few juicy black olives–de-stoned
a small goat’s cheese–in smallish pieces
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper
The assembly job
- Spread the rocket over the base of your favorite salad bowl.
- Add the onion.
- And the tomatoes, olives and cheese.
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together and pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss just before eating.
- Lunch today–accompanied by a couple of fresh figs each, from the tree in the courtyard, stuffed with goat’s cheese and wrapped in a sliver of prosciutto and baked–(recipe to follow!).
Robin Ellis 
Beautiful!
I’m wondering why you aren’t growing your own rocket?
Good question! We don’t have the space! If we tried hard we could find some though. it’s something we’ve done in the past and we should try again.
I have no space but I do have space for rocket as it grows and reseeds itself (in an old water deposito that I use as a veg container). Is your Paola Gavin book the same as my Italian Vegetarian Cookery (well old and falling apart) or a later version? Either way she’s a great cook.
(oh, and I used to enjoy Poldark but you are probably sick of comments like that :D)
Gosh, Robin…. LOVE the plates, too!!! HUgs, Jill
For my fellow Americans: rocket = arugula. (Trader Joe’s has it for $1.99 a bag.)
Interesting to read about the health benefits of rocket as I love it. I have grown it for several years now and it is so easy to do. I have no space in my small garden so I grow it in a trough in the conservatory and have fresh pickings over a very long growing period with regular sowings.
Dear Robin,
Life can be very complicated in an election season and lately I have been on that bumpy road actively supporting my candidate and in a very real sense for sometime now, I have felt completely caught up in the world.
The other day I took a moment to read this blog regarding this beautiful salad.
As it’s rich colors all brought together painted for me a masterpiece of beauty and grace, something inside me began to stir.
I felt myself coming back to what’s simple, good and nourishing, things I haven’t had time to even think about in several weeks.
This morning with my day all mapped out for me again, I came back for a second look and once again enjoyed the simple beauty of it.
I put in a call to some family and friends with which I will share this elegant salad of yours with as we gather around the dinner table this weekend.
Thank you Robin for the salad and the reminder that life should be lived…not pushed through.
God Bless you,
Paula Kate.
Simplicity!, and Simply stunning!, That second last photo looks so good, i could eat it Robin!
Rocket is so tasty! Thanks for sharing. regards Maurice
I do enjoy your blog and your recipes. For the past 30 years I have divided my time between London and the Philippines where I spend most of the time harvesting and agri-managing coconuts, bananas and other tropical fruit in Laguna Province. I have an abundant source of fresh fruit, fish and vegetables at my disposal. Unfortunately when I return to London (as I must occasionally) I fall by the wayside, and invariably eat badly. I suppose I’m lazy and can’t be bothered to source decent food. However, since discovering your blog a few weeks ago you have inspired me, and I now look forward to your ideas with simple yet quality fare. Indeed, it is the humble nature of the dishes which give them their character. The problem of course is finding such stuff in Brentford. Anyway, I’ve been a bit of a lurker here, but I’ve come out and exposed myself now.
All the best
Paul
Thank you Paul and welcome. Lurk on!
Further to Paul’s comment above, I agree that since I have started following your blog it is a useful regular ‘nudge’ to try and eat more healthily. I try to do so anyway but I enjoy your new ideas on how to serve the veg. I grow. Your recipes always make healthy eating look so appetising. Thank you.
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