Earlier this year, I received sample packs of a number of new vegetable varieties from Renee's Seeds. One that I was particularly eager to test was a new type of arugula that is supposed to taste like wasabi.
Wasabi is a spicy condiment that is popular in Japanese cuisine. It's what gives sushi it's hot kick and is similar in taste to horseradish. I love the "burn" that wasbi brings to food and was eager to see if this new arugula really tasted like wasabi or was merely a very hot tasting variety.
Rejoice wasabi lovers. This variety of arugula really does indeed taste like wasabi and yes, it is VERY spicy. In fact, it is hotter to my taste than Rocket (Roquette) arugula which was our standby variety for years. I ate a salad completely made of wasabi arugula and enjoyed it. However, I think most people people would find this overpowering, so try it as an addition to your salad first and decide whether you like it enough to go wasabi arugula purist.
One more thing....Wasabi arugula has a color that is a deeper green than many other varieties of arugula. A plus in my book.
If you like wasabi, trust me, you'll absolutely love wasabi arugula. This is now my favorite arugula behind another variety called Runway which is also a Renee's Seed selection.
You can find seeds for Wasabi Arugula at Renee's web site and at select garden centers around the country. If you decide to try this, remember that arugula likes cooler conditions, so plant in the late Summer for a Fall harvest.
