Arugula flowers are the little buds that come out of arugula plants. They sometimes look like little apples and are green or white in color. While arugula is most commonly used as a leafy green vegetable, you may have wondered if you can eat the flowers of this plant.
You can eat arugula flowers, and they’re actually delicious! Arugula flowers have a mild flavor that pairs well with other salad ingredients. They also add an element of color to your plate, so they can be used as a garnish or decoration in addition to being consumed.
Benefits Of Eating Arugula Flowers
Arugula flowers have many benefits for you. The flowers have been used in traditional medicine for centuries as a digestive aid, blood purifier and even to treat depression and anxiety.
Here are five health benefits of eating arugula flowers:
1. Arugula is rich in antioxidants
2. It can help soothe digestion problems like bloating, indigestion, and constipation
3. It may improve mental health by boosting memory function and reducing stress levels
4. Arugula may help prevent certain types of cancer such as breast cancer or prostate cancer because it contains phytonutrients called glucosinolates which have anti-cancer properties.
What Does Arugula Flowers Taste Like?
While arugula flowers are bitter, they are also a good source of vitamins A, C, and K. They have a peppery taste that can be difficult for some people to get used to, but many describe it as similar to radishes or watercress without the bite.
That said, if you’re looking for something that tastes like arugula leaves (which is more common), you might want to look elsewhere. Arugula flowers are much more bitter than the leaves themselves and require cooking before eating them raw—which can make them even more bitter!
How To Prepare Arugula Flowers
If you want to eat the arugula flower, you’ll first need to prepare it. You can wash it in cold water and pat it dry with a paper towel or cloth. Then, blanch the arugula flowers in boiling water for about 30 seconds before draining them and cooling them down by running them under cold water.
The next step is up to you: slice the arugula flowers into thin strips (called “fans”), place one or two on top of your salad or add them as a garnish at the end of cooking time—that’s totally up to your personal preference!
How To Eat Arugula Flowers
You can eat arugula flower—but it isn’t the easiest thing to prepare. The best way to eat it is by mixing the leaves with other salad greens and using it in place of radicchio or endive. You can also use it as a garnish on top of your favorite dish, or just sprinkle its petals over a plate before serving up your meal.
Arugula flower has a peppery flavor that is similar to arugula’s more common green leaves but with an added sweetness and bitterness from its white petals. It has an almost tropical taste when compared to most other salad greens out there.
If you are able to find fresh arugula flowers at your local farmers market or grocery store, then pick them up for about five dollars per bunch—they’re worth every penny!
What Can You Use Arugula Flowers For?
Arugula is one of those herbs that’s great to grow in your garden, but its leaves are also good to eat. The flowers are another story.
Arugula flowers can be used in salads or as a garnish for other foods. Here are some things you can do with arugula flowers:
Use Them In Salads
The peppery flavor of arugula makes it a great addition to salads, especially when mixed with greens like lettuce or spinach. You can also add arugula flowers as a garnish if you’re making an appetizer salad or serving bread and cheese; they add color and flavor without being overpowering.
Dry Them To Make Tea
Dried arugula flowers make a tasty tea substitute when you’re feeling under the weather or just need something soothing after dinner. The herb contains rosmarinic acid, which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and may even help fight cancer cells, according to the National Library of Medicine. Just steep 12 grams (about 1/4 cup) of dried arugula flower.
Conclusion
As you can see, not only can you eat arugula leaves, but flowers as well. Due to the bitter taste, most people will use them as garnishes or for making tea.
Kate has been in the food business for over 20 years. Worked as a cook at several buffets which include Old Country Buffet, Five Star Buffet, and Ichiban Buffet. Now, I’m mostly at home cooking for my family, caring for chickens and ducks, and tending the garden.
