Carmela Soprano's Arugula and Parmesan Salad / Arugula Information

This is another easy salad recipe from Jennifer's chapter

Rage, Guilt, Loneliness, and Food in Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook.

This recipe reminds me of an old Fred Astaire song:

"You say tom-AY-toe, I say tom-AH-toe."

Arugula goes by a few different names:

salad rocket, roquette, rucola, rugula, colewort.

That's just in the supermarket.

Let's not get into the scientific names.

No, it's not in the witness protection program.

Arugula is a nice enough veggie.

It just isn't as famous as romaine lettuce.

Arugula recently got involved United States politics…

In 2008, when Barack Obama mentioned arugula during a speech to some Iowa farmers, he was criticized as a "cultural elitist". The Economist branded Obama's supporters as "wine drinkers" and Hillary Clinton's as "beer drinkers".

Obama's political opponents claimed that arugula was unknown in Iowa, but the fact check website Media Matters For America listed farms and markets in the state where it could be found.

Arugula looks like a longer-leaved and open lettuce and is eaten raw, in salads or as a garnish, as well as cooked. It is rich in vitamin C and potassium. The flowers (often used as an edible garnish), young seed pods, and mature seeds are all edible.

Arugula has a rich, peppery taste and an exceptionally pungent flavor.

So, you might want to taste first before adding the pepper.

And you can have wine or beer with your salad.

                        Arugula and Parmesan Salad

Serves 2

Cut off the stems of

1 bunch arugula, that has been washed and dried

Tear the leaves into bite-sized pieces.

In a large bowl whisk together

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Add the prepared arugula and toss well.

Pile the salad onto 2 plates.

With a vegetable peeler, shave over the salads

a small piece of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Serve immediately.

Would I make Arugula and Parmesan Salad again?

Sure.

Just don't ask me what I drink with this salad.

One recipe down.  Fifty-eight more to go.