Arugula is very salty, and doesn't look like arugula

I recently bought some arugula, partially to make salads with. I tasted some leaves though, and it's incredibly salty. It also doesn't look like any arugula I've ever had before:

I'm used to more "serrated spear"-shaped leaves. This looks more like spinach than anything. If I tear it up though, it releases the distinct, sharply-bitter smell that I associate with arugula.

I thought that the salt may be a result of a pesticide or something that was added to the leaves, but the packaging claims it's pesticide free, and also that it was grown via aquaponics. The salt taste also survives several rounds of washing.

Is there something wrong with the arugula, or is this a particular variety? If I search for "salty arugula", the results are almost exclusively recipes that involve adding salt, which isn't very helpful.

food-identification greens

Best Answer

Round-leaf arugula is apparently an actual variety that exists. However, it is not noted for having a particularly salty flavor.

Given the strong salty flavor, and the appearance, it's more likely that you got orach instead. A nutritious and tasty green, Orach is known for its high salt content, making it excellent in salads (just don't add more salt to it).

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Is arugula salty?

Another version of a Roman Arugula-herb sauce was poured over salted fish and served as an appetizer with olives, bread, or vegetables....BeverageYup, It's VeganLight Green Monster SmoothiesSalt and WindOil Packed-Tuna, Avocado, White Bean, and Arugula Salad46 more rows

What should arugula taste like?

Fresh arugula leaves have a distinctive spicy kick that will turn up the flavors in your salads, pastas, sandwiches, and sauces. The flavor can be bright, tart, peppery, and slightly bitter, depending on its maturity. You'll find that baby arugula is delicate and mild, while mature arugula is much spicier.

What does arugula look and taste like?

More On the Taste Like mentioned earlier, arugula is best described to have a "peppery" and slightly spicy taste. Basically, what black pepper smells like, arugula tastes like. When you get your hands on fresh arugula, you'll notice that the texture is thin, but the leaf will have the slightest crisp to it.

Why is my arugula so spicy?

Arugula's famous peppery taste comes down to chemical compounds within it. It contains a high amount of sulfur, which has compounds called glucosinolates.

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