Griddled pear, rocket and prosciutto salad

When is rocket in season?

Rocket is incredibly easy to grow and is available all year round.

Why we love rocket

Rocket's vibrant, peppery flavour makes it stand out in green salads. The strong flavour makes it a good match for mild, creamy cheeses and dairy. It's most often eaten just as it is, in salads, scattered over pizza or blitzed into dips and pesto, but it can also be cooked by wilting through pasta dishes or adding to soups.

Health benefits of rocket

Rocket counts as one of your five-a-day. It is a good source of vitamin C and is also high in folate.

Easy rocket recipes

Crusted feta with rocket and watermelon salad

Fried, breadcrumbed feta with a juicy watermelon and rocket salad, finished with a chilli-honey dressing – this is summer on a plate. Get inspired with more feta recipes.

Baked feta surrounded by watermelon slices on a large platter

Griddled pear, rocket and prosciutto salad

Sweet seared pear, crunchy toasted hazelnuts, salty prosciutto and spicy rocket all go into making this simple but sophisticated gluten-free starter. Ready in just 20 minutes, it's ideal for entertaining. Check out more salad recipes to try.

Wagyu beef bolognese and pappardelle with rocket pesto

Upgrade your standard bolognese with this extra-special wagyu beef version topped with a simple but punchy rocket pesto. This dish is great for entertaining – trust us, it's worth the effort.

You could also use your rocket pesto in this impressive pesto and three-cheese lasagne recipe.

Wagyu beef bolognese and pappardelle with rocket pesto

Steak tagliata with black olive and parmesan dressing

Pile charred steak slices onto piquant sherry vinegar dressed olives, shallots and parmesan. It's an easy dinner party dish that you can double or half.

Steak tagliata recipe on a bed of rocket in a large serving dish

Grilled portobellos with ricotta, pesto and rocket

This recipe for grilled portobellos with ricotta, pesto and rocket ticks all the boxes: it's ready in 20 minutes, vegetarian and under 300 calories. Plus, it's packed with flavour thanks to the pesto, and the creamy ricotta makes it feel indulgent. Browse more low-calorie lunch recipes for more inspiration.

Pickled cherry, gorgonzola and rocket salad

Pickling cherries is a great way to savour this summer fruit right through to autumn. This salad makes the most of that tangy, pickled flavour and even uses the pickling liquid in its dressing.

A white oval platter on pink mottled stone, topped with rocket leaves and cherries

Merguez tartines with red roasted pepper and rocket

These open faced sandwiches are piled high with spicy merguez sausages, light and peppery rocket and sweet roasted red peppers. The herby yogurt adds a lovely creamy texture and a vibrant taste to the tartine. Perfect for a quick and easy weekend brunch that's a little bit special.

Got more merguez sausages to use up? Try our merguez with cannellini beans and spinach recipe next.

Merguez Sausage Tartines with Roasted Pepper and Rocket

Rocket with baked ricotta and lemon dressing

This simple salad of rocket with baked ricotta and lemon dressing is a delicious combination of ingredients. It works well as a starter, lunch, or lighter supper.

Linguine with fresh rocket pesto

The perfect recipe for making the most of fresh rocket leaves for a quick and easy but sophisticated lunch. The pesto you make to use in this recipe also works really well spread on bruschetta or on grilled field mushrooms. Make it veggie by using a vegetarian version of pecorino or parmesan – check out our best vegetarian pasta recipes for more ideas.