Upland Cress Delivery or Pickup

Upland cress has many names, including American cress, bank cress, land cress, dryland cress, cassabully, black wood cress, early yellowrocket, Bermuda cress, early wintercress, creasy greens, creasy salad, highland creasy, and scurvy cress. It's native to southern Europe, and people have been growing it in England since at least the 1600s. 

Upland cress is especially popular in the southern United States. It requires less water than its close relative, watercress, so it's easier to cultivate. In the 17th century, Portuguese sailors became shipwrecked on Belle Isle in Canada. They survived the winter thanks to upland cress, and some people still call it Belle Isle cress. This plant grows quickly, and it's ideal for a garden or even a windowsill. The seeds sprout in only two weeks. Upland cress attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs, but pests don't like it.

Upland cress is available from stores through Instacart all year, and you can find it fresh, frozen, or dried. It grows about 6 to 8 inches tall, but many people prefer younger upland cress that's only a few inches tall.

The leaves are small and light green or dark green, and the stems are beige to light green. There may be some small notches in the leaves, but you should avoid any upland cress with discolored spots or slippery stems. Upland cress is hardy, and it can withstand frost. The flowers are yellow, and upland cress is best before they start to bloom. Older upland cress can taste bitter.

Hydroponically grown upland cress has its roots still attached, and you can store it at room temperature with the roots submerged in water. It will last for about a week, and you can plant some of it in your garden. If the upland cress you choose through Instacart doesn't have the roots attached, you can store it with a paper towel in a plastic bag. Then place it in your refrigerator's vegetable crisper. It should stay fresh for three or four days. You can also put it in your freezer and use it later.

You can eat upland cress raw or cooked. Its flavor is pungent and peppery, and it's related to mustard. Upland cress is excellent in sandwiches and salads, and it also makes a nice garnish for soups and cooked meats, fish, or poultry. You can serve the cooked greens by themselves, like spinach, or you can mix them with other vegetables. When you roast beef or chicken, use upland cress as a bed to absorb the juices and add additional flavor.

Try upland cress with stir-fry, quiches, omelets, and pastas. It's also a great ingredient for pesto sauce. You can even add upland cress to a smoothie with pineapple, orange juice, bananas, mangos, or other fruits. For a chilled soup, puree upland cress with potatoes and cream. The younger leaves taste better raw, and cooking the older leaves can remove some of their bitterness.