Choice and storage
In its pure habitat, radicchio is a cool-season vegetable. Though grown in some components of the USA, a majority of it’s nonetheless imported from the Mediterranean, particularly from Italy. A few of its varieties are grown domestically and marketed year-round in California state.
Should you develop one within the dwelling backyard, guarantee its edible head is blanched adequately earlier than harvesting (as in endives). In some components, compelled second-growth (heads) are harvested whereas discarding its inexperienced, bitter, first heads. To reap, reduce its compact spherical head off the basis and trim away all its outer copper-green leaves, simply as in cabbages.
Within the markets choose recent, compact, vivid wine-red heads with distinguished midribs. Carefully search for cracks, spots, or mechanical bruising on the leaves. Treviso and Chioggia ought to have tight, compact leaves, whereas Verona sort options open, free leaves.
At dwelling, retailer in a fridge set at a temperature beneath 8 °C with a relative humidity of round 90% for as much as 2-3 weeks.
Preparation and serving strategies
Radicchio is used primarily as a leafy salad vegetable. Uncooked leaves have been sharp, pungent in taste. Publicity to extra vivid daylight makes its leaves bitter, which is considerably mellowed as soon as cooked.
To arrange, trim its outer leaves as you do it in cabbage. Wash the pinnacle in cool operating water. Reduce it into quarters, wedges, and use in cooking.
Listed below are some serving ideas:
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Radicchio is a favourite winter-season salad vegetable in Southern Europe. Uncooked leaves are eaten in Italy in salads. Within the USA, nevertheless, flippantly stewed leaves are most well-liked.
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Its chunks are grilled gently with added olive oil, artichoke hearts, and beans in a scrumptious radicchio salad.
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Radicchio risotto and pasta are widespread winter recipes within the Northern Italian area.
Security profile
Though it belongs to the chicory household greens, radicchio has no caffeine content material in its leaves, and due to this fact, might be secure for consumption. (Medical disclaimer).
≺≺Again to Greens from Radicchio. Go to right here for a formidable record of greens with full illustrations of their vitamin info and well being advantages.
≺≺Again to Dwelling web page.
Additional studying:
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Stanford College of Drugs Most cancers info Web page- Diet to Cut back Most cancers Danger (Hyperlink opens in new window).
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Cichoryum intybus- Crimson Chicory (Cichorium intybus L. cultivar) as a Potential Supply of Antioxidant Anthocyanins for Intestinal Well being.
