Beyond its ruby-red color and bitter flavor, radicchio is a vegetable superfood with several health advantages. This chicory family member related to red cabbage has numerous nutritional advantages that might improve your diet.
Radicchio can be eaten raw in salads, sautéed or grilled as a side, or roasted to bring out its sweetness.
Adding Radicchio to Your Diet
There are many ways to add radicchio to your diet. These ideas may inspire you:
- Toss salads with thinly sliced radicchio for color and taste. Try it with milder greens, fruits, nuts, cheeses, and tart vinaigrette.
- Many dishes benefit from radicchio caramelization. Use butter, garlic, and balsamic vinegar for a simple but appealing side.
- Grilled Partners: For smokiness, grill radicchio pieces with vegetables, meats, or shellfish. Enjoy a BBQ with olive oil and your favorite seasonings.
- Risotto is rich and complex with radicchio. Dice and sauté it with onions before adding rice and broth for a distinct flavor.
- Radicchio makes gourmet pizza. Crumble pizza and add vegetables and cheese for a colorful, tasty pizza.
Eat, Store, and Replace Radicchio
Here’s how to consume radicchio after learning about its health benefits and culinary potential:
Selecting Radicchio:
- Radicchio should be solid and have dense leaves. Avoid withering or oily leaves that indicate deterioration.
- Radicchio comes in three main colors: Treviso (red with white veins), Chioggia (mottled red and white), and Castelfranco. Try their diverse flavors to choose your favorite.
- Size Matters: Choosing smaller salad heads. Larger heads grill or sauté well.
Storage Wisdom:
- Refrigerate: Place unwashed radicchio in a crisper drawer perforated plastic bag. Keep it for a week.
- Use only washed radicchio. Soak leaves in cold water for a few minutes to remove dirt and grit.
Alternatives:
If radicchio is unavailable, you can try:
- Red Cabbage: Shares a similar appearance and slightly bitter flavor. Use it in shredded or chopped form in salads or cooked dishes.
- Treviso Lettuce: Offers a milder bitterness compared to radicchio. It works well in salads or as a base for wraps.
- Belgian Endive: Similar in texture and has a slightly more bitter taste. Use it in salads or stir-fries.
Radicchio transforms from vegetable to superfood and snack. Its bright color, pleasant bitterness, and health benefits make it a dish star. Radicchio, the vegetable kingdom’s treasure, adds interest and health to meals.
