The yellow chicory from the supermarket grows in a dark production hall. Its leaves are therefore milder than the green specimens that appear outside in the light. But a slight bitterness is still there. Can it also be eaten raw?
Can I eat chicory raw?
Yes, you can safely eat fresh chicoryrawif you like its taste. Remove the yellow leaves from the stem, which is the most bitter. You can then nibble them on their own, dip them in sauces or prepare them with other ingredients as a salad.
What does raw chicory taste like?
Raw chicory iscrunchyand tastesrefreshing, but has a distinctnoticeable bitter note, which comes from the bitter substance lactucopicrin. The outer leaves contain more of it, which is why they are more bitter than the inner leaves. Red chicory, a cross between yellow chicory and red radicchio, is much milder. This makes it even better as a raw food, also because it retains its beautiful red color when raw, which would fade when steamed, baked, etc. If you grow chicory yourself: the blue flowers are also edible raw and suitable as a food decoration.
How he althy is raw chicory?
Raw chicory isvery he althy, he althier than heated chicory, as heat is known to destroy some of the ingredients. In addition to only 16 kcal per 100 grams, chicory also contains:
- Vitamins A, B and C
- Potassium and Zinc
- Fiber Inulin
- Bitter substances (are also he althy!)
Chicory that you want to eat raw should be perfect and fresh and also thoroughly washed.
Is frozen chicory edible raw after thawing?
You can freeze chicory to keep it for up to a year. But after thawing, it no longer has the crunchy consistency of fresh leaves. It stays rawedible, but doesn't really taste good.
How do I know if chicory is still good?
Take a closer look at the yellow bud. If it isfirm and crispand closed at thetip, that speaks for freshness. The leaves should not be damaged, wilted, or have brown spots. Smell it! An unpleasant smell can also indicate that the chicory is bad.
Which salad ingredients does raw chicory go well with?
The selection of salad ingredients is a question of your own taste. Chicory is particularly popularcombined with fruit because its sweetness takes away some of the bitterness. Try it with bananas, pears, tangerines or grapes.
Tip
Store fresh chicory in a cool, dark and moist place
Chicory that you cannot use immediately should be wrapped in a damp cloth and stored in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. It stays fresh for several days.
