Radicchio is an exotic Italian salad ingredient related to chicory. The distinctive plant grows in a rich maroon color with white veins and has a peppery flavor that adds a textural bite to salads. Radicchio is sometimes grilled or roasted, making a pleasant counterpoint to other grilled vegetables. It is growing in popularity and can be found in most produce sections. Radicchio has been in cultivation in the Mediterranean for hundreds of years and is used in a variety of Mediterranean dishes.
Radicchio resembles lettuce most in appearance, although it is not in the lettuce family. It forms tight heads of leaves furled around a central core and grows low to the ground. Radicchio makes a startling splash of color in the garden, and its natural bitterness makes it less subject to depredation by garden pests.
Health Benefits of Radicchio
Radicchio has been used by humans for a very long time. In fact, this vegetable is said to possess several heath benefits, due to the high antioxidant levels in it. It was used as a blood purifier and liver tonic in some regions of the world. It is also said that ancient people used radicchio to treat insomnia. However, modern day radicchio was developed during the latter part of the nineteenth century. Being rich in nutrients and other beneficial compounds, radicchio is considered as a healthy leafy vegetable. If you like the flavor of this vegetable, you may consume it raw, otherwise, grill, roast or saute them, so as to mellow its slight bitterness.
