Chicory

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Chicory (Cyihorium intybus) is a little-known leafy vegetable in our country, which in the first year of planting forms a root with a leaf rosette, and in the second - a flowering stem with purple flowers. It is known as "scared vegetable" because it has a fragile structure composed of delicate and pale leaves.

It is these delicate leaves, grown from root crops, that are used as vegetables. In our country, chicory is also known by the names burdock, guach, wild radish, chewing gum, tough flower, butterbur, pig, etc. There are several types of chicory, but it is true that they all grow in the dark and do not need almost any sunlight.

For this reason, they have been treated in the past chicory as an "unclean plant" and was often used to perform black magic.

It grows in darkness, with almost no sunlight, so in the past it was considered a "dirty plant" and black magic was performed on it. Chicory comes from the Mediterranean coast and South Asia, and spread more widely in Europe in the 16th century.

However, the fragile structure of this leafy vegetable was used for food by the ancient Egyptian and Roman warriors, who took full advantage of its nutritional and healing properties.

An interesting fact is that chicory is used to make the popular Inca, which is a substitute for coffee. For this purpose, the roots are dried and toasted, which becomes a natural ingredient with a very pleasant taste and the specific aroma of chicory.

Known for thousands of years as a useful, tasty and healing food, chicory root ranks among the first among dietary vegetables and is a suitable plant food for diabetics. Chicory salad is popular for food during the winter and spring months and you can often see them as part of the menu of good restaurants.

Types of chicory

Several types of chicory are known, which have pronounced culinary and useful values.

Belgian chicory - It is quite popular, characterized by a small and elongated shape resembling a cigar. It has the characteristic slightly bitter but very pleasant taste. Heads with greenish edges are more bitter, and those with yellow are preferable;

Curly chicory - is quite crunchy, slightly bitter and with more curly leaves. There are outer green leaves, which are more bitter, and therefore more suitable and tastier for consumption are the inner, paler leaves;

Red chicory Radicchio (radicchio) - Italian red chicory - a very popular type of chicory with a characteristic reddish color. There are several varieties of Radicio - rounder and longer, but all are very popular because of their good taste. In appearance, radicchio resembles red cabbage, but its taste is slightly bitter. Interestingly, the vegetables are taken out of the ground and placed in water in a dark place, which slows down the production of chlorophyll and loses green pigmentation.

Growing chicory

Chicory can be easily grown at home - in a greenhouse or even in pots in the basement. For this purpose, root crops 15-20 cm long, 3-5 cm in diameter at the forehead and with a well-formed apical bud are needed. If the roots are longer, they should be pruned, because they should all be the same length. Dig well-moistened soil and arrange them upright, forehead up. They should be half or even more buried in the soil, at the same height and at an equal distance from each other.

Top with rotten manure or sand 25-30 cm thick. It is important to note that the denser the cover layer, the better the grown cobs. It is necessary to maintain a constant humidity and cover the top.

During the first week the temperature should be around 10 degrees, and later - to 15-18 degrees. Chicory cobs grow to the surface layer in 25-30 days. Then you need to carefully remove the top layer and cut the discolored cobs 1 cm from the root. About 200-250 cobs can be obtained from 1 sq. M.

Composition of chicory

The root crop chicory contains large amounts of inulin. This is what makes it an extremely dietary and suitable food for people suffering from diabetes. Chicory salad is also rich in inulin and a lot of fructose. In fact, chicory is rich in many more vitamins and minerals than traditional salads. Due to the high doses of nulin and intibin, chicory is popular as an appetite stimulant.

The composition of "scared vegetables" contains high doses of calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium and vitamins A1, B1, B2, C, E. Chicory leaves are very rich in addition to inulin, protein, sugars, minerals. In essence, inulin is a bitter substance with a beneficial effect on digestion. In 100 g chicory contains: 23 kcal, 1.7 g [protein], 0.2 g fat, 4 g carbohydrates and 0.9 g fiber (in Radikioto)

Selection and storage of chicory

Chicory is a delicate leafy vegetable, when choosing which you must be very careful. It is best to prefer small, light and compact chicory heads on the market. Carefully observe whether the tips of the leaves are light yellow, because they are much better than chicory, which has brown or green tips. To preserve the crunchy structure of chicory leaves, it is good to store chicory no more than 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Culinary application of chicory

As a food, chicory is valued for its crunchy texture with a delicate bitterness that is easily removed if the leaves stay in water with a little vinegar. From there you can prepare chicory in different ways - boil it, stew it, bake it, etc. In the fresh state, in the form of a salad, chicory guarantees a full range of flavors and nutrients.

The pleasant slightly bitter taste of chicory goes well with other green leafy vegetables, spicy cheeses, nuts such as walnuts, pine nuts, almonds, but also goes well with garlic, red beets or sliced apples and pears.

You can use chicory leaves as a base for various appetizers - sprinkled with a little lemon juice or olive oil, and on them you can arrange small slices of boiled eggs, aromatic cheeses, fish, chicken or other meat. Of course, chicory can be included in the composition of various dishes, such as casserole, stew, pasta sauces, etc. It can also be grilled, cooked in soup, etc.

In Italy, radicchio, which is extremely popular, is often eaten grilled, lightly sprinkled with olive oil, and if added to risotto, the dish gets a nice pink color. Overseas, in the United States it is also popular, most often consumed in salads. most often eaten raw or in salads. Like other chicory, its roots can also be used to make coffee. Even strudel can be prepared with chicory.

Benefits of chicory

With millennia-proven health benefits, chicory is a food that is still used today to prevent and improve human health. Due to the inulin contained in chicory, the bitter taste of vegetables is able to improve appetite, stimulate the activity of the digestive organs

Chicory has a cleansing effect on the blood.

If you overeat or have a disorder that results from overeating, a cold or the flu, chicory it will certainly benefit you. Apart from being good for the stomach, chicory is also good for the heart. If you regularly eat this useful leafy vegetable, you can neutralize the harmful effects of alcohol and fatty foods.

By including chicory weekly in the menu, you can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, strengthen your immune system, feel calmer and more balanced. In this regard, the decoction of chicory works wonders because it is able to relieve stress and calm the nerves.

For people who want to lose weight, a diet that includes chicory is extremely suitable. Chicory and low in calories, works well on the stomach, improving digestion and cleanses the blood, resulting in reduced blood sugar and increased physical endurance.