PRODUCTS

Radicchio
Also called… Italian chicory

Because you know what tastes good… Radicchio has a bitter flavour, but not as much as curly endive. Its crisp leaves add a hint of bitterness to spring mixes and to the dishes it is served with.

A natural elegance… The crisp, burgundy leaves of radicchio form a compact head displaying its contrasting ivory white veins.

Good for you… Radicchio is especially high in antioxidants such as flavonoids and phenylic acid. Interestingly, radicchio contains much more antioxidants than other varieties of chicories (such as escarole or curly endive). It also provides vitamins A and C and phosphorus.

Radicchio Worldwide: Very appreciated in Italy, radicchio is also consumed in other European countries and in North America, where it is often added to spring mixes.

Try with… different varieties of lettuces for a hint of bitterness and dramatic colour.

Gourmets’ Inspirations:

Radicchio can be eaten both cooked or raw. Try it in a salad, alone or in a spring mix and garnish with your choice of cheese, nuts and other vegetables such as shallots, radishes, bell peppers, chili peppers, olives, hearts of palm etc.

You can also use radicchio as a condiment in sandwiches, soups, risottos or to stuff pasta or chicken.

Finally, you can prepare it braised in the oven or grilled over the barbecue, au gratin or marinated in various oils, vinegars or spices.

The Right Dressing for Radicchio:

Crunchy and bitter, radicchio calls for tangy flavours. Therefore, instead of the traditional olive oil and balsamic vinegar blend, try substituting walnut oil and sherry, raspberry or tarragon vinegars. Whisk in some Dijon mustard to make it creamier and season with herbs such as garlic, basil, tarragon, oregano, rosemary…, adding salt and freshly ground pepper. Radicchio is also delicious drizzled with a creamy blue cheese dressing.

How to Select Your Radicchio: Choose a heavy head of radicchio with leaves that are spotless, firm and beautiful in their distinctive colour.

How to Store and Prepare Your Radicchio: Radicchio can be stored for about 2 weeks in a perforated plastic bag, inside the refrigerator, as it needs to breathe or it will rot. To avoid soft leaves, wash your radicchio just before preparing it and use cold water.

Savour it… all summer, from the end of June till the beginning of October (production of Quebec).

Related Products: Curly endive, escarole, Iceberg lettuce, romaine, green and red leaf lettuce, Boston lettuce, Spring Mix, San Marino Mix, Oriental Mix, baby spinach, arugula, nappa cabbage.

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Nutrition Facts