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Endive

life science Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Endive is a leafy vegetable that people enjoy eating. It belongs to a group called Cichorium. This group includes many plants with bitter leaves.

Cichorium endivia - Botanischer Garten Mainz IMG 5453
Cichorium endivia - Botanischer Garten Mainz IMG 5453

Some people call these plants chicory. There is often confusion between different types of endive. One type is Cichorium endivia. Another type is Cichorium intybus. Both are part of the same large family.

There are different ways these plants grow. One kind is called curly endive or frisée. It has narrow and green leaves that curl.

Cicoria-otrantina
Cicoria-otrantina

Another kind is called escarole. Escarole is a broad-leaved endive. Its leaves are pale green and wide. This variety is not as bitter as others. It is also called Batavian endive or scarole.

People use endive in many tasty meals. You can put it in a green salad. Some people chop it into soups or stews. You might also sauté the leaves in a pan.

Cichorium endivia - Botanischer Garten Mainz IMG 5453
Cichorium endivia - Botanischer Garten Mainz IMG 5453

In Southern Italy, people often cook escarole by smothering it. This is a way of cooking it softly. In Naples, people eat it at Christmas. They stuff the leaves with many things. They use raisins, pine nuts, olives, capers, cheese, and breadcrumbs.

Endive is a very healthy food to eat. It is rich in many vitamins and minerals. It has a lot of folate. It also provides vitamins A and K.

Cicoria-otrantina
Cicoria-otrantina

The vegetable is high in fiber. Fiber helps our bodies work well. It also contains a substance called kaempferol. Scientists study how people absorb this from endive. This makes the plant a very special leafy vegetable.

Many different names can be used for these plants. In the United States, people call frisée chicory. In France, it is called chicorée frisée.

Cicoria-otrantina
Cicoria-otrantina

The Cichorium intybus group includes radicchio and puntarelle. These are all types of leaf chicory. This group is very popular in Europe. You can find many varieties in different lands. Learning these names helps you find them in stores.

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Cichorium endivia - Botanischer Garten...
File:Cicoria-otrantina.jpg
Cicoria-otrantina.jpg
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