Raddichio

Merely looking at this leafy vegetable, you might assume it tastes like red cabbage because of their resemblance. However, its flavor is quite different.

Appearance and Flavor

Imagine a red cabbage, but smaller. Its deep purple-red leaves have bright white veins throughout and on the bottom and are smooth and crisp. Uncooked, their flavor is bitter with a slight taste of spice and cooked, their color changes, turning deep brown and the flavor becomes sweeter with reduced bitterness. Ideal heads are firm, crisp, and have full color. Avoid brown or wilted radicchios that have damaged bottoms.

Ways to Enjoy

If salad is the route you want to take this veggie, try this interesting dressing that’ll play up the radicchio’s bitterness. You can also use them in any recipe that calls for a radish. You can enjoy them raw, for example, they’d make a good wrap or bowl. They can be sautéed, grilled, and tossed into sauces.

Availability & Origin

Though they peak between mid-winter and early spring, radicchios grow year-round. Italy produces the most, followed by France. Mexico also produces them, and they grow in California and New Jersey as well.

Storage

Store your radicchios unwashed in the fridge’s crisper drawer in a perforated bag. They’ll last up to 10 days. If already cut, you’ll want to place them in an air-tight container or bag for about three days’ worth of use.