What is escarole anyway? It’s actually a lot like endive – only the leaves are smaller. It’s usually sold in bunches that look a lot like a head of lettuce, with short, wide, wavy-edged leaves. Like endive, it’s a member of the chicory family and it has crunchy leaves with a slightly bitter taste. According to Bon Appetit – you cannot make Italian Wedding Soup without escarole!
Escarole
Escarole Nutrition Facts
- Escarole provides an:
- Excellent source of vitamin K
- Good source of folate
- Vitamin A
Growing Information
Escarole can be sold as a whole head in bulk. Product destined for this use is hand-harvested and packed into cartons in the field. But it is more commonly sold as part of a salad mix. For this purpose, it is mechanically harvested or mowed as a baby, packed into totes and shipped to a processing facility for packaging with other leafy greens. Escarole takes from 85 to 100 days to grow from seed to maturity.
Usage Ideas
Escarole is a perfect addition to soups because it’s tender enough to cook quickly and adds just enough flavor without overpowering
Enhance your favorite soup
Start with your favorite soup recipe and throw in some chopped escarole.
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