Endive is a leafy green vegetable with crisp leaves that are popular in salads and appetizer recipes. Before planning to use endives in your kitchen, however, it’s important to know a few things about what they are, where they come from, and how they taste.
What is an Endive Exactly?
Endive is a type of leafy vegetable, characterized by its tightly packed, long leaves and slightly bitter flavor. Although an endive looks similar to lettuce, this strange vegetable isn’t categorized as lettuce and is actually in the chicory family and can be enjoyed raw in salads or cooked in various dishes.
Where Do Endives Come From?
Endives were first harvested in Egypt and Indonesia in the 1500s and cultivated in the Mediterranean region, particularly in areas like Italy, France, and Belgium beginning in the 19th century. Nowadays, endives are grown all around the world in suitable climates for growth, including parts of North American and Asia.
The 4 Types of Endives
White Endive
White endives are also called Belgian endives, and they first appeared in Belgium in the 1800s. These endives are firm, white, and quite bitter.
Red Endive
Red Endives come from Belgium as well. They are purple or red in color and less bitter than white endive.
Escarole
Escarole is sometimes called the Batavian endive and is milder than both red and white endives. Escarole is often used in salads or soups.
Frisee
Frisee or curly endive is a type of Escarole but is even smaller in size. It has a similar taste to escarole, making it excellent in salads.
What Does Endive Taste Like?
The taste of endives is mildly bitter with a slightly sweet undertone, though some varieties are less bitter than others. The flavor can be described as crisp and refreshing while also slightly nutty. As a result, endives are rarely served alone and are usually best mixed with other ingredients to balance out their bitter flavor.
What Recipes Can You Use Endive In?
Endive is a versatile ingredient that is popular in salads, appetizers, wraps, and soups. The vegetable can be a tricky ingredient to use if you aren’t familiar with it. Although endive can be enjoyed both raw and cooked, it is best used in a recipe with other ingredients.
Belgian endive can be consumed on its own after grilling or sautéing to help counteract the bitterness. You can also cut the leaves raw and top with a sweet seafood salad for a good balance between bitter and sweet.
Endives can also be used in salads or soups; just ensure if you are using it with a salad, the endive is chopped and mixed with another lettuce such as romaine or spinach.
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