Endive | Health Notes at WWSM | Health Information at WWSM

Endive

Get on the good side of this deliciously bitter green

Cut & clean
Rinse endive in cold water just before using.

Super in salads
Endive adds a fresh characteristic to salads. Try pairing curly endive with radicchio and Greek olives.

Power food
Endive is a good source of vitamin A.

30-second recipe
Toss endive leaves with sliced pear and blue cheese for a savoury salad.

Also indexed as: Belgian Endive, Escarole, French Endive, Witloof

Preparation, uses, and tips

Rinse endive in cold water just before using. Toss Belgian endive leaves with sliced pear and crumbled blue cheese. Combine curly endive, radicchio, and Kalamata olives. Cook escarole with white beans and chopped garlic.

Buying and storing tips

Belgian endive is available all the year round, with a peak season from November through April. Curly endive and escarole are available all year long, with the peak season from June through October. Buy crisp, firmly packed heads of Belgian endive, and store them wrapped in a paper towel inside a plastic bag for a day or two. Look for crisp, firm heads of curly endive and escarole, and store them in plastic in the refrigerator for two to three days.

Varieties

Belgian endive, also called French endive or witloof, is a small, cylindrical head of pale, tightly packed leaves. Curly endive, sometimes mistakenly called chicory, has lacy, green-rimmed and curly leaves, with a prickly texture and slightly bitter taste. Escarole has broad, slightly curved, pale green leaves with a milder flavour than either Belgian or curly endive.

Nutrition Highlights

Endive (raw), 1/2 cup (chopped) (25g)
Calories: 4
Protein: 0g
Carbohydrate: 1g
Total Fat: 0g
Fiber: 1g
*Good source of: Vitamin A (541.75IU)

*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value, based upon United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the USDA Recommended Daily Value. Nutritional information and daily nutritional guidelines may vary in different countries. Please consult the appropriate organization in your country for specific nutritional values and the recommended daily guidelines.

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The information presented in the Food Guide is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of US–registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or chemist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires September 2008.