Why Eat Lettuce When There’s Escarole
Escarole is a lettuce-like green with lots of great health benefits. Escarole is a type of endive in the asteraceae family of the plant kingdom. But unlike lettuce it contains many nutrients, vitamins and minerals, such as folate, vitamins B, A, E, K and C. It’s also a rich source of dietary fiber, magnesium and potassium. Escarole’s other benefits include reduced glucose levels, improved eyesight, stimulation of digestive enzymes, improved skin health and it acts as a natural diuretic.
Peeling back the dark green outer leaves will reveal a slightly lighter shade of green leaves inside. As leaves lighten they become more tender, less bitter. Cool weather also sweetens its leaves. But bitter is good. It helps our digestion in so many ways.
We harvest our escarole as babies. The leaves can be eaten raw, they’re tender and we love the flavor. We also love the fiber because it makes us feel full and we eat fewer calories. The folate helps our uptake of vitamin B6. Most of all we just feel better.
We eat escarole raw with a fresh squeeze of lemon. We also throw in toasted walnuts and shaved pecorino cheese to make a complete meal. Scarole e fagioli is our second favorite way to enjoy one of nature’s great health & comfort foods.