This leaf is all about versatility – eat it raw or cooked
A member of the sunflower family, chicory is grown in the darkness – which gives its leaves their white and yellow-tipped colour – chicory is about 12cm long and shaped like a tube. A bitter-tasting leaf, chicory can be eaten raw in salads, or it can be cooked, which gives it a sweeter flavour. It is also nourishing, with plenty of vitamins including vitamins A, C and K as well as calcium and potassium. It it also thought to help cleanse the liver, and to be beneficial for the circulatory system and the blood. Another benefit is that it contains inulin, a prebiotic that helps feed beneficial bacteria in the digestive system.
When dried, roasted and ground, the roots of some chicory varieties taste similar to coffee and it is sometimes used as a coffee substitute. Fresh chicory can be braised with some stock or sautéed, making the perfect accompaniment to meat and fish dishes.