Sorrel – All You Need to Know | Instacart Guide to Fresh Produce

What is sorrel?

Sorrel is a leafy green from the same family of plants as rhubarb and buckwheat. It adds a lemony sourness to dishes and can be served both cooked or raw. Sorrel’s bright, citrusy flavor brings fish dishes and casseroles to life, and sorrel can also perk up marinades and sauces. It’s commonly used in Vietnamese cuisine as a garnish in salads and spring rolls, used to flavor stews in Nigeria, and it goes into sour soups in Eastern Europe.

Sorrel gives salads an added kick of freshness and blends well with dairy products like cream and different types of cheese. With this diverse scope of uses, sorrel occupies a space that’s somewhere between a green and a fresh herb.

Sorrel comes in broad-leaf, French, and red-veined varieties. Each kind of sorrel has a slightly different appearance and a different flavor profile, so it helps if you can spot the difference between the different types. Broad-leaf sorrel has pointed, arrow-shaped leaves and a sharper flavor, while French sorrel has more rounded leaves and a milder taste. The red-veined is the easiest to spot, with distinctive markings on the leaves. It’s also the mildest in terms of flavor.

Young sorrel leaves are better used raw, due to their milder flavor. Save the larger, more fully grown leaves for cooking.

Where did sorrel originate from?

Sorrel’s origins are in Europe and Western Asia, and the plant is believed to have been used by both the ancient Egyptians and ancient Romans.

What is the nutritional value of sorrel?

One cup (133g) of sorrel provides the following nutrients:

• 29 calories
• 4g carbohydrates; includes 4g fiber, no sugar
• 3g protein
• 1g fat

That same cup of sorrel also provides over 100% of the daily value of both vitamin A and vitamin C, as well as significant quantities of folate, potassium, calcium, and riboflavin. That vitamin C content means sorrel is full of antioxidants that are helpful in protecting the body against serious illness.

How is sorrel grown?

Sorrel is a fast-growing perennial that can be planted either in early spring or early fall. Full sun and regular watering help the plant grow quickly, but a little shade may help the plant to keep growing over a longer period through the summer. The plant needs around 2 months to reach maturity and can be harvested when the leaves are a few inches long. Sorrel plants start growing leaves in the spring and will continue growing until late fall.

When is sorrel in season?

Sorrel is in season throughout most of the year, from spring to late fall. The leaves grow more bitter as the peak season progresses, so some people prefer to buy them in spring and early summer.

How do you pick sorrel at the grocery store?

When you’re shopping for sorrel, look for firm leaves in a bright and bold shade of green. Don’t buy sorrel with wilted leaves, or leaves that are losing their color. The leaves should not be excessively moist or soggy, but you also don’t want sorrel leaves to be too dried out.

Instacart shoppers are experts at navigating the grocery store, but they can always use a little help when it comes to picking out exactly what the customer wants. Don’t forget that you can use Instacart to communicate with the shopper and send advice about picking out fresh produce. When it comes to less common items like sorrel, shoppers may not know exactly what to look for, so be sure to share the tips above!

How to store sorrel

Sorrel can be wrapped in plastic or paper towels for a couple of days in the fridge. If you need to keep it for longer, rinse and dry the sorrel, then wrap in a layer of paper towels. Put the paper towels in a plastic bag, or wrap in plastic, and place them in the refrigerator. Sorrel can also be kept in the freezer if you need to store it for much longer than a few days.

How to tell if sorrel is bad

Wilted leaves are a sure sign that sorrel is over the hill. Other warning signs include soggy or damp leaves, leaves that have turned yellow or brown, or mold.

What can I substitute for sorrel?

Sorrel is one of those items that stand alone, but it’s not impossible to replace. A creative combination of ingredients can achieve a reasonably close approximation of sorrel’s flavor. Kale is a good substitute for the bitterness of sorrel leaves, but be sure to tear the leaves off the stalk. Other greens like arugula and mustard greens can also be used as a substitute for the leaves. And for that lemony flavor? Add a squeeze of lemon juice!

Track down sorrel today

Although it has a relatively long season, sorrel can be difficult to find at the grocery store. However, between sorrel’s antioxidant-rich nutritional profile, and that unique lemony bite that it adds to a dish, it’s well worth getting your hands on if you can! That’s where Instacart can help, as well as saving you time and money.

Instacart connects you to the best fresh produce near you, and once you’ve found what you’re looking for, just place an order. Instacart does the rest with same-day delivery. Explore Instacart now to discover which grocery stores near you have sorrel in stock!

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