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

What is radicchio?

Unfamiliar to many, radicchio is often thought to be cabbage or lettuce and is unique in appearance. It’s typically round, though some varieties are oblong. The leaves are a dark reddish-purple color with white veins. It’s a member of the sunflower family and related to artichokes, Jerusalem artichokes, and burdock.

Radicchio (pronounced ruh-DEE-key-oh) is sometimes called red chicory, Italian chicory, and red endive. Originally from Italy, it has a strong, bitter, yet tangy flavor. This often makes it an acquired taste. While many varieties are grown in Italy and imported worldwide, radicchio is grown domestically and available year-round.

Radicchio is a common ingredient in Italian and Mediterranean dishes. It can be eaten raw in salads, grilled in wedges, or cooked in soups, pasta, and risotto. There’s no shortage of recipes for the colorful vegetable. In Italian cuisine, it’s often shredded and marinated in a vinegar-based dressing, which helps cut down on the strong flavor. Many also pair it with other vegetables or meat to create a fulfilling meal—some even pickle radicchio to soften its bitterness and use it in various cold dishes.

Where did radicchio originate from?

Radicchio dates back to 15th-century Italy, but the modern version grown today was cultivated by Belgian agronomist Francesco Van den Borre in 1860.

He used the technique of placing mature radicchio plants in dark sheds as a way to turn them from an ordinary shade of green to a vibrant reddish-purple color. When plants are deprived of sunlight, it stops their chlorophyll production, which causes them to lose the green color. Over the years, the vegetable was introduced to other countries.

What is the nutritional value of radicchio?

Radicchio isn’t just low in calories and fat; it also packs a punch when it comes to some essential vitamins and minerals. Each 2-cup serving of radicchio contains:

• 20 calories
• 0g fat
• 1.2g protein
• 4g carbohydrates
• 1g fiber

It also provides 120% of your recommended daily allowance of vitamin K and 30% of copper. Vitamin K helps with blood clotting and healing wounds. It’s also important for bone health. Other vitamins and minerals found in radicchio, albeit in smaller amounts, are iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin C, and vitamin B6.

How is radicchio grown?

Radicchio is a cool weather plant, meaning home gardeners can plant it as soon as the risk of frost is past. It can be grown in most of the United States between spring and fall. It needs frequent, but not deep, watering.

The summer heat intensifies the bitterness in the vegetable, so planting 2 to 3 weeks before the final frost is the perfect time to start radicchio plants.

When is radicchio in season?

Produce growers in California grow radicchio year-round, but you’ll get the best flavor from plants grown in cool weather. There are many varieties of radicchio that are produced in Italy and are imported. They aren’t grown year-round, making them a bit pricier than varieties you can buy at stores near you.

Italian-grown radicchio carries the name of where they are from, making it easy to distinguish from other varieties. The names may also carry the acronym IGP at the end of the name to designate its authenticity. Shop Italian radicchio now.

How do you pick radicchio at the grocery store?

As you choose radicchio, look for ones that have bold coloring with distinctive white ribs. It’s normal to discard the outer layer of leaves, so some blemishes are expected from transport and handling. Avoid heads that are cracked or have bruising or soft spots. Vegetables with excessive wilted outer leaves are probably older and will result in fewer leaves being useable.

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for radicchio via Instacart. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products. Shop for radicchio.

How to store radicchio

Unwashed heads of radicchio can be stored in the produce drawer (or crisper) of your refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks. Even better is to store it in a closed plastic or perforated bag.

You should eat radicchio soon after washing and chopping it, but you can keep raw radicchio in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Leftovers should also be stored for no more than 2days to ensure freshness.

Radicchio is not a freezer-friendly vegetable, so it’s best to buy only what you plan to use within a week or two.

How to tell if radicchio is bad

A bit of wilting of the leaves is expected if you’ve stored your radicchio in the refrigerator for a week, but when in doubt, throw it out. The best way to tell if it has gone bad is if the smell or appearance of the radicchio is “off.” It definitely needs to be thrown out if it’s slimy or has mold growing on it.

What can I substitute for radicchio?

The most common type of radicchio grown and used in the United States is Chioggia. But when it’s not available, you can substitute other varieties of radicchio, including Treviso, which is quite similar. Shop Treviso radicchio now.

If other varieties of radicchio are unavailable, you can substitute a few different leafy vegetables. Endive, chicory, arugula, or escarole are good choices. They have a similar flavor that will be suitable for most recipes that call for radicchio.

Note these substation options when you place your Instacart order so that your shopper knows which ones to choose if radicchio isn’t available in the store that day.

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