5 Best Radicchio Alternatives To Replace

Radicchio Alternative
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Radicchio Alternative

We’ve all tried and loved leafy vegetables like cabbage in coleslaw and other recipes. Salad veggies come in a huge variety with different versions, but some options are more popular than others.

One of these is the radicchio, a dark leafy vegetable coveted for its tender texture, mildly bitter taste, and gorgeous blood-red color. Unfortunately, radicchio isn’t available everywhere and can be quite expensive.

So if you want a radicchio substitute to mimic its flavor and texture in a salad or want to use an alternative in recipes like soups and noodles, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we are sharing the best radicchio alternatives based on their flavor profile.

Radicchio – What Is It?

It is a popular form of leaf chicory is cultivated throughout the year. Most people generally refer to it as Italian chicory, simply because of how commonly it’s used in Italian cuisine. It’s a leafy vegetable with gorgeous red leaves, and white veins that run through.

In general, the flavor is quite bitter, with a tinge of spice. However, it tends to reduce in intensity once you put it through a grill or even roast it. That’s one of the main reasons why it’s so popular as a risotto after it’s grilled in olive oil. You can also pair it up with paste or use it as a stuffing,

radicchio risotto
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In addition to this, radicchio is often used in coleslaw, mixed with shredded carrots, some cabbage, and beetroot.

It can be tossed with green onions, chopped almonds, shredded cabbage, and mandarin oranges or lime to make a sweet and sour vinaigrette that pairs perfectly with grilled meats and greasy foods.

Radicchio can also be sauteed with butter and garlic, pairing it with different kinds of pasta like fusilli and penne.

How To Store Fresh Radicchio

Radicchio has a shelf life of up to two weeks when kept in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. However, to get the best texture in your recipes, try using the radicchio within a week of buying it from the grocery store or farmers’ market.

Only wash radicchio right before using it. Remove the outermost layer of leaves before chopping the vegetable up. You can also keep raw radicchio in slices in an airtight box in the fridge for about 2-3 days.

Cooked radicchio has a similar life, and it goes bad after being kept in the fridge for more than 2 days.

Radicchio Varieties

Radicchio originates from Italy, though it’s widely grown in many countries now. There are two main varieties of radicchio, though both can be easily substituted for one another.

The most common type is Chioggia radicchio, which is round in shape and resembles red cabbage, except with some color and vein texture differences.

Chioggia Radicchio
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Chioggia Radicchio

The other kind of radicchio is the Treviso, which is elongated (shaped like romaine lettuce) but carries the same red hue. Treviso is milder and less bitter. There are some other uncommon varieties of radicchio as well (like Castelfranco) but they’re not found easily.

Treviso Radiccchio
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Treviso Radiccchio

Radicchio vs. Red Cabbage

This is a common mistake made by shoppers. Red cabbage and radicchio may appear similar at the grocery store, but in reality, they are two different plants.

Radicchio is notable for its strong bitter taste that cooks away, along with thinner and less waxy leaves that have a softer texture. Red cabbage has a much milder flavor profile and crunchier leaves.

A great way to distinguish between the two is the shape and color. Red cabbage is more rounded with closely packed leaves and carries a bright, uniformly purple color. On the other hand, radicchio is slightly more elongated, has more white veins, and boasts a vibrant and red blood-red color.

Red Cabbage
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Red Cabbage

It’s important to note this difference before purchasing either. You can substitute radicchio for red cabbage in dishes, but their flavors are distinct and your dish won’t be the same.

Now that you are clear about radicchio, we are sharing the list of alternatives!

Best Radicchio Alternatives

1. Belgian Endive

Belgian Endive has a delicate appearance but is generally bitter-tasting. Despite the name, Belgian endive originates from France, which is why it’s used in various French recipes.

Apart from that, this is commonly used in making different kinds of salads. The best thing about Belgian endive is that it greatly improves the appearance of a boring green salad and makes meals more appetizing.

There are plenty of ways to consume Belgian Endive. You can either grill it, bake it, consume it raw, or braise it! Since it’s a lettuce head, it’s also incredibly easy to cook, and generally has a pale yellow color.

Belgian Endive
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The leaves are found close to each other, with a gentle curl. To preserve its flavor, the vegetable is generally grown under the ground (that’s the natural process).

If you are looking to pair a good vegetable with roasted chicken or even fish, you can’t go wrong with Belgian Endive. It’s incredibly easy to clean and prepare yourself because all you have to do is to remove the internals to get it ready.

This endive has a general niche flavor so you may want to mix it up with some sweet or salty vegetables to really improve its taste. The texture is also a bit crisp, and usually more refined.

Apart from that, the flavors tend to mellow down as you continue cooking it, so the texture will also soften, and the dish will eventually develop a more even taste.

2. Curly Endive

Curly endive
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Curly endive has a very firm green shade and is known for its relatively thin stem, curly leaves, and frilly texture. You can consume it raw if you want by adding it to any salad, or you can also cook it to improve the taste of any dish you want.

Ideally, when you’re looking to purchase curly endive, it’s generally a wise idea to buy those which have darker green leaves. The interior should also have a pale yellow hue. And, as is the case with all vegetables, you need to make sure that you don’t buy ones that have wilting or blackened leaves.

For storing your curly endives, it might be a wise idea to place them in the refrigerator. They’re going to remain fresh for up to three days without requiring any major work.

3. Arugula

Most people know arugula as a rocket, and it’s generally used as a viable alternative to radicchio. Arugula is a leafy vegetable and the taste is slightly bitter, a bit tart, and is usually fresh.

Arugula
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Apart from that, many people use arugula as a seasoning for paste. Along with tomato sauce and pecorino, it makes for a great addition and is used with a number of different dishes. Arugula, along with olive oil and lemon juice, is a great addition to many types of dishes.

Apart from that, the seeds from arugula can also be used to make different kinds of oil, such as taramira. This is great for making pickles, salads, and cooking. The nutritional content is also incredibly high, as it contains various key nutrients, such as:

  • Vitamin A
  • Calcium
  • Manganese
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin K
  • Folate
  • Magnesium

4. Watercress

Watercress
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Watercress is a popular aquatic plant that can be found in parts of Europe and Asia. The structure is generally quite leafy, so you can just chew on the leaves much like radicchio. You can also just chew on the fruit or the stem of the watercress in its raw state!

And here’s a fun fact- a single cup of fresh watercress can fulfill your daily intake need for vitamin K! The veggie also has many antioxidants and nutrients that help with bone health and promote weight loss.

5. Chicory

Chicory
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Chicory is yet another plant that works perfectly as a radicchio replacement for most recipes. Its leaves are usually eaten raw like celery, though the roots must be boiled before they’re consumed.

Chicory leaves are more bitter and closer to radicchio in flavor, while the root is more earthy, warm, and nutty in taste. The leaves add a nice aroma to your cooking and can be a unique spice.

However, do note that chicory leaves are slightly tougher than radicchio. They will make salads a little chewier.

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