In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleWhat Is It?How to Use ItNutrition FactsHow to Store ItSubstitutes
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
What Is It?
How to Use It
Nutrition Facts
How to Store It
Substitutes
Close
Photo: Floortje / Getty
Escarole is a leafy green vegetable that’s an integral part ofItalian disheslikepasta e fagioliandItalian Wedding Soup. You may have seen it in the produce aisle but may not have noticed it, as it easily blends in with lettuce, such as green leaf or romaine. Its hearty texture makes it great for cooking, but it can also be enjoyedraw. Read on to find out how to use this versatile vegetable.
What Is Escarole?
Escarole is a leafy green that’s part of the chicory family, which also includes radicchio and endive. It has broad, green leaves and, like the rest of the chicory family is considered a “bitter” green, although escarole tends to be less bitter than some of its relatives.
How to Use Escarole
Escarole doesn’t require a lot of fuss. Pull off the leaves from the core and wash them to remove any dirt at the base of the stems. The inner leaves are lighter in color and more tender than the outer leaves, so they are perfect for use insalads. If you enjoy bitter greens, you may find that they are fine on their own. If you prefer to balance their slightly bitter flavor, mix them up with a milder lettuce (like romaine) so you get that pop of flavor without it overwhelming the dish. You can also keep the leaves whole and use them in place of lettuce for your favorite lettuce wrap recipe.
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Escarole Nutrition
According to the USDA, a 3.5-cup serving of chopped escarole contains:
Raw escarole offers a healthy dose of fiber, plus vitamin A, which plays an important role in bone growth, reproduction, immune function, hormone synthesis and vision. Plus, kaempferol, the compound that gives escarole a bitter taste, has been shown to help protect against diseases like cancer, according to a 2019 study inOncology Research.
How to Store Fresh Escarole
Do not wash the escarole until you are ready to use it. Instead, store it in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer, wrapped in paper towels and placed in an open plastic bag to allow air circulation. This will minimize moisture and help it last for about five days.
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Escarole Substitutes
Can’t find escarole? There are a variety of greens out there that can be used as a substitute. For salads, blends of arugula, curly endive andradicchiowork well. For soups and stews, dandelion greens and young mustard greens will give you a similar flavor and also hold up well to cooking. You can also use hearty greens likechardorkale, just note that their flavor is less bitter, and depending on what you’re making, you may have to cook them longer as they take more time to tenderize.
Linda Frahm
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SourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.United States Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Chopped Escarole.Zhu L, Xue L. Kaempferol suppresses proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and DNA damage in breast cancer cells.Oncol Res. 2019;27(6):629-634.doi:10.3727/096504018X15228018559434
Sources
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.United States Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Chopped Escarole.Zhu L, Xue L. Kaempferol suppresses proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and DNA damage in breast cancer cells.Oncol Res. 2019;27(6):629-634.doi:10.3727/096504018X15228018559434
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
United States Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Chopped Escarole.Zhu L, Xue L. Kaempferol suppresses proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and DNA damage in breast cancer cells.Oncol Res. 2019;27(6):629-634.doi:10.3727/096504018X15228018559434
United States Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central.Chopped Escarole.
Zhu L, Xue L. Kaempferol suppresses proliferation and induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and DNA damage in breast cancer cells.Oncol Res. 2019;27(6):629-634.doi:10.3727/096504018X15228018559434
