Those who like escarole tend to like radicchio and other dark green vegetables. This is great, because this group of vegetables has many health benefits.
You can eat it raw or cooked, in various recipes, so you never get tired of eating this healthy vegetable.
Escarole has leaves with a firm texture and a slightly bitter taste. It is usually easy to find at fairs and supermarkets, and its versatility allows it to be used in many dishes, whether raw, in salads and juices, or cooked, in stews, pizzas, soups, empanadas and tortillas.
How about now to learn a little more about the health benefits that escarole offers? And then look at some recipes for including this vegetable in your family’s diet.
Contents
benefits of endive
Endive is rich in vitamins A and C, caffeic acid, antioxidants that protect cells and inulin, good for the intestine.
Improved bowel function
Since we are talking about the intestine, this may be the first benefit of escarole. Inulin is a type of fiber that increases stool moisture, making it easier to pass through the intestine and helping to fight constipation.
Aid in pressure control
There are several foods that help balance blood pressure, as long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Endive is one option because it contains good amounts of potassium, a mineral that helps eliminate excess sodium from the body through urine, helping to control pressure.
Endive helps strengthen bones
Osteoporosis is a disease that mainly affects the elderly. Therefore, it is important to include escarole in the menu from an early age to prevent diseases when the body ages.
Endive contains calcium, an essential mineral for the maintenance of bones, and is rich in vitamin K, important for the fixation of calcium in the bones. This combination contributes greatly to the prevention of osteoporosis.
diabetes prevention
The fiber in escarole leaves slows the absorption of sugar from food, promoting blood sugar control and preventing insulin resistance.
Strengthens the immune system
The leaves of this vegetable also contain caffeic acid and flavonols, bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action that strengthen the cells of the immune system.
Recipe tips to make with escarole
In this video below, Rita Lobo demonstrates how to make a simple salad with yogurt, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce.
There is also a trick for making baked escarole, stuffed with cheese, it’s very pretty and very easy. There is also hot salad, stew, cake and soup! Here’s how to get the most out of this vegetable:
By Priscilla Riscarola. Article in Portuguese