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Castlefranco Radicchio Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to Castelfranco radicchio
About Castelfranco radicchio
Castelfranco radicchio is an Italian winter crop that is a cross between escarole and radicchio Trevisano. Its leaves unfold naturally like a flower, with a light green color with purple speckles all over. It's known as Radicchio di Castelfranco in Italy, and other names like winter rose, orchid lettuce, and edible flower. Castelfranco radicchio tastes much milder than purple radicchio and is tender and mild enough to be eaten like any other lettuce in salads.
The history of Castelfranco radicchio dates back to the 17th century in the northern Veneto town of Castelfranco. It was first cultivated in this town and in the region of Veneto, where cultivating radicchio is a well-known practice. Each town in the region actually specializes in growing its own type of radicchio. The unique coloring of the Castelfranco radicchio, known as imbiancamento in Italian, was first developed by Belgian Francesco Van den Borre in 1860.
In order to get the unique color, the Castelfranco radicchio is harvested earlier and the heads are packed in mesh baskets to be stored in a dark room. The roots of the radicchio are then soaked in circulating water and kept at a certain temperature. The leaves take on their unique color within the span of days. You can also grow Castelfranco radicchio in a home garden where it will take on the same color as long as it is given adequate water and certain cooler temperatures.
Castelfranco radicchio is not very easy to find in grocery stores or markets as it is a seasonal vegetable that is mostly found during the winter months. If you're able to find it, take advantage of its crisp and fresh taste, with a unique color and flavor that is slightly mild but still sweet.
Castelfranco radicchio has many uses in the kitchen, given its mild and slightly bitter flavor. It's mild enough to be used in a salad and eaten raw. It can also be sauteed on a pan and served as a vegetable side dish, cooked in soups, served atop pizzas, or be incorporated in risottos. There's plenty of ways to enjoy this radicchio, and it also goes well with contrasting flavors.
If you want to try a new variety of greens for a salad or already know the unique flavor of Castelfranco radicchio, you can shop for some through the Instacart app! Once you fill your cart and complete your purchase, an Instacart shopper will go to the store to select the items you want. Order to make your day a little easier, and we'll do our best to get your groceries delivered the same day!
How to pick out Castelfranco radicchio
Make sure the leaves are crisp and have a good color to them. Like a salad, the leaves should look vibrant and fresh to eat.
How to tell if Castelfranco radicchio has gone bad
Once the leaves start to wilt, this is a sign that the Castelfranco radicchio is turning bad. If the leaves become brown and start to develop moisture on them, the vegetable has gone bad.
Castlefranco Radicchio Near Me
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FAQs about Castelfranco radicchio
Flavors like red wine vinegar, balsamic oil, citrus juices, and olive oil are good choices for making a salad with radicchio. The bitterness of the radicchio also goes well with a creamy cheese or a strong Parmigiano cheese, while other lettuce leaves mostly complement the bitterness of the radicchio. A hearty and fatty ingredient like pancetta or bacon also cuts through any of the bitterness of the Castelfranco radicchio and is a good pair to use in salads, risotto, and pasta.
Regular radicchio is completely purple, while Castelfranco is mostly white with green colors and purple spots. Regular radicchio is also much more bitter than the Castelfranco, making it a better candidate to grill and cook with than Castelfranco. The latter's buttery flavor lends it more than the purple radicchio, to be eaten raw like lettuce.
The Castelfranco radicchio is made up of a lot of water content so eating this vegetable will keep you hydrated. It also contains vitamin C which is important in repairing body tissue, as well as vitamin K which is important for brain health and heart health. It also contains plenty of antioxidants which help to repair cell damage in the body and there's potassium and calcium in radicchio. Potassium helps muscle function and recuperation, while calcium is important for bone health. Castelfranco radicchio is full of vitamins and minerals that help the general health and is low in calories.