Radicchio corn and orange salad recipes. Corn salad: beneficial properties and recipe. Rapunzel care

What is radicchio salad, calorie content, composition and beneficial properties. Can everyone introduce a new product into their diet? Recipes from escarole and interesting facts about it, the possibility of cultivation.

The content of the article:

Radicchio lettuce is a food crop better known as escarole or Italian endive. The variety is not independent, it is one of the types of common chicory (Cichorium intybus), a plant from the Asteraceae family. The botanical name of radicchio is Cichorium intybus var. Foliosum. Head lettuce is shaped like a cabbage fork. The inner leaves are not always pressed tightly against each other. The upper leaves (khryapa) are crimson or purple-violet, the lower ones have pronounced white veins. The color saturation of the forks depends on the variety, but what all types have in common is the absence of a green tint. Currently, radicchio is grown in Italy, France, North America and Asia, but it was first produced as an agricultural crop in Belgium. The taste of raw leaves is a bit like the usual salad, but with a spicy bitterness. After heat treatment, the spice remains, and the bitterness is replaced by sweetness. Radicchio is popular in Italy; salads based on it can be tasted in expensive restaurants and street cafes. But outside the small homeland, the leaves are used more to decorate dishes.

Composition and calorie content of radicchio salad


Crimson leaves can be safely included in any weight loss diet. It is difficult to eat a whole fork at once, but this is not necessary, the shelf life is up to 2 months. Even if the cart dries out a little, the nutritional qualities and beneficial properties will remain unchanged.

Calorie content of radicchio salad is 20 kcal per 100 g, of which:

  • Proteins - 1.5 g;
  • Fats - 0.2 g;
  • Carbohydrates - 3.3 g;
  • Dietary fiber - 1.2 g;
  • Water - 95.64 g;
  • Ash - 0.1-0.36 g.
Vitamins per 100 g:
  • Vitamin A, RE - 25 mcg;
  • Beta Carotene - 299 mg;
  • Vitamin B1, thiamine - 0.04 mg;
  • Vitamin B2, riboflavin - 0.03 mg;
  • Vitamin B5, pantothenic acid - 0.09 mg;
  • Vitamin B6, pyridoxine - 0.04 mg;
  • Vitamin B9, folate - 29 mcg;
  • Vitamin C, ascorbic acid - 2.8 mg;
  • Vitamin E, alpha tocopherol, TE - 0.18 mg;
  • Vitamin K, phylloquinone - 24.1 mcg;
  • Vitamin RR, NE - 0.12 mg.
Macroelements per 100 g:
  • Potassium, K - 141 mg;
  • Calcium, Ca - 18 mg;
  • Magnesium, Mg - 7 mg;
  • Sodium, Na - 10 mg;
  • Phosphorus, P - 20 mg.
Microelements per 100 g:
  • Iron, Fe - 0.41 mg;
  • Manganese, Mn - 0.13 mg;
  • Copper, Cu - 0.03 μg;
  • Selenium, Se - 0.1 μg;
  • Zinc, Zn - 0.15 mg.
Fatty acids per 100 g:
  • Saturated - 0.02 g;
  • Polyunsaturated - 0.07 g.
The set of nutrients in radicchio is atypical, which is explained by the special growing conditions:
  1. Beta Carotene- it is called the vitamin of beauty and youth. It is converted into vitamin A - retinol, which has a pronounced antioxidant effect, improves the condition of blood vessels, and accelerates the regenerative properties of the body.
  2. Potassium- supports the functions of all body systems, blood pressure levels, stimulates the production of enzymes.
  3. Phosphorus- an energy carrier that distributes energy throughout the body and is involved in the production of proteins.
  4. Calcium- in addition to the main function of strengthening bone tissue, it helps to completely process lipids and remove harmful cholesterol from the body.
  5. Iron- participates in the production of red blood cells, improves the absorption of B vitamins and normalizes the functions of the thyroid gland.
Thanks to so many useful substances, salad will not only diversify your diet, but also provide an opportunity to improve your health.

Beneficial properties of Italian chicory


Escarole tastes bitter, so you can't eat a lot of it. To eliminate bitterness, cooks cook the product. Because of this, the beneficial properties of radicchio salad are not fully preserved.

Beneficial effects on the body:

  • Improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system, eliminates vascular spasms, and maintains a stable blood flow rate.
  • Normalizes heart contractions, increases the supply of oxygen to organic tissues.
  • Prevents the development of age-related changes, improves skin quality, normalizes sebum production.
  • Increases immunity, reduces the possibility of getting sick during epidemic season.
  • Reduces blood sugar levels. Stimulation of digestive enzymes promotes complete absorption of nutrients, and the high amount of dietary fiber accelerates peristalsis. The intestines are freed, toxins are removed, the liver is quickly cleansed, and the life cycle of hepatocytes is extended.
  • It has a calming effect, helps to recover from emotional stress and intense mental activity.
  • Reduces cholesterol levels, cleanses blood vessels, improves peripheral blood supply.
  • Prevents the development of anemia, stabilizes the production of red blood cells - erythrocytes.
  • Normalizes water and electrolyte balance, helps maintain skin tone during weight loss diets.
  • Reduces the symptoms of painful attacks of malaria.
Escariol is recommended to be regularly included in the daily menu during pregnancy - it contains a lot of folic acid, which is necessary for the formation of the fetal nervous system, and it is also useful for problems with the hematopoietic system.

Contraindications and harms of radicchio salad


Like all unfamiliar foods, escarole should be introduced into children's diets with caution. Before the age of three, you should not prepare new dishes, especially since the bitter taste can “scare” the baby and cause problems with food.

The harm from radicchio salad only appears when you overeat: the acidity of gastric juice increases, hiccups and heartburn appear. If you do not abuse it, there will be no side effects from use.

You should not introduce dishes with escarole into your diet if you have pancreatitis and a tendency to diarrhea. The increased load on the digestive organs significantly worsens the general condition.

Avoid use if you have an individual intolerance. Allergy symptoms increase gradually: intestinal colic, diarrhea, nausea, headache, rashes around the mouth. If, after “getting acquainted” with the product, at least one of the mentioned signs appears, it is better to refuse escarole.

How to eat escarole lettuce


Escarole varieties differ from each other not only in leaf color and fork shape, but also in taste. Even knowing the variety, it is impossible to accurately predict how pronounced the individual taste qualities are - they depend on the time of cutting.

Therefore, before preparing radicchio salad, you should chew the leaf. If the bitterness is pronounced, and the leaf is dense and juicy, the veins are hard, then such a “head of cabbage” is not suitable for salad. But it can be introduced as an ingredient in risotto, a side dish for stews, baked on the grill or fried in a pan.

Large forks are used instead of utensils when presenting haute cuisine. Tender radicchio leaves, lighter in color and with a small number of veins, are added to salads.

Recipes with Italian chicory


Escarole is combined with walnuts, caraway seeds, garlic, and onions. It is recommended to use sour sauces as salad dressings - citrus fruits, mayonnaise, soy sauce.

Recipes with radicchio salad:

  1. Warm salad. Place 200 g of pumpkin, cut into equal cubes, into a roasting pan, pour over 3 tablespoons of olive oil and add a small piece of melted butter. Let sit for the oils to mix and absorb. Then sprinkle the pumpkin with thyme and rosemary, add some salt, add a salad mixture of root and radicchio, 100 g in total. Preheat the oven to 180°C and place the roasting pan there for 15 minutes. Then the salad is transferred to plates and seasoned with wine vinegar and Dijon mustard. Serve warm.
  2. Carpaccio. The turkey fillet is peeled, cut into large pieces, and slanted cuts are made in them. Rub with sea salt, sprinkle with paprika and thyme, add ground ginger (fresh root is grated), pour in olive oil and soy sauce. Leave to marinate at room temperature, covered with a lid. After 40 minutes, the meat is cooked in a double boiler. 3 minutes before turning off, pour the salad mixture into the bowl - radicchio, arugula and corn. The finished dish is sprinkled with chopped Parmesan and seasoned with lemon juice. When serving, you can garnish with cherry tomatoes.
  3. Venetian meat salad. 40 g of bacon or any ham with streaks of fat, cut into small cubes. Onion, 1 piece, chopped. Each radicchio leaf is cut into 4 parts. Heat a frying pan, pour homemade olive oil with an intense smell into it, and begin to fry the onions. Add 1-2 cloves of crushed garlic, add salad and simmer for 5 minutes over low heat, constantly turning. Pour everything into a salad bowl, add spices to taste, it is advisable to limit yourself to a mixture of peppers. Serve hot, cover the dish with a lid. When cold, the interesting hot-spicy taste is lost, and the leaves become soft and tasteless.
  4. Cheese salad. Start preparing the salad with the marinade. Mix 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and 3 orange juice, pour in a spoonful of olive oil, add half a teaspoon of fresh grated ginger root, pepper and salt to taste. Let it brew for 30 minutes in a sealed container. 150-200 g of delicious mushroom cheese, cut into cubes. Sweet oranges, 2 pieces, peeled, divided into slices, films removed. The forks are taken apart, the dense purple leaves of radicchio are cut into thin strips and fried in sunflower oil. Celery stalks, 3 pieces, cut into thin rings, a red onion is chopped, 4 cloves of garlic are passed through a press. Fry 2 teaspoons of sesame seeds in a dry frying pan. All ingredients are mixed, the salad is dressed and sprinkled with sesame seeds.
  5. Seafood salad. The eggplant is cut into rings, and the red or yellow bell pepper is cut into strips. The peppers are first fried on the grill, and the eggplant is allowed to sit with salt to remove the bitterness. Then they are also grilled on both sides. 8 large scallops are cleaned, salted and peppered, sprinkled with lemon juice. Marinate for 15 minutes and then put on the grill. Fry each side for 1 minute. Radicchio leaves, 40 g, are also fried on the grill, then cut lengthwise, and tomatoes into slices - 2 pieces. It is better to choose meaty tomatoes. Dressing: 1.5 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon each of balsamic vinegar, honey and lemon juice, crushed clove of garlic and half a teaspoon of Provençal herbs. The salad is best served warm.
  6. Paste. Spaghetti is broken in half and cooked as written in the instructions. There is no need to drain all the water; leave a little in the pan. Next, make a dressing for the dish: mix a quarter glass of beet juice, 2 tablespoons of wine (apple vinegar, if possible), half a tablespoon of olive oil, generously salt and pepper. Let it brew. Fry a chopped red onion, 3 chopped garlic cloves, and half of the grated beets in olive oil. When the onion becomes soft, pour the pasta into the frying pan along with a small amount of water, half the chopped salad fork, and mix everything. Turn it off when the water has completely evaporated, mix with the dressing. If there is not enough salt and pepper, add it.


If escarole seeds germinate outside the garden, it is unlikely that a person unfamiliar with the crop will recognize it. The leaves will be brown or even green, and the head will not form.

The purple-violet color appears due to the way it is grown - without access to sunlight. Farmers completely protect the plant from sunlight, artificially illuminate it with lamps, specially arrange temperature changes and even freeze it.

After the seedlings have grown in the dark, the plant is transferred to open ground, to shaded areas, covered from the sun on clear days. It is convenient to use cut and painted plastic bottles for this.

The most popular varieties of radicchio:

  • Radicchio di Chioggia. Purple dense heads of cabbage with small leaves are grown all year round, the most “simple” conditions for reproduction.
  • Radicchio variegato di Castelfranco. This is a seasonal vegetable and can be purchased from December to the end of March. In the middle there are small leaves, the khryapa is wide and large. The leaves are delicate, light, pink, with purple veins.
  • Radicchio di Treviso rosso tardivo. Very similar in appearance to the original variety - food chicory. The forks are loose, the bitterness is pronounced. Winter variety.
  • Radicchio di Treviso rosso precoce. It also resembles chicory in appearance and taste, the elongated leaves are collected in a dense rosette. The color is red or burgundy, the veins are white. The transition from white at the base of the leaf to purple in the middle is quite sharp.
The size of the fork is small - from a large grapefruit to a small melon. If you do not cut the lettuce in time, then the head of cabbage disintegrates, the central part transforms into a stem, and flowering begins. The leaves become bitter and are no longer suitable for food.

To obtain seeds, the plant is left in sunlight in an open bed. The blue flowers of escarole are pollinated by bees.

Watch the video about radicchio salad:


Radicchio is often sold in supermarkets, but people are in no hurry to purchase it. And those who bought it make a salad from red cabbage leaves and are disappointed because of the bitterness. You can appreciate the new taste only after you get to know escarole better. This is not “red cabbage” - it is a type of lettuce.

The basis of the dish is the green corn salad, which has a delicate structure, spicy taste and special aroma. This type of lettuce is used in many dishes, including salads, and also goes well with various vegetables and other ingredients. This salad requires olive oil as a dressing, which enhances the taste of Corn salad better than anything else.

Corn salad is a source of vitamins and minerals. It strengthens the cardiovascular system and has a positive effect on the condition of the heart. Salad helps increase hemoglobin in the blood and strengthens the nervous system. The salad grows in the shape of a rose - a bud is formed from the leaves, which then opens.

Ingredients:

  • veal tenderloin – 300 g
  • Cherry tomatoes – 150 g
  • Corn salad – 120 g
  • Parmesan cheese – 15 g
  • lemon juice – 1 tsp.
  • olive oil – 5 tbsp.
  • balsamic vinegar - 2 tbsp.
  • salt – 0.2 tsp.
  • granulated sugar – 0.5 tsp.
  • ground black pepper - a pinch

Veal meat should be washed well, dried with a paper towel and cut into small pieces, only so that they can be easily cut off. Sprinkle chopped pieces of meat with lemon juice, sprinkle with salt, pepper and brush with olive oil. Let the meat marinate for a while.

After marinating, pour olive oil into the pan and place the pieces of meat. Fry on each side for 3 minutes. Place the finished meat on a plate. Meat is the basis of the salad.

Place balsamic vinegar, sugar, salt, ground pepper and olive oil in another plate. Mix everything thoroughly with a whisk and place in a jar with a lid. Wash the cherry tomatoes, dry them and cut them in half.

Place the Corn salad in cold water for 15 minutes, then carefully rinse each leaf and place it on a paper towel to dry. After this, sprinkle the leaves with the prepared dressing and stir.

Place cherry tomatoes on a plate with meat and cover with a mound of lettuce leaves. Drizzle dressing over everything. Grate Parmesan and sprinkle on the finished salad.

Apple salad

Ingredients:

  • sweet and sour apples – 2 pcs.
  • fresh carrots – 1 pc.
  • petiole celery – 4 pcs.
  • Corn salad – 120 g
  • almonds – 50 g
  • fat sour cream – 2 tbsp.
  • mustard beans – 1 tsp.
  • natural liquid honey – 1 tbsp.
  • ground pepper (mixture) - a pinch
  • lemon juice – 2 tbsp.
  • natural yogurt – 400 g
  • chicken fillet – 200 g

Celery, peeled carrots and apples should be chopped into thin strips. Wash the Corn salad thoroughly, cut off the roots and use only the leaves in the salad. Mix these ingredients and sprinkle with lemon juice to prevent the apples from darkening.

To prepare a meat salad dressing, you need to chop the almonds. In a separate bowl, mix sour cream, mustard, pepper mixture and liquid honey. Add lemon juice and yogurt to the mixture and mix thoroughly into a homogeneous mass. Boil the chicken fillet, cool and finely chop. Add meat to sauce and stir. Also add chopped almonds and mix again.

Dress the salad with dressing just before serving. The thickness of the dressing can be adjusted by the amount of sour cream or yogurt.

Grapefruit salad

Ingredients:

  • Corn salad – 230 g
  • radicchio salad – 200 g
  • fresh basil - 0.5 bunch
  • grapefruit – 1 pc.
  • pink tomatoes – 3 pcs.
  • salt, ground black pepper - a pinch
  • olive oil – 2 tbsp.
  • hot pepper - to taste
  • sesame seeds – 1 tbsp.

Wash all types of lettuce thoroughly, dry and place on a plate. Peel the grapefruit, remove the membranes and cut into pieces. Add grapefruit to salad.

Wash the tomatoes, cut into small pieces and sprinkle with ground pepper. Cut the hot pepper into strips and finely chop the basil. Combine all salad ingredients, sprinkle with salt, pepper and olive oil.

Ingredients:

  • Corn salad – 60 g
  • hot smoked red fish – 200 g
  • fresh cucumbers – 3 pcs.
  • natural fermented milk yogurt – 120 ml
  • Tabasco sauce – 1 tsp.
  • lemon juice – 2 tbsp.
  • salt - a pinch

Peel fresh cucumbers and chop one cucumber in a blender. Pass the juice through a sieve so that the puree does not get in. Cut the remaining cucumbers into circles.

Remove the backbone and bones from the smoked fish, and cut the meat into pieces. Combine cucumber juice with natural yogurt, Tabasco sauce and a third of lemon juice. Add salt to the sauce to taste.

Place lettuce leaves on a plate, then add cucumbers and fish. Before serving, pour over the sauce.

Salad with raw smoked sausage

Ingredients:

  • raw smoked sausage – 100 g
  • mozzarella cheese – 20 mugs
  • green peas – 100 g
  • Corn salad – 60 g
  • radicchio salad – 60 g
  • white wine vinegar – 2 tbsp.
  • olive oil – 6 tbsp.
  • salt, ground pepper - a pinch

Wash the green peas and place them in boiling salted water. It should be cooked for about 7 minutes. In order for the peas to retain their color, they must be immediately transferred to cold water.

Wash the lettuce leaves thoroughly, dry and place on a plate. Cut the sausage into small slices. It is better to take mozzarella in a small size - mini, so you don’t have to cut it.

Peel the peas from the side threads and cut each pod lengthwise into two parts. Combine all ingredients - mozzarella, corn salad, radicchio, sausage and green peas. Before serving, season the salad with wine vinegar and olive oil.

Salad with squid

Ingredients:

  • young potatoes – 1 pc.
  • squid – 1 pc.
  • blue onion – 0.5 pcs.
  • Corn salad – 100 g
  • natural liquid honey – 1 tsp.
  • mustard – 1 tsp.
  • ground red pepper - a pinch
  • lemon juice – 4 tbsp.
  • olive oil – 2 tbsp.
  • honey – 1 tbsp.
  • salt, ground pepper - as needed

The squid needs to be washed, blotted with a paper towel and cut crosswise. This is necessary so that the marinade is better saturated. Brush the top with honey and mustard, which should be mixed with pepper. Leave to marinate for 20 minutes.

Peel young potatoes and cut into circles. Heat oil in a frying pan and fry the potatoes on both sides until golden brown. Place on a paper towel and blot dry on both sides. Salt the finished potatoes after cooking.

Fry the marinated squid as well, but not for long, so that the meat does not turn into rubber, but is tender and soft. After frying, cut the squid into pieces and brush again with honey, lemon juice and sprinkle with pepper.

On a plate you need to put lettuce leaves, blue onions, which were previously cut into thin strips, potatoes and squid. Drizzle everything with olive oil and lemon juice.

Ingredients:

  • avocado – 1 pc.
  • fresh cucumbers – 2 pcs.
  • lemon juice – 1 pc.
  • Corn salad – 150 g
  • olive oil – 2 tbsp.
  • salt, ground black pepper - as needed
  • shrimp to taste

To squeeze out all the juice from a lemon, you need to carefully remove the peel with a grater and squeeze out the juice. Wash the cucumbers and cut into circles. Peel the avocado and cut it in half. Then cut into half circles. Drizzle avocado slices with lemon juice. Place corn lettuce leaves on a plate and top with cucumbers. Season everything with salt, pepper and grated lemon zest. Place avocado slices on top and drizzle with olive oil. Place shrimp on top if desired.

Corn salad is a popular variety of salad. Other name - "Rapunzel". It has a mild taste and a special aftertaste. The main advantage is that the root does not lose nutrients during heat treatment.

Belongs to field salads, family - valerian. Places of growth: the territory of Europe, areas of Asia with a temperate climate. The process of naturalization of a product is common throughout the world. Reasons for popularity:

  1. Ease of care.
  2. High demand (due to the ability to retain useful elements after heat treatment).

External description:

  • The average size.
  • Height - 10-40 cm.
  • The stem is formed unevenly.
  • The ends of the leaves are blunt.
  • Flowering period - white flowers that are collected in semi-umbrellas.
  • Poor development of the calyx.
  • Fruit size – 1-2.5 mm.

Ripening time – May – June. Plant germination is maintained 3-4 years.

Planting is carried out in open ground.

Disembarkation process:

  1. Clearing the land of weeds.
  2. Adding fertilizers.
  3. Sowing seeds.

Best place to grow - middle lane. The plant does not tolerate hot weather well and yields can be significantly reduced. To reduce exposure to ultraviolet rays, planting is done in early spring. In the case of winter sowing, the soil is covered with straw or humus.

Beneficial features

Benefits of corn salad:

  • Strengthening the walls of blood vessels, improvement of cardiovascular activity. The effect is achieved due to the vitamin A and iron contained in it.
  • Help the gastrointestinal tract. Greens help speed up metabolism and faster absorption of vitamins. After eating there is no desire to rest.
  • Quick saturation of the body.
  • Normalization of intestinal function.
  • Launching the natural process of losing weight.
  • Cleansing the body of toxins.
  • Possibility of increasing the volume of portions due to the fact that the product is low-calorie.
  • Beneficial for colds (due to the high concentration of vitamin C).
  • Getting fiber into the body.
  • Collagen production A. The results of the process: skin renewal, faster regeneration of damaged tissues, increased skin elasticity.
  • Participation in carbohydrate metabolism.
  • Moisturizing the cornea, protecting the organs of vision from drying out. The result of using the product: reduced eye fatigue, improved ability to focus on any object.
  • Cell regeneration (due to folic acid).
  • Participation in the process of hematopoiesis.
  • Increases brain function, improves memory.
  • Strengthening the nervous system, relieving irritability, uplifting mood.
  • Getting rid of migraines.
  • Reducing blood cholesterol levels.
  • Normalization of blood pressure.
  • Fighting dandruff, improving the condition of the scalp (due to the content of healthy oils).
  • Skin whitening(reducing the number of freckles, combating post-acne).
  • Reducing the risk of stroke.
  • Strengthening nail plates.
  • Strong aphrodisiac. Korn enhances male potency. Field salad is an ideal option for a romantic dinner.
  • Increasing the overall tone of the body.

Possible harm

Contraindications for using the product:

  • Having allergies.
  • Increased gas formation.
  • Gastritis or stomach ulcer.

When using oral contraceptives, you should not eat large amounts of lettuce leaves. The reason is that the substances contained in the product can activate the reproductive system.

Various recipes are presented in the table.

Name Description
Bacon and lettuce Step-by-step preparation:

1. Frying bacon in a frying pan.

2. Mixing corn salad with spinach.

3. Place the bacon on the leaves and sprinkle a spoonful of almond flakes on top.

4. Adding a few orange slices. The ingredient is used for freshness.

5. Prepare the sauce from mustard, olive oil, salt and pepper.

6. Baste the bacon with sauce.

Mango and corn Algorithm of actions taken:

1. Mixing mango slices with lettuce leaves.

2. Adding shrimp (pre-cooked).

3. Adding a sauce of wine vinegar, mustard and olive oil to the main dish.

Smoothie with fruits Preparation technology: mix the salad in a blender with a banana, a piece of pineapple, a slice of orange, a spoonful of honey and one glass of almond milk.

The resulting drink contains many beneficial vitamins.

Cream soup Required ingredients:

· bulb onions.

· leek.

· several cloves of garlic.

· 1 liter of water.

· potatoes in the amount of 2 pieces.

Rapunzel salad.

· cream with a high percentage of fat content.

· spices.

Algorithm of actions performed:

1. Chop the onion, add chopped garlic. The mass is sautéed in a saucepan.

2. Add water after a few minutes.

3. After the liquid boils, add chopped potatoes.

4. Adding lettuce leaves and spices.

5. Turn off the soup and add cream.

6. Grind all ingredients using a blender.

Product selection rules:

  1. The color of the leaves is emerald, there should be noticeable veins.
  2. Complete structure (no torn parts).
  3. No rot or unpleasant odor.

Storage is carried out in a plastic or glass container. The leaves must be completely dry before placing them in the container. It is better to place the product away from various vegetables and fruits to prevent rapid rotting and mixing of odors.

Corn salad follows tear into pieces with hands(a metal knife removes the taste of the product). A wooden spatula is used to mix the salad with various ingredients.

Corn salad is a product that has many beneficial properties. Included in salads and soups. The taste characteristics do not change after heat treatment of lettuce leaves.

A healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition and a variety of greens on the table have been a fashionable trend in the last five to ten years. An incredible variety has appeared on store shelves: ice salad, oak salad, corn salad, arugula, garden peppercorns and others. There is no strong taste, they cannot satisfy hunger, they are simply used to decorate plates or add volume to complex salads. Meanwhile, lettuce leaves are a low-calorie product, easy to use and prepare, rich in vitamins and microelements.

There are more than 1,000 types of salads in the world today, and their number is increasing every day. One of the most popular is corn salad. Like many members of the valerian family, field is another name for the plant, like "rapunzel") - an incredibly useful agricultural plant.

Short description

Externally, it is a rather unsightly plant, round in shape with dark green leaves. Mostly it grows in Africa, Asia and some European countries. The plant is annual. The maximum height is forty centimeters.

Culinary experts and scientists place corn salad one step above its garden green relatives. It is believed that it is much healthier and tastier than other salads. French chefs fell in love with the salad for its incredible nutty aroma, softness of the pulp and exquisite range of taste.

Growing

Corn lettuce can be sown at different times due to its short growing season. The seeds are dropped directly into the garden bed. The best harvests are obtained if the plant is planted in early spring. Field lettuce does not readily tolerate hot summers, and in winter it is better to hide it from the cold by covering it with a layer of humus or straw.

Compound

The salad contains a huge amount of biologically active substances. The main ones on the list are the entire group B, vitamins E, A, C, etc. Among the microelements that are found in large quantities in corn salad, we can name: zinc, magnesium, manganese, selenium, phosphorus, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium.

Ascorbic acid, which in salad contains more than 42 percent of the daily requirement, takes the lead. The second is considered vitamin A. The next most popular and quantity in the composition is B6.

Calorie content

With its minimal amount, corn is a healthy food product for those who are losing weight or simply adhering to a healthy lifestyle. One hundred grams of rapunzel salad contains only 23 kcal.

How to choose?

The right choice of salad is the key to not only a healthy, but also a tasty dinner. It is important to remember that it is better to buy corn lettuce during the period of vigorous growth, but after the plant has flowered. Summer salads are the most delicious and healthy. The leaves will be fresh, juicy and with a pronounced nutty taste, for which this type of salad is so famous. The best time to buy is the end of May, June.

When purchasing, you should take a good look at the leaves. They must be smooth, intact, without signs of fading or damage. There should be no yellow or brown spots on the leaves. Only bright green saturated color is welcome.

Corn salad Beneficial features

Even in ancient Rome, healers noticed the incredible healing properties of Valerianella oleracea. The tonic, wound-healing, diuretic and soothing qualities of the plant are noted.


Contraindications

Like most food products, corn salad has a number of contraindications for consumption:

  • Food allergies.
  • Increased gas formation.
  • Peptic ulcer or gastritis.

Doctors also advise women who are protected by using oral contraceptives to avoid eating field salad too often. Since the plant contains substances that activate the reproductive system, the effectiveness of such drugs may be reduced.

But pregnant women, small children, and nursing mothers can safely eat corn salad. If a large number of products are not available to them during this period of life, then this plant is a pleasant and useful exception.

Storage

It is advisable to eat the lettuce as soon as it has been cut. If the plant was purchased in a store, then it is advisable to eat it as quickly as possible. The salad has a short shelf life, about two days in the refrigerator. It is recommended to first wrap the leaves in a paper napkin or newspaper.

Use and preparation

Lettuce is eaten only fresh. All taste, aroma and beneficial qualities will dissolve after heat treatment. You should wash it quickly so that the leaves do not swell when saturated with moisture. Corn salad recipes can be individual or combined in a delicious combination with other products. Many ladies prefer to eat the fragile, aromatic leaves, simply seasoning them lightly with olive oil.

What foods go well with field lettuce?

  • Parsley, cilantro, basil.
  • Boiled meat, bacon.
  • Fish, seafood.
  • Lemon juice or olive oil.
  • Most citrus fruits.
  • Sesame and other nuts.

It is recommended not to cut the salad with a knife, but to tear off the leaves with your hands. You need to season the salad with garden valerian immediately before serving and eating. Prolonged idle time in liquid threatens with missing damp, quickly withered and tasteless leaves.

One average bunch of lettuce contains about 140 grams. One branch contains 5-8 grams.

Recipes