For the section What It Is and How It’s Made, today I talk to you about the difference between chicory and dandelion. I recommend picking the plants always in areas with little pollution, away from roads and car exhaust fumes. Each plant has its properties, however for health doubts or problems I recommend always consulting a specialized doctor.

In Piedmont, since I was a child, we call dandelion ‘girasole’, I know it’s not the correct term, but these are childhood memories you can’t detach from and can’t give them a different name. Do you also have a term that you know is wrong, but you keep using it?

I also leave you with a method on how to preserve chicory.

Chicory Stewed in the Pan

Difficulty: Very Easy
Cost: Very Cheap
Preparation time: 30 Minutes
Portions: 10 people
Cooking methods: Boiling
Cuisine: Italian
Seasonality: Autumn, Winter, and Spring

Ingredients

4.4 lbs chicory, wild, raw (already cleaned)
to taste coarse salt

Steps

Chicory is a well-known medicinal plant and is used both in cooking and natural medicine. It belongs to the Astaraceae family and its flowers are a beautiful blue color, which you can notice in the fields from June to September. The leaves are slightly hairy, and the veins are a reddish color. From a nutritional point of view, it is a plant rich in vitamins, minerals, fibers, and antioxidants, moreover, it is rich in vitamin A and potassium. It is also indicated to combat insomnia.
We incorrectly call dandelion ‘girasole’, the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is also known as ‘lion’, it has green leaves that start from a single base and are milky, its flowers are yellow, which you can notice in the fields from March to November. From a nutritional point of view, it is rich in vitamins (A, B, C, D, E), minerals like calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc, fibers, and antioxidants. It promotes digestion, stimulates diuresis, regulates blood sugar levels, and helps reduce cholesterol. It helps combat insomnia, as it contains inulin, which has a calming effect on the nervous system.
Chicory and dandelion are two similar yet different plants. Starting with flower color, chicory flowers are blue and dandelion flowers are yellow. From a nutritional point of view, chicory is rich in vitamin K and calcium, while dandelion is rich in vitamin A and potassium. Chicory is more suitable to combat insomnia, while dandelion is better for stimulating diuresis.
First, remove the roots and any soil residues from the chicory.
Remove all the dry or yellow leaves, and take out any grass residues left among the chicory.
Now wash it thoroughly under running water, if very dirty I recommend rinsing it several times until you get clear water.
Let it drain slightly.
Fill a large pot about halfway with water, add one or two teaspoons of salt once it boils, and add the cleaned chicory. Cooking time varies depending on how tender they are, it could be 20-30 minutes if they are tougher. Once cooked, place them in a colander to remove excess water.
Once they have cooled, take a portion, squeeze it, and form balls,
Place them in a freezer bag and freeze them, you can enjoy them whenever you prefer.