Escarole | Chicory

In Italy, escarole is a culinary pillar, especially in the south. It is famously paired with "powerful" ingredients that balance its bitterness:

: A splash of balsamic or lemon juice acts as a chemical "mute" for the bitterness, letting the nutty flavors shine. chicory escarole

Visually, escarole is a trickster. It looks like a sturdy head of romaine or green leaf lettuce , but its leaves are thicker, wavier, and far more resilient. In Italy, escarole is a culinary pillar, especially