Recently Dr. Oz announced that eating 1/2 cup of endive two times a week is a fantastic tool in preventing ovarian cancer. That’s only a cup a week, or the equivalent of one head of endive! Even better, you never need to wash endive before using AND it costs less than bagged salad.
Here are some easy and delicious ways to include one endive in your diet each week:
1 – IN A SALAD
Slice endive heads crosswise, discarding the core, Serve by itself or mix with other lettuces in a salad. Crisp and refreshing, endive adds crunch along with a captivating bittersweet flavor.
2 – AS A DIPPER
Individual endive leaves make a crisp dipper for hummus, salsa or other healthy dips. There’s only one calorie per leaf, that’s why endive is called the “Slimmer Dipper.”
3 – AS A CRADLE
Use curvacous endive leaves as an elegant cradle or boat for almost any filling. It holds up better than chips or crackers, is less expensive, and healthier too.
4 – WITH FRUIT, NUTS OR CHEESE
Pair endive with fresh fruit, such as apples or pears, walnuts or other nuts, and cheeses–especially blue cheese in a salad or as a workday snack.
5 – IN A SMOOTHIE
Endive’s naturally bittersweet taste blends well with fruits and vegetables, offering a complex, earthy balance to healthy smoothies.
And Don’t Forget the Kids!
Children love the crunch of endive. Here’s a recipe for a healthy fruit dip that will put smiles on their faces.
Raspberry-Yogurt Dip
Makes about 2 cups, serves 8 to 10
1 cup walnuts
1 cup frozen raspberries, defrosted and drained
1 cup unflavored Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest (green part only)
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
Place walnuts in the bowl of a food processor and process till finely ground. In a large bowl, fold together the ground walnuts with the remaining ingredients. Serve with endive spears.
