Content
Chicory is blanched before freezing
Cold sleep for chicory
The pale winter shoot of chicory is a typical winter vegetable that provides us with vitamins and minerals. As a rule, fresh chicory keeps some days in the dark vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. If you would like to stock up, you can also freeze the chicory.
Preparing chicory for cold sleep
In order for the winter vegetables to be stored in the freezer, you must first prepare it thoroughly.
Although the bitterness of the vegetables has a positive effect on the digestion, the particularly bitter stalk of the chicory should be removed. Therefore, cut out the lower stem of the vegetables in a wedge shape with a sharp, pointed knife. Then wash the chicory and blanch the individual leaves. The vegetables can also be split in half and then blanched.
Proper blanching
Blanching vegetables has some advantages:
To take advantage of this, dip the prepared vegetables in boiling water for a few minutes. Then cool it off briefly in ice water. Chicory halves blanch for about 4 to 5 minutes, single leaves at most 1 to 2 minutes.
Freeze chicory in stock
Once the vegetables have been prepared and blanched, they can be stored in suitable freezer bags or freezer boxes in the freezer. Chicory stays fresh for about ten months. However, after defrosting he loses his "bite" and gets soft in its consistency. Therefore, he should not be prepared as a salad. In a casserole or as an ingredient in a wok vegetables, you can easily use the winter vegetables as a tasty addition.
Finished dishes, such as casseroles or stews with chicory, can be stored in suitable containers as usual and stored for months without any loss of taste.