While shopping for plant starts last week, we found some starts for frisée greens. Have you ever heard of them or seen them?
The reason I ask is because they are one of the “unsung heroes” of the leafy greens. They can be challenging to find in grocery stores, but if you can find them, they are a worthwhile purchase. As the photos show, frisée greens have curly leaves with light to dark green coloring, with a yellowish tint toward the center of the plant, especially as the plant grows and matures. Frisée greens are in the sunflower plant family which also includes dandelion greens, escarole, endive, and the different varieties of lettuce.
Here is a nutrient comparison of frisée greens with Romaine lettuce:
3 cups chopped frisée greens (150 g)
Calories 25 kcal
Calcium 78 mg
Iron 1.2 mg
Zinc 1.2 mg
Potassium 471 mg
Magnesium 23 mg
3 cups chopped Romaine lettuce (141 g)
Calories 24 kcal
Calcium 46.5 mg
Iron 1.4 mg
Zinc 0.3 mg
Potassium 348 mg
Magnesium 20 mg
In general, Romaine lettuce is thought to be one of the highest in nutrient content in the sunflower family, however frisée greens are higher per calorie in the important minerals: calcium, zinc, potassium, and magnesium. It’s also higher in a number of other nutrients not listed here. As an aside note, frisée can have a bitter flavor (which I actually like), so adding it to salad with a milder lettuce can help balance the bitterness. From our experience, growing it at home can significantly reduce the bitterness 😊
Enjoy!
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