chicory

[clare]

Hi All,I would like some advice about recipes with chicory in as I grew some and now don't know what to do with it!!Can you use it like spinach or is it too bitter?I fancy the leaves as the head I don't think is self blanching.
Can anyone help,with a simple,recipe?

[contadina]

There are so many varieties over here, that are really different from each other and require different preparation techniques. I'd need to know which variety you had. When cooking chicory it's a good idea to change the water you've cooked it in just before the end as it reduces some of the bitterness. cooked chicory can be eaten as is, with lashings of olive oil, served with pureed broad (fava) beans, rice, mashed potatoes, pasta, added to the middle of focaccia.