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italian parsley

What Kind of Parsley Do You Cook With?
Poll

Do You Cook With Flat-Leaf or Curly Parsley?

The other day I was at Whole Foods when I witnessed a very interesting conversation between a customer and one of the produce section's employees.
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The other day I was at Whole Foods when I witnessed a very interesting conversation between a customer and one of the produce section's employees. She asked him where the parsley was, and when he pointed her toward the Italian flat-leaf parsley, she said, "That's not parsley!" I was surprised that she had never heard of Italian parsley. It, naturally, got me thinking about parsley preferences. I always cook with flat-leaf. How about you?

Don't Skip The Garnish: Italian Parsley Is Loaded With Good Things
Vitamin C

Don't Skip The Garnish: Italian Parsley Is Loaded With Good Things

It seems that every recipe I make these days calls for chopped fresh Italian parsley to be sprinkled over the finished product.
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It seems that every recipe I make these days calls for chopped fresh Italian parsley to be sprinkled over the finished product. I will be the first to admit I have become a lazy cook and lately I've been skipping that final step. I've been going un-garnished. I was curious, by omitting this finishing touch, was I missing out on adding extra nutrients to my meals. It looks like the answer is yes; I have been short changing myself a bit.

This gem of an herb is chock full of vitamin K, vitamin A, folate, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber, like most green, leafy veggies. Italian parsley is also full of flavanoids containing antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties. Most importantly, parsley of all varieties is high in volatile oils that inhibit tumor formation in the lungs, at least in animals. The activity of parsley's volatile oils qualifies it as a "chemoprotective" food, and in particular, a food that can help neutralize particular types of carcinogens.

With that knowledge I will take the extra minute or two needed to chop my parsley and toss it on my dish. How about you?