Canons: properties, benefits and uses in the kitchen

Lamb’s lamb’s lettuce, with a light nutty flavor and crunchy texture, give an unmistakable touch to winter salads. Its green leaves, very rich in vitamin C, folic acid and minerals like iron and potassium, make them a nutritional treasure trove.

These plants make our hearts happy light up salads and make them delicate and rich in fleeting and precious vitamins.

The first references to cultivation of lamb’s lettuce appear in a German ecclesiastical treatise of 1588, but it is possible that they were already consumed in ancient egypt because they seem represented in reliefs.

Some argue that this tiny plant is Originally from Sicily and Sardinia. What we do know is that lamb’s lettuce is cultivated in the temperate zone of Europe and that in the rest of the planet it is hardly cultivated or consumed. It is quite a European delight.

Of the valerianella locustaa relative of the popular valerian, is said to have been baptized as lamb’s lettuce because it was a common crop in the gardens of monasteries and rectories. It is also known as alfaces, dulceta, lamb’s lettuce or milamores. The name “cat grass” is due to the fact that its smell attracts them powerfully and they eat it to purge themselves.

Like other plant treasures, during the 18th and 19th centuries fell into oblivion with the appearance of varieties of lettuce adapted to the cold, more profitable and less laborious to cultivate. It has been in recent years when agricultural and packaging technology have put lamb’s lettuce back on household tables.

If you are lucky enough to enjoy a trip through the castles of the Loire in winter, you will see large areas dedicated to its cultivation. At the moment 75% of its production comes from France (mâche is his French name).

Nutritional values ​​of lamb’s lettuce

How many calories do canons have?

The lamb’s lettuce is a very light and healthy vegetable. In every 100 grams of these leaves we find:

Calories: 21 caloriesproteins: 2 gFats: 0.4gCarbohydrates: 0.7gFiber: 2.4g

What properties do canons have?

Lamb’s lettuce gathers the three antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E), along with valuable phytonutrients. Added to this is their good iron and potassium content, which makes them anti-anemic and diuretic. We review the main properties of canons:

Provitamin A. Lamb’s lettuce is very rich in beta-carotene (provitamin A), its most important nutrient. A 100-gram serving satisfies 70% of the daily needs for this vitamin.Vitamins C and E. They contain a remarkable reserve of vitamin C (100 grams cover half of the daily needs), along with a small dose of vitamin E.Folic acid. Lamb’s lettuce stands out, like other green leaves, for its folic acid, a great cell protector which helps fix iron in the blood and actively participates in the production of white blood cells. A 100-gram serving provides half of what is needed per day.Iron. With its 2 mg of iron per 100 g (a figure similar to that of meat), lamb’s lettuce is an appreciable source of this mineral, essential for carrying oxygen to the cells and avoid anemia.

Health benefits of canons

Although it is a food with an excellent nutritional composition, the benefits of the canons are limited by the quantities in which we usually consume them, about 25-30 grams.

The natural medicine It recognizes diuretic, cleansing, digestive, relaxing, hair and nail strengthening, and eye protection effects.

In addition, the canons are useful in anemia and for the kidneys, bones, and nervous and cardiovascular systems.

But perhaps the most particular effect is due to its content in compounds called valepotriates, some natural sedatives present in lamb’s lettuce capable of relaxing the central nervous system.

The canons in the kitchen

The best way to enjoy its fresh, herbaceous, slightly acid flavor with hints of walnut is, without a doubt, eat them raw.

If you are lucky enough to pick up wild lettuceto clean them, it is enough to remove the rootlets and wash the rosettes quickly in a bowl with very cold water, even ice cold, and a few drops of vinegar, for safety.

In salads with acidic or warm seasonings they should added at the last moment so the leaves don’t get limp. And the same if you are going to cook with them. To respect the properties of the canons, hecooking should be minimal; usually a minute will suffice for them to soften.

They can even be placed raw on the plate that has already been served and is still hot, such as a freshly baked pizza.

As for his dishmates, It goes well with asparagus, raw or cooked beets, roasted or mashed pumpkin, carrots, grated raw celeriac, fennel, tomatoes, corn, avocados, cucumbers, mushrooms and especially potatoes, one of its favorite accompaniments. The texture of the lamb’s lettuce goes well with almost any recipe.

Purchase and preservation of canons

Before purchasing, it must be checked that they do not have limp leaves or that they begin to yellow. They must be stiff and lustrous with a very intense green color.

It is going well shake the bags to check if condensation has made them sticky and there are crushed leaves.

Excessive humidity does not sit well with them; that’s why it works well store them in a container with kitchen paper in the background, in order to absorb it.

the canons They do not usually last more than 2 or 3 days, so it is not convenient to buy them if they are not going to be consumed soon. In any case, they must be kept in the refrigerator as maximum three days.