How to prepare and enjoy chicory seeds?

But how did we get here?

Although not the best-known chicory, it has been surprising our palates since 1858. It was the first chicory-based product to appear at Leroux. But from the plant, or rather the root, to the caramelized seeds: what happened?

At Leroux, chicory comes in all its forms. Cichorium intybus sativum, more commonly known as industrial chicory, is sown around March-April and grown mainly in northern France. A rosette of leaves forms, and then it’s the root’s turn to accumulate its reserves. The roots are pulled out in autumn. Once harvested, the chicory root is washed, stripped of its leaves and cut into strips called cossettes. These, containing around 76% water, are then dried and stored.

Now it’s the Master Roaster’s turn! At Leroux, roasting is responsible for the development of the brown color and aromas typical of roasted chicory. These changes are due to the caramelization of the juices. At this stage, our master roasters control these transformations through temperature and roasting time. The cooled, roasted cossettes are then crushed to produce the famous chicory beans you’ll find in your kitchen (and wish you knew how to prepare!).

How to prepare chicory seeds

Its basic use is simply with coffee. Placed in the filter at a ratio of ¼ chicory to ¾ coffee, it reduces the caffeine content of your beverage and softens its taste by adding that light caramel flavour. This makes it ideal for those who don’t like their coffee too strong, or who prefer it lighter… in the morning and throughout the day.

3 recipes 3 preparation methods

1. An infusion?

Granulated chicory can also be infused in water or milk, for use as a beverage or in a wide range of preparations (savoury, sweet or even alcoholic). It’s like a variation on liquid chicory, which is used more in cooking. It is consumed infused for its sweet, slightly caramelized taste and absence of caffeine.

Heat your water to a simmer. Place the equivalent of one or two teaspoons of chicory seeds in a tea ball. Leave to infuse for a few minutes. Enjoy throughout the day.

Note: you can also infuse it in milk or a vegetable drink.

2. And a chicory crème brûlée, one!

Infused, it can also be used in other recipes, particularly sweet ones. It replaces coffee in a tiramisu, for example, for a coffee-free dessert, or vanilla (or even chocolate) in a crème brûlée to add that delicious caramel flavor. Would you like to know more about our chicory crème brûlée recipe?

For 6 people, you need the following ingredients:

– 20 cl vegetable or animal milk
– 1 teaspoon chicory seeds
– 100 g caster sugar
– 6 egg yolks (preferably organic)
– ½ liter single cream
– a little brown sugar (or brown Vergeoise)

Start by bringing the milk to the boil. Remove from the heat, add the chicory and leave to infuse for a few minutes. Preheat oven to 100°C. Mix the sugar and egg yolks in a bowl with a whisk or mixer, then add the milk and cream. Blend. Pour into ramekins and bake for 1 hour. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with powdered sugar, vergeoise or brown sugar, and burn.

3. End the day with an alcohol-free chicory cocktail

Ingredients:

– 1 tablespoon chicory seeds
– ½ liter water
– ½ lemon
– ½ liter strawberry nectar
– 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Prepare chicory as an infusion: infuse 1 tablespoon of chicory seeds in ½ liter of simmering water for about 10 minutes over low heat. Place the infusion in an ice cube tray. Leave in the freezer for at least 1 hour.

Place the juice of half a lemon and the brown sugar in a shaker. Mix with a wooden spoon. Add chicory ice cubes and strawberry nectar. Shake shaker shaker, and serve in a frosted glass. Add a mint or basil leaf to further surprise the taste buds. This astonishing recipe awakens the taste buds with its atypical, half-caramelized, half-spicy flavor.

Although delicious simply added to your coffee, chicory is much more versatile than you might think. It can be enjoyed in many forms (soluble, liquid…), and for its many uses. In fact, if you burn a few chicory beans in a saucer, it will purify and deodorize every room in your home!