You’re probably thinking, “What’s so mighty about Curly Parsley?” but don’t be too hasty to write this veggie/herb off!  First, curly parsley is in the wonderful Carrot Family…the Apiaceae family to be technically correct…which is one good reason why it goes wonderfully with cooked carrots.  Second, while it got pushed to the side by Italian (or Flat Leaf) Parsley after a long stint in the 70s, 80s & 90s as the dominant parsley (albeit mostly as a garnish to French dishes) it’s due for a revival soon.

Besides adding decoration to any dish or adding flavor to homemade stock, keep in mind curly parsley is a nutritionally dense vegetable.  In ½ cup of fresh, chopped parsley you’ll find 1 gram of protein and get 108% of the Vitamin A, 53% of the Vitamin C and 545% of the Vitamin K that you need!!!  It also is rich in antioxidants & nutrients that can help protect your eyes, fight cancer and improve heart health.  Yes…we’re talking about curly parsley still!

Also, curly parsley is so easy to add to your diet.  Stir fresh leaves into most sauces, mix finely chopped leaves into your salad dressings (or into the greens themselves), finely chop the stems and add to a potato salad for an extra crunch.  It’s also easy to grow at home in a pot or garden bed so you can enjoy it fresh any time!  Plus the plants will attract Black Swallowtail butterflies…as caterpillars, these butterflies LOVE to chomp on the leaves.  And don’t worry if they strip them completely bare, the plants will grow back in no time at all. 

So…great for cooking, great for your health and great for butterflies…now can you see why we think Curly Parsley is a mighty veggie? 

Use Curly Parsley, or any varitey in this Carrot, Garlic, and Parsley dish!