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Friday, October 17, 2014

Health Benefits of Chives

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Chives Healthy Recipes

As far as daily recommended values, a generous serving of two tablespoons of chopped chives gives you 16 percent of what's needed in vitamin K, Known primarily for forming and strengthening bones and limiting neuronal damage in the brain, vitamin K is used in the treatment of Alzheimer's. Chives are an excellent source of vitamin A –145 percent of the daily recommended value per 100 grams – more than any other allium, and with it, carotenes, which are flavonoid antioxidants like zeaxanthin and lutein that protect you from lung and mouth cancers.
While some have trouble telling the difference between chives (related to the lily family), scallions, and even green onions, a few characteristics help chives stand apart. A member of the allium family with garlic, shallots, and leeks, chive "stalks" are extremely slender and hollow with the appearance of lush, one-foot-high grass, the largest being less than the circumference of a pencil. Perennials that stand a foot tall on average, chives are hardy and draught tolerant, growing in tight bunches. In mid-summer, they form beautiful lavender blossoms with the appearance of spiky spheres.
Chives are an attractive garnish for green salads, taste great when sprinkled on grilled fish or baked potatoes, and add dimension to creamy potato soup. They're delicious stirred up in mashed potatoes fines herbes (the classic French combination of chervil, parsley, chives, and tarragon) with a dollop of sour cream. Deviled or scrambled eggs, butters, vinegars, sauces, and nearly any vegetable can be enhanced with a sprinkling of chopped chives. If needing a substitute for this herb, slicing the length of a leek leaf thinly before chopping is a close second. If cooking with chives, it's best to add them at the last moment to retain their nutritive benefits.

A Chives Healthy Recipe


  • 3 eggs
  • 1 Tbsp. butter
  • 1 - 1½ Tbsp. fresh fines herbes
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  1. Beat the eggs together with the salt, pepper, and fines herbes.
  2. Heat the butter in a pan until almost bubbly. Pour in the eggs.
  3. Gently stir the eggs with the flat back of a fork until cooked to your desired doneness.
  4. Fold the omelette into thirds and slide onto a plate. Place a small pat of butter in the center of the omelette for a fresh, glossy appearance. Serve immediately.
High in vitamins A, C, and K and known for having antioxidant power to take the bite out of free radicals, chives contain flavonoid antioxidants like carotenes, zeaxanthin, lutein, and many other healthful phytonutrients. They've been shown in clinical studies to have anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties, even inhibiting salmonella in certain foods, lowering high blood pressure, and reducing the risk of gastric, lung, esophageal, stomach, and mouth cancers. Try snipping a small handful of chopped chives in your next quiche for a hint of pleasantly subtle flavor.
Novice gardeners find chives easy to grow. Chives thrive in full sun and rich, moist soil, although they'll tolerate partial sun and other soil types and still produce generously. Depending on your culinary needs, harvest by snipping a small handful an inch above the ground when they're around six inches tall. Chives grow so rapidly that before long the area you cut first will be ready for harvest again. Each spring's crop is generally double the last, so thinning keeps the chive section of your herb garden tidy.
To even out a section of your chives, a sharp chop with a shovel several inches into the dirt can remove root clumps and all. Give a clump to a friend! This is a great way to share this lovely, versatile garden herb.   

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