7 Great Substitutes for Frisee: Enhance Your Dishes

Ever find yourself staring at a recipe, realizing you're fresh out of frisee (a curly, bitter-leaf chicory, Cichorium endivia)?

Finding the right substitute can feel like a mini victory. I remember one time, in a pinch, I threw in some arugula instead.

Surprise, surprise - it worked wonders!

Now, we're here to share a secret or two from our cooking adventures. We've found not just one, but seven fantastic swaps for frisee.

Each brings its unique twist to dishes, making your meals pop with flavor and texture.

Ready to transform your cooking with some clever, easy swaps? Stick with us as we guide you through our top picks for frisee substitutes.

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7 Easy Substitutes for Frisee

In this section, we'll walk you through some of our favorite substitutes for frisee. These options will add that much-needed texture and flavor to your dishes.

Green	Taste	Texture	Suitable Dishes
Arugula	Peppery, slightly bitter	Tender, delicate	Salads, sandwiches, pasta dishes
Spinach	Mild, slightly sweet	Tender, delicate	Salads, sautés, omelets, pasta dishes
Watercress	Peppery, slightly bitter	Crisp, crunchy	Salads, sandwiches, soups
Endive	Slightly bitter, slightly sweet	Crisp, crunchy	Salads, appetizers (served in leaves)
Radicchio	Bitter, slightly sweet	Crisp, crunchy	Salads, roasted/grilled dishes
Escarole	Slightly bitter, slightly sweet	Crisp, crunchy	Salads, sautés, soups
Baby Kale	Mild, slightly sweet	Tender, delicate	Salads, sautés, pasta dishes

1 - Arugula

Arugula stands in well for frisee (Eruca sativa, a peppery Brassicaceae green).

Our salads got a new friend when we discovered this swap.

It's not just about the flavor. The texture makes dishes come alive.

We've thrown arugula into recipes on many an occasion. The result?

Always a table hit.

Adjustments? Hardly needed.

Use it in the same amount you would frisee.

Finding arugula isn't hard; supermarkets stock it year-round, and you can also explore arugula salad side dishes that pair well.

This makes our lives easier. No more hunting for elusive greens.

2 - Spinach

Spinach steps in beautifully for frisee (Spinacia oleracea). It's mild and wilts gracefully in warm dishes.

Our plates often feature this green.

It's versatile. We find spinach almost everywhere.

Grocery trips are a breeze.

You can swap it in one-to-one for frisee. Salads, soups, and more.

We've had great success tossing spinach into various meals. Texture and color liven up.

For more ideas on how to use spinach or find alternatives, have a glance at this guide on substitutes for spinach and related sides for spinach stuffed chicken.

3 - Watercress

Watercress stands in for frisee (Nasturtium officinale, a peppery cruciferous green). It has a slight peppery flavor.

We've used it in salads and loved the results.

Its crunch surprises you.

It grows near water, making it a bit of a find. We always get excited spotting it at the market.

You can swap watercress for frisee in a one-to-one ratio. It keeps things lively in both raw and cooked dishes.

Ever threw watercress into a soup? We did.

The dish came alive. It adds a fresh twist.

Perfect for those looking to shake up their greens.

For those curious about other swaps or needing more tips, a peek at this guide on substitutes for watercress might give you more ideas.

4 - Endive

Endive is another great swap (Cichorium endivia, a chicory relative). It's crisp and slightly bitter.

We like how it adds structure to our dishes.

You'll find it works in both raw and cooked recipes. This leaf plays well with others.

Its leaves are firm. This feature helps it keep shape in salads and when cooked.

We've tossed endive into dishes where frisee was the star. It didn't disappoint.

A straight swap, one for one, does the trick.

Endive shines in many meals. We use it just as we would have used frisee.

For those eager to try this substitute in their own recipes, you can find more ideas and tips at this article on substitutes for endive and an endive salad ideas and tips.

5 - Radicchio

Radicchio, oh radicchio. It's a bit bitter and adds a pop of color.

We find it makes salads look pretty snazzy.

It's crisp, making textures in your dish really stand out.

We've tossed radicchio into a lot of our meals. It never fails to make a dish look more appealing.

This leafy veg (an Italian chicory) is easy to find, too.

It swaps in for frisee without any fuss, and works beautifully in recipes like radicchio and pine nut salad.

We use it cup for cup.

Adding radicchio to your recipes? We did, and it always turns up the visual appeal.

6 - Escarole

Escarole is our go-to when freshness is key. It's leafy and broad (a broadleaf chicory).

We chuck it into soups.

Its slightly bitter edge livens dishes.

We've thrown escarole into the mix instead of frisee. It blends well.

You can swap it at a one-to-one ratio. It thrives both raw and heated.

Our dishes smile back with escarole in them. It's sturdy, yet tender enough.

We grab it for bulk and texture.

It stepped in; it stood out. We use it handful for handful.

For those stirring up their leafy greens game, this guide on other leafy greens to consider might catch your eye.

7 - Baby Kale

Baby kale steps up as a standout choice (young Brassica oleracea leaves). It's tender and less bitter than mature kale.

We often mix baby kale into our dishes for that gentle bite.

Its young leaves add a subtle, earthy flavor we can't get enough of.

We swap it in one-for-one with frisee; for serving ideas try kale salad side dishes for pairing.

It cooks down nicely, too, making it versatile for warm and cold recipes alike.

We find it in most grocery stores, right next to its grown-up version.

It's a straightforward swap, easy as pie. We use it just like frisee, cup for cup.