Roikio

Roikio is a wild herbaceous green, a type of spiny chicory that thrives on the island of Kasos, in the South Aegean. It is traditionally gathered in late winter and early spring, and locals usually preserve the plant's leaves in coarse salt for future use.

The leaves of this wild plant are considered to be an excellent source of healthy nutrients and they're appreciated for their sweet and slightly bitter flavor. Roikio can be enjoyed fresh, boiled, or pickled, and it's typically used in salads or stews.

One of the most traditional ways of preparing it on the island is roikio yiahni, a type of stew which calls for cooking the roikio leaves with plenty of olive oil and tomatoes. This wild plant also grows on other islands in the Aegean Sea, including Crete, Astypalea, and Karpathos.