Chives

Chives,scientific name Allium schoenoprasum, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae that produces edible leaves and flowers.[3] Their close relatives include the common onions, garlic, shallot, leek, scallion , and Chinese onion.

A perennial plant, it is widespread in nature across much of Europe, Asia, and North America.

A. schoenoprasum is the only species of Allium native to both the New and the Old Worlds.

Chives are a commonly used herb and can be found in grocery stores or grown in home gardens. In culinary use, the green stalks (scapes) and the unopened, immature flower buds are diced and used as an ingredient for omelettes, fish, potatoes, soups, and many other dishes. The edible flowers can be used in salads. Chives have insect-repelling properties that can be used in gardens to control pests.

The plant provides a great deal of nectar for pollinators. It was rated in the top 10 for most nectar production (nectar per unit cover per year) in a UK plants survey conducted by the AgriLand project which is supported by the UK Insect Pollinators Initiative.

Health benefits:

• Cancer : Research has linked vegetable-rich diets with a reduced risk of many types of cancer. Some research has specifically suggested that allium vegetables, including chives, could have anticancer effects.

• Sleep and mood: Chives contain a small amount of choline. Choline is an important nutrient that helps maintain the structure of cellular membranes. Choline also helps with mood, memory, muscle control, and other brain and nervous system functions.

• Other health benefits :A source of vitamin K/A source of folate contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which are carotenoids. To accumulate in the retina of the eye to help prevent age-related macular degeneration.

• Inflammation: Though no research has connected chives with inflammation, one 2015 study reported that garlic may reduce inflammation in the body. Inflammation is linked with various health conditions, including heart disease and several cancers.

Serving ways:

• Little Toasts

Fresh goat cheese with crushed red pepper and chives...sautéed chicken livers with black pepper and chives...asparagus, sliced eggs, and chives...

• Starters

Blini with trout roe, creme fraiche, and chives...cold-smoked salmon on pumpernickel with chives...tea sandwiches with chive compound butter and thinly sliced radishes...

• Eggs

Eggs en cocotte with chives...an omelet of chives and d'Affinois cheese...soft-boiled eggs with Irish butter and minced chives...

• Soups

Lettuce and pea soup with chives...lobster chowder with cream and chives...vichyssoise with dollops of chive-flecked whipped cream...

• Salads

Egg salad with crumbled crisp bacon and chives over watercress...steamed spring potatoes bathed in celery and chive compound butter...potato salad with preserved lemons and chives... artichoke, fava bean, and pea salad, shrimp and celery salad, crab salad, chicken salad, egg salad, beet salad, string bean and feta salad, Waldorf salad--all with chives...

• Vegetables

Asparagus with favas and chives...favas with black pepper and chive compound butter...buttered peas with chive blossoms...buttered peas with lots of chopped mint and chives...

• Main Dishes

Creamy veal and mushroom stew showered with chives...chicken poached in cream with chives... finely chopped steamed lobster on capellini with butter and chives...fillet of sole with chive compound butter...