lthough they are similar in appearance, radicchio and red cabbage are two completely different vegetables, with vast differences in taste, texture, and uses. Radicchio, also called Italian chicory, is a bitter, leafy vegetable that originated in Italy but is now widely grown in California. A staple in Italian cooking, radicchio is a member of the sunflower family, which also includes chicories and endives. It contains many antioxidants, and has twice as much copper and zinc as red cabbage. 

Strikingly similar in appearance to red cabbage, the deep magenta of radicchio's leaves contrast with its bright white core and veins. And while the leafy vegetable is shaped like a small head of cabbage, the leaves are not so tightly packed together. Cabbage is much denser than radicchio, and has a higher water content, which contributes to it's hefty weight.