Crisp, colorful, and bursting with flavor, this Mediterranean Radicchio Salad hits all the marks: bitter, sweet, and deliciously elegant.
Say goodbye to boring salads! This Radicchio Salad recipe is a refreshing pop of bold color during the winter months (or anytime of the year). Radicchio by itself tends to be quite bitter, so we paired it with seasonal sweet clementines, salty black olives, and a homemade honey citrus vinaigrette. Like our Niçoise Salad and Fresh Tuna Salad Sandwich, this salad brings the taste of the Mediterranean to your table.
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Ingredients
for the salad:
- RADICCHIO: head of radicchio lettuce
- CLEMENTINES: fresh clementines, peeled and sectioned
- RADISHES: red or white radishes, sliced thin
- BLACK OLIVES: sliced black olives or broken black olives
- GREEN ONION: fresh green onion (scallion)
- CILANTRO: fresh cilantro leaves, torn or chopped
for the dressing:
- LEMON: fresh squeezed lemon juice
- CLEMENTINES: fresh squeezed clementine juice (orange juice works in a pinch).
- VINEGAR: we like rice vinegar for this recipe for its light, neutral flavor.
- HONEY: for a touch of natural sweetness. Use local honey if you can.
- OLIVE OIL: use the best quality extra virgin olive oil you can afford.
- MUSTARD: we like hard grain mustard for this recipe (dijon will work also)
- PEPPER: freshly ground black pepper
- SALT: sea salt or kosher salt
*see recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Assemble the salad: wash radicchio leaves and fan them out on a plate.
- Add clementines: Peel 1 clementine, cut sections out and place on top of salad.
- Add more veggies: sprinkle with olives, radishes, green onions (to taste) and cilantro.
- Make citrus dressing: combine all ingredients except olive oil in a mixing bowl.
- Drizzle olive oil into dressing slowly, whisking until combined.
- Salt to taste
- Serve: drizzle citrus dressing over salad. Enjoy!
Top tip
Do not overdress the salad. You can drizzle a little dressing over the serving plate of salad. Then we recommend dressing each individual portion separately to accommodate everyone's taste. This will also assure that the salad stays crunchy and fresh.
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Substitutions and Variations
- Mixed Greens: is radicchio too bitter? Toss in some mixed greens (mesclun) or arugula.
- Clementines: can't find clementines? Use tangerines or mandarin oranges (canned mandarins work great too!).
- Protein: toss in some grilled chicken, grilled shrimp, or tuna patties to make this salad a main dish.
- Nuts: sprinkle slivered almonds, walnuts, or cashew pieces add crunch (and protein) to this salad.
- Cheese: throw in some crumbled feta or goat cheese for a creamy texture
Storage
- Store salad and dressing separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Make ahead: assemble the salad, then making the dressing. Refrigerate both components separately in airtight container until you are ready to serve.
🥗 More Salad Recipes
- Niçoise Salad with Olive Oil Poached Cod: This heart-healthy, beautiful salad is inspired by Mediterranean flavors. Ready in just 30 minutes!
- Salmon Caesar Salad: Blackened Salmon and homemade croutons give a classic Caesar Salad an upgrade.
- Asian Salad: crunchy, light, and bursting with flavor, this flavor-packed salad comes alive with homemade Cilantro Lime Dressing.
- Lemon Kale Salad: this zesty salad is rich in antioxidants and full of crunchy veggies, tossed in homemade Lemon Herb Vinaigrette.
FAQ
Radicchio is a leafy vegetable known for its vibrant red color and bitter flavor. It belongs to the chicory family and is often used in salads and other culinary dishes.
Yes, radicchio can be eaten raw in salads. Its crisp texture and slightly bitter taste make it a popular ingredient in salads, adding both flavor and visual appeal.
Yes, adding protein such as grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu can turn a radicchio salad into a more substantial meal, providing additional flavor and nutrients.
Yes, you can prepare radicchio salad ahead of time by washing and chopping the radicchio and other ingredients, but it's best to dress the salad just before serving to prevent wilting.
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Radicchio Salad recipe
Crisp, colorful, and bursting with flavor: this Mediterranean Radicchio Salad hits all the marks: bitter, sweet, and deliciously elegant.
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 2-3 servings 1x
Ingredients
for the salad:
- 1 head of radicchio lettuce
- 2 clementines
- ¼ cup radishes sliced thin
- ½ cup black olives (broken)
- 1 green onion
- 1 Tablespoon fresh cilantro
for the dressing:
- 2 ounces fresh lemon juice
- 2 ounces fresh clementine juice
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon hard grain mustard (dijon will work also)
- 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- salt
Instructions
- Assemble the salad by washing leaves of radicchio and fanning them out on a plate.
- Peel 1 clementine, cut sections out and place on top of salad.
- Sprinkle with olives, radishes, green onions (to taste) and cilantro.
- Make dressing by combining all ingredients except olive oil in a mixing bowl.
- Drizzle olive oil into dressing slowly while whisking until combined.
- Salt to taste and drizzle dressing over salad and enjoy.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 304
- Sugar: 19.6 g
- Sodium: 1088.9 mg
- Fat: 21.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 29.1 g
- Protein: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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