Grilled Radicchio Salad Recipes
You can do just about anything you want to make a Grilled Radicchio Salad. Most recipes call for a vinaigrette-type dressing. Some serve the grilled radicchio on top of arugula, baby or other greens; others serve it without the bed of greens. You can top the salad with fresh, pickled or other grilled vegetables such as asparagus, green onions, artichoke hearts, green and yellow wax beans. A popular topping is cheese: blue cheese, goat cheese, shaved Parmesan or Asiago cheese... I had a wonderful warm radicchio salad at an Italian restaurant here in Philadelphia, Io Et Tu, which included crabmeat, and I've seen recipes using other seafood and meats such as grilled chicken.
Bacon Vinaigrette with Grilled Radicchio Salad
Recipe Courtesy Alton Brown
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons bacon drippings
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 heads radicchio, quartered
In a small non-reactive bowl combine all ingredients except radicchio. Whisk until emulsion is formed and reserve at room temperature.
Place quartered radicchio onto a hot grill or grill pan. Cook on each side for approximately 2 minutes per side. You are looking to achieve slightly wilted edges.
Remove from the grill and place onto a plate. Cover with a stainless steel bowl and allow steam to continue cooking radicchio for 5 minutes.
Drizzle vinaigrette over radicchio wedges and serve immediately.
8 servings
Perfectly Grilled Radicchio
Recipe courtesy Michael Chiarello
4 heads radicchio
12 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
2 cups extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 pound mozzarella, cut into 16 pieces
Cut the radicchio in quarters lengthwise, being sure to keep some of the stem attached to each quarter. Trim off any dark bits of stem. Submerge the radicchio quarters in ice water for 1 hour to remove some bitterness. Put a plate on top of the radicchio to keep them under water.
In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients except the mozzarella. Mix well.
Prepare a hot fire in your grill, or heat a cast iron grill pan over medium-high heat.
Drain the radicchio and place them on paper towels to absorb remaining water. Open up the leaves and spoon the olive oil mixture inside. Place the radicchio quarters on a baking sheet and pour the remaining marinade mixture. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Grill the radicchio until browned on the outside but still raw in the center, 3 to 5 minutes, turning occasionally. Be careful, as the oil mixture may flame up.
When the radicchio begins to brown, pull from the grill, open up a section of each portion and place a slice of mozzarella inside. Place quarters back onto the sheet pan and place the pan directly on the grill for 5 minutes to melt the cheese. Drizzle any leftover dressing over the top of the grilled radicchio and serve warm.
If making radicchio in advance: Before the party, have the radicchio drained and marinated in the vinaigrette in the refrigerator.
8 servings
