Simple Radicchio Salad
This fresh and vibrant radicchio salad is packed with so much flavour, colour, and nutrition! Made with raw radicchio, arugula, ripe pears, crumbled blue cheese, and my forever-favourite balsamic dressing, this wonderful side salad recipe comes together super quickly, too (about 25-ish minutes).
Friends – just look at those bright colours of this radicchio salad! I am obsessed. It’s perfect all year round, but I love the idea of serving this one during the festive holiday season in particular. It goes wonderfully with warm, richer, and heartier main dishes – think proteins like grilled chicken, steak, turkey, or salmon.
Radicchio has a slight bitterness that is offset by the salty, umami flavours from crumbled gorgonzola, the sweetness from ripe, juicy pears, and the acidity of my homemade balsamic dressing. I’ve added an optional step of soaking the radicchio in cold water to remove excess bitterness, if desired. I tested the recipe with and without soaking – both ways work, but that extra soak is recommended if you prefer things less bitter 🙂
Here’s a look at the ingredients:
A note on radicchio: you can often find radicchio in the produce section alongside similar leafy veggies, like endive, lettuce, or cabbage. Try your best to select radicchio with a bold reddish-purple colour and white ribbing, avoiding ones with lots of bruising or wrinkled leaves.
Please note that these pictures are meant to provide a helpful visual overview of the recipe. Full ingredient measurements and detailed instructions are located in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!
Visual guide: how to make radicchio salad (cutting tips!)
STEP 1: Start by removing any dried outer leaves from your head of radicchio. Then, cut off the tough end.
STEP 2: Stand the head of radicchio upright, then cut in half down the middle. Next, remove the tough white inner wedge at the bottom.
STEP 3: Slice each half into rough 1/2-inch pieces, lengthwise.
STEP 4: Then, cut across those lengths to make smaller bite-sized pieces.
STEP 5: To remove excess bitterness, you can now soak the cut radicchio in cold water while you prepare the rest of the salad. I like to do this in a salad spinner – that way, you can easily dry the leaves once you’re done soaking! This part is optional, but helpful if you find radicchio too bitter.
STEP 6: While the radicchio soaks, make the balsamic vinaigrette dressing and get your other ingredients ready (slice pears, crumble blue cheese, etc).
STEP 7: Plate the salad, starting with arugula, then adding the radicchio, sliced pears, pecans, and crumbled blue cheese. Pour dressing overtop.
STEP 8: Toss everything together and serve immediately!
Nutrition benefits of radicchio
As a dietitian, I’m happy to share that radicchio is particularly rich in vitamin K – important for healthy blood clotting and strong bones.
It’s also a source of other micronutrients, such as:
- copper
- vitamin C
- potassium
- iron
- zinc
With its distinctly rich purple/red colour, radicchio is high in health-protective antioxidants called anthocyanins.
More simple salad recipes
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Get the Recipe: Radicchio Salad (Quick, Fresh & Simple!)
Ingredients
- 1 head radicchio
- 2 heaping cups baby arugula
- 1 ripe pear (Bosc or Bartlett)
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (I used gorgonzola)
- 1/2 cup pecans (or walnuts)
- Salt + pepper, to taste
Balsamic vinaigrette dressing:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 a lemon, juice only
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp garlic powder (or 2 minced cloves)
- Salt + pepper, to taste
Instructions
- CUT RADICCHIO: Remove any dried/wrinkled/browned outer leaves. Then, cut off the tough end. Stand the head upright and cut in half down the middle. Remove the tough inner white wedge at the bottom. Slice each half into rough 1/2-inch pieces, lengthwise. Then, cut across those lengths to make smaller bite-sized pieces.
- SOAK RADICCHIO (optional): To remove excess bitterness, you can soak the cut radicchio in cold water while you prepare the rest of the salad. I like to do this in a salad spinner – that way, you can easily dry the leaves once you're done soaking. Be sure to dry them extra well! This part is optional, but helpful if you find radicchio too bitter.
- MAKE DRESSING: Add the dressing ingredients into a small jar or bowl. Shake or whisk to combine well.
- OTHER PREP: Cut the pear into bite-sized pieces. Crumble blue cheese.
- ASSEMBLE SALAD: Plate salad, starting with arugula, DRIED radicchio, sliced pears, pecans, and crumbled blue cheese. Season with salt and pepper, then pour dressing over top. Toss to combine + serve immediately!
Notes
Nutrition
As a dietitian, I create recipes with whole food ingredients that provide the nutrients needed for optimal health. My nutrition philosophy does not focus on numbers; however, I understand that this information can be helpful.
Do note that the nutrition info provided is an estimate and I cannot guarantee correctness of the displayed values. These numbers will differ depending on brands used, recipe modifications, and amount eaten. If you require specific nutrition information due to medical reasons, please consult with your dietitian or physician.
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