Description
A refreshing Mediterranean Radicchio Salad featuring crisp radicchio leaves treated to remove bitterness, combined with briny Castelvetrano olives, crunchy marcona almonds, toasted gluten-free panko breadcrumbs, and tangy manchego cheese. The salad is perfectly dressed with a creamy tarragon vinaigrette, creating a harmonious balance of flavors and textures that is ideal as a light lunch or vibrant side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 small heads radicchio
- ½ cup Castelvetrano olives, sliced
- ¼ cup marcona almonds, chopped (or regular unsalted almonds)
- ⅓ cup gluten-free panko breadcrumbs, toasted
- ½ cup manchego cheese, shaved
- ¼ cup creamy tarragon dressing
Instructions
- Prepare the radicchio: Cut the radicchio into quarters and carefully remove the core from each quarter to eliminate tough parts.
- Reduce bitterness: Place the radicchio pieces into a large bowl of ice-cold water. Using your hands, gently squeeze and massage the radicchio to help release some of its natural bitterness.
- Dry the radicchio: Drain the radicchio and use a salad spinner to spin out excess water thoroughly. Alternatively, pat the leaves dry gently with a clean kitchen towel to ensure they are not soggy.
- Toss with dressing: Place the dried radicchio in a large bowl, add the creamy tarragon dressing, and toss gently to coat the leaves evenly without bruising them.
- Add other ingredients: Add the sliced Castelvetrano olives, chopped marcona almonds, and toasted gluten-free panko breadcrumbs to the bowl. Toss everything again gently to combine all flavors and textures.
- Serve: Transfer the salad to a serving platter or bowl and generously top with shaved manchego cheese. Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor experience.
Notes
- To toast the gluten-free panko breadcrumbs, heat a dry skillet over medium heat and stir the crumbs often until golden and crisp, about 3-5 minutes.
- If you prefer, regular almonds can be substituted for marcona almonds without significantly changing the flavor profile.
- The ice-cold water soak helps mellow the natural bitterness of radicchio, making the salad more palatable.
- This salad is naturally gluten-free as long as gluten-free panko breadcrumbs are used.
- Additions such as a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a sprinkle of cracked black pepper can elevate the flavors further.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: Mediterranean salad, radicchio salad, tarragon vinaigrette, gluten-free salad, marcona almonds, manchego cheese, healthy salad
