This gorgeous, vibrant Radicchio Salad is made with Variegato di Castelfranco and Rosa Radicchio! The salad is a simple preparation, topped with an herby, tangy green goddess dressing. It takes only minutes to make, but is an elegant dish that will brighten up any table!
In the Whole Foods produce section, I’m like a kid in a candy store. I’m lucky that my local store carries so many beautiful vegetable varieties, some of which are impossible to find anywhere else near me. This Radicchio Salad is the perfect example of a rarer vegetable variety that is a joy for me to pick up – in this case, with two different types of radicchio.
Variegato di Castelfranco is a type of radicchio that grows in beautifully light green leaves, ranging from chartreuse to olive green, with characteristic dark pink speckles on the leaves. Radicchio Rosa is another variety that grows light pink leaves, with shades from baby pink to light mauve. Because both of these chicories are so stunning on their own, I wanted to essentially let them be in the recipe, topped only with a green goddess dressing that would complement their flavors without overshadowing them, and a little bit of chopped parsley for garnish. The dressing is made with sour cream, fresh lemon, and herbs – so simple and delicious! I know you’ll love this salad, enjoy! :)
If you love elegant, delicious, visually stunning salads, you’ll also love my Asparagus Caesar Salad with Radicchio and my Winter Niçoise Salad with Sunchokes!
Simple Radicchio Salad w/ Green Goddess Dressing
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 Head Radicchio Rosa pink radicchio
- 1 Head Variegato di Castelfranco Radicchio
- Fresh Parsley for garnish, optional
Green Goddess Dressing (will likely make more than you need)
- 1/3 Cup Sour Cream
- 1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Juice from 1 Lemon freshly squeezed
- 1/2 Tsp Salt or more, to taste
- Black Pepper to taste
- 1/4 Cup Fresh Basil packed
- 1/4 Cup Fresh Parsley packed
- 1/4 Cup Fresh Chives packed
- 1 Sprig Dill
Instructions
- Begin by washing and drying the radicchio. Cut off the bottoms, then separate the leaves, arranging them on a platter. Set aside.
- Make the green goddess dressing by combining all dressing ingredients into a blender, and blending on high until smooth and creamy.
- Pour as little or as much of the dressing onto the radicchio as you'd like. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if you'd like. Serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- If you can’t find variegated and rosa radicchio in your store, regular radicchio will be just fine!
- Feel free to blanch the greens for the green goddess dressing if you’d like. However, you don’t need to.
- Another fun way to eat this would be to serve the dressing on the side, and dip the leaves of radicchio into it like chips. I love eating lettuce this way! :)
Nutrition
Simple Radicchio Salad w/ Green Goddess Dressing FAQs
How long will the Green Goddess dressing last in the refrigerator?
The dressing will last in the refrigerator for about 4-5 days!
Can I use other herbs in the Green Goddess dressing?
Sure! Feel free to use any blend of herbs that you like, as long as you keep the total volume around 3/4 cup – 1 cup. You can try adding in fresh thyme or oregano, cilantro, or tarragon to the mix!
Is radicchio a cabbage or lettuce?
Radicchio is neither a cabbage nor a lettuce! It’s a type of chicory, belonging to the Asteraceae botanical family. Asteraceae also includes endive, frisée, and escarole. Chicories are noted for their bitter flavor. In fact, there is a type of coffee-esque drink made from the chicory root, simply called chicory. I love this blend by Café du Monde out of New Orleans that contains coffee and chicory (affiliate link!). Since chicory doesn’t contain caffeine, it’s a great way to get the bitter, rich taste of coffee without as much caffeine.
What is the best way to eat radicchio?
I love eating radicchio raw, but you can also sauté it, steam it, or bake it! Cooking the radicchio will help reduce the bitterness.
Is radicchio bitter?
Yes, radicchio can be a bit bitter. Chicories like radicchio, endive, and frisée are bitter because they contain compounds that activate our bitter taste receptors.
What does radicchio pair well with?
I love eating radicchio with a creamy dressing like this, because the creaminess helps cut through the bitterness and pungency of the leaves. I also have a delicious Asparagus Caesar Salad with radicchio that has a creamy, tart dressing. You can also sauté or fry radicchio into a delicious Veggie Fried Rice for extra nutrients and fiber!
P.S.
For more plant-forward recipes and New England lifestyle inspiration, be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok! If you make a recipe, please tag me in the photo and use the hashtag #wellandfull so I can see! I love seeing your creations!
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