Belgian endives are a somewhat less common vegetable in Canada. They have a crisp texture and a slightly bitter yet nutty flavour making them absolutely delicious in salads!
Belgian endives are a rather elegant vegetableand are used alot in french salads. Endives are delicious both raw and cooked. I love grilling an endive with some olive, salt and pepper and fresh lemon and parm. Braised endives are also worth a try. As you can see, they are such a versatile vegetable so next time you see them at your grocery store, be sure to give them a try!
This salad is a true showstopper. Beautiful, elegant and delicious, this salad would make an excellent side dish for your next dinner party or luncheon. I love the combination of the bitter endive, salty bacon and parmigiano and nutty toasted pine nuts. The lemony vinaigrette brightens up the whole dish and fresh chives add a beautiful touch of green. An all around perfect salad!
Serves: 4 - 6 people
Total Time: 25 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
For the Salad:
2 belgian endives
1 small head of radicchio
¼ cup toasted pine nuts
1-2 rashers of cooked bacon
½ cup shaved parmigiana reggiano
For the Dressing:
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon dijon
a pinch of salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon fresh chives
3 tablespoons good quality olive oil
INSTRUCTIONS:
For the Dressing:
Combine all the ingredients, except the olive oil, in a small mixing bowl
Slowly pour in the olive oil, whisking constantly until you have a well combined vinaigrette
For the Salad:
Arrange the belgian endives in a single layer on a serving platter
Tear the radicchio into large pieces and layer the leaves on top of the endives
Cook the bacon in a small skillet until nice and crispy, drain off the fat and crumble the bacon into small pieces and sprinkle on the salad
Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet until just golden brown. Watch them carefully as they burn easily! Sprinkle the pine nuts onto the salad
Using a vegetable peeler, shave thin slices of fresh parmigiano reggiano and sprinkle onto the salad
Lastly, drizzle the dressing evenly over the salad and finish with freshly cracked pepper
Enjoy!
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