Radicchio Salad with Chives and Hazelnuts
on Dec 15, 2023, Updated Dec 04, 2024
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A delicious and satisfying Radicchio Salad with Chives and Hazelnuts! The crunchy radicchio paired with the nuttiness of the hazelnuts, tossed together with a beautiful and tangy Dijon vinaigrette is just magical. You can make this salad in one large bowl, dressing and all, or make your dressing ahead of time, and toss it all together when it’s time to serve.
If you’re looking for another chicory recipe, be sure to check out our Radicchio and Endive Salad with Miso Dressing!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Simple: This is a salad we go back to time and time again because it can be paired with almost any meal, and it requires minimal equipment and ingredients.
- Customizable: While we are using hazelnuts and chives, you can use any of your favorite ingredients to build your own salad with the radicchio.
- Vegetarian and Vegan Friendly: The base of this salad is perfect for any diet, with no dairy or meat. If you want to make this vegan, just substitute the honey with any of your other favorite sweeteners.
Recipe Ingredients
Below are the ingredients you need to make this recipe, including all our tips and substitutions.
Radicchio: Which is part of the chicory family! It tastes bitter (in a good way!), and is super crunchy. Paired with a simple dijon sherry vinaigrette, it is just perfect. You can substitute with any type of chicory available to you such as endives or chioggia.
Chives: I love the flavor chives bring to a salad, so earthy, garlicky, and oniony. It’s everything I love in a salad.
Hazelnuts: For a great crunchy element, I love toasted hazelnuts, they add nuttiness, richness and even more crunch to this salad.
Dijon Sherry Vinaigrette: Just a simple, classic dressing with sherry vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper, streamed in with extra-virgin olive oil. You can opt to substitute any other vinegar, though, like red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar.
The full list of ingredients with exact quantities can be found on the recipe card below.
Tips and Substitutions
- Toast the Hazelnuts: Toast hazelnuts in a dry pan to enhance their nutty flavor!
- Make It Ahead: If you are making this ahead of time, prepare your dressing in a separate small mixing bowl and set aside in the fridge until ready to toss with your salad in the large bowl.
- Radicchio Substitutions: If you don’t love the bitter taste of radicchio, you can sub with endive for a more subtle chicory, butter lettuce, or arugula.
- Add-Ons: Add on any of your favorite fruits, like pears, or any cheese of choice. Make this a full meal by adding grilled chicken, shrimp, or steak.
How to Make Radicchio Salad
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, add in sherry vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine. Slowly start streaming in your olive oil, while whisking, to emulsify your dressing.
Step 2: Add in your radicchio, red butter lettuce, toasted hazelnuts, and finely chopped chives directly into the large mixing bowl. Give it a big toss until completely combined.
The full detailed instructions can be found on the recipe card below.
Serving Recommendations
Looking for some ideas to serve this radicchio salad recipe? We have you covered!
- Meatballs: Herb Lamb Meatballs with a Horseradish Dipping Sauce and Italian Pecorino Meatballs in Marinara Sauce is a great place to start!
- Dinner: Garlic Herb Roasted Chicken and Moroccan Inspired Rack of Lamb with Turmeric Couscous are the perfect accompaniment to this salad.
- For the perfect holiday dinner, serve this salad with Prime Rib with Au Jus and Creamed Spinach with Parmesan.
Radicchio Salad FAQs
Yes, absolutely! Keep it mind that radicchio is bitter when eaten raw, so if that’s not a flavor you like in lettuce, then you may not like it raw. I like to toss with a tangy sauce to bring down the bitterness and balance out the flavors.
Oranges would be lovely, or any other citrus segments like lemon or grapefruit! Thinly sliced red onion, shaved sweet apples, pomegranate arils, herbs like parsley, or avocado would work great here.
This recipe is dairy-free! But you can opt to add any of your favorite cheese like shredded parmesan cheese or pecorino cheese. Shaved manchego cheese would also be lovely here!
More Salad Recipes
If you do make this Radicchio Salad with Chives and Hazelnuts recipe, leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, we would love to hear what you think! Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram, we love to see what you’re making! If you’d like to stay in touch and get the latest in your inbox, sign up for our Newsletter. We can also be found on YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest!
Radicchio Salad with Chives and Hazelnuts
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Sherry vinegar
- 1/2 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium head of radicchio, halved, cored, leaves separated, gently torn into bite-sized pieces
- 1 medium head of red butter lettuce, leaves separated, gently torn into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup finely chopped toasted hazelnuts, plus more to top
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives, plus more to top
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl or serving bowl, make your Dijon Sherry Vinaigrette: Add in sherry vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine.
- Slowly start streaming in your olive oil, while whisking, to emulsify your dressing. It should be completely combined and almost creamy where there are no olive oil streaks.
- Prepare your Salad: Add in your radicchio, red butter lettuce, toasted hazelnuts, and finely chopped chives directly into the large mixing bowl. Give it a big toss until completely combined. Serve with any additional chopped chives and hazelnuts on top. You can serve directly from the mixing bowl/serving bowl, or transfer to a platter to serve.
Notes
- Toast the Hazelnuts: Toast hazelnuts in a dry pan to enhance their nutty flavor!
- Make It Ahead: If you are making this ahead of time, prepare your dressing in a separate small mixing bowl and set aside in the fridge until ready to toss with your salad in the large bowl.
- Radicchio Substitutions: If you don’t love the bitter taste of radicchio, you can sub with endive for a more subtle chicory, butter lettuce, or arugula.
- Add-Ons: Add on any of your favorite fruits, like pears, or any cheese of choice. Make this a full meal by adding grilled chicken, shrimp, or steak.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The perfect chicory salad with crunchy hazenlnuts and chives, I hope you enjoy!