Grilled Radicchio: No More Bitterness

Did you know that grilled salads make an ideal side dish? Grilled Radicchio is the perfect example. The colorful leaves become slightly charred imparting a wonderful smoky flavor to this bitter green vegetable.

Have you ever wondered what to do with radicchio other than making a salad and topping your pizza?

Are you looking for radicchio recipes with a twist?

How about grilling this bitter green vegetable?

If you have visited here before, you probably know that I love to grill and roast vegetables. In the past, I’ve shared this recipe for Grilled Fennel as well as this Oven Roasted Broccoli recipe and these easy to make roasted Garlic Brussel Sprouts.

When you first think about it, grilling salads might sound a little odd. But do not limit yourself to using fresh chopped radicchio as a colorful component to your Italian Chopped Salad Greens recipe.

The beautiful purple radicchio leaves, when grilled to perfection, will impart a roasted sweetness that will have you wondering what happened to the usual bitterness of this bitter green.

What is even more impressive is that you can’t believe how easily this is achieved.

What do I need to make Grilled Radicchio?

• Radicchio. No surprise here.
• Olive Oil.  Extra virgin olive oil.
• Salt. Taste the difference when sprinkled with a delicate Fleur de Sel.
• Pepper. To taste.
• Balsamic vinegar. Just a drizzle.

As far as kitchen accessories are concerned, you will need a sharp knife, a wooden board, a brush, kitchen tongs and a grilling pan -that’s it!

Instructions

Begin by properly rinsing the radicchio. With a very sharp knife, trim the ends (just a little) and cut each head in half through the root section and then in thirds. If you find that you have small radicchio, simply cut the whole radicchio in quarters.

Make sure to leave the core intact otherwise, the layers of leaves will fall apart on the grill.

Brush each section of the salad green generously with olive oil.

Place on a grill that has been heated to medium/medium-high heat. Turn the radicchio every minute or so until the leaves begin to wilt. Continue to brush lightly with olive oil. This whole process should take about 5 minutes.

Transfer the grilled radicchio to a serving dish and sprinkle with fleur de sel and pepper to taste. Finally, drizzle with balsamic vinegar and enjoy!

Tips

• Be careful to leave as much as the stem intact when trimming the end -this will ensure the radicchio does not fall apart when grilling it.
• Feel free to top the grilled radicchio with grated cheese or shavings of Parmigiano-Reggiano

How do you make radicchio less bitter? Immersing the whole head of radicchio in water (for a few minutes) can reduce a little of the overall bitterness of this vegetable. Roasting and grilling is another great alternative.

Recipe origins

Radicchio was a food that I grew up with. It would often be mixed with other greens and served in the form of a salad, generously drizzled with olive oil and homemade wine vinegar.

I first became aware of grilled radicchio when it was served alongside a fish dish at a local restaurant, many years ago. At the time, I thought it was a brilliant idea and started researching grilled salads as a side dish. I was surprised to learn how easy grilled radicchio could be made at home, using an indoor grill pan or on the barbecue.

If you have ever been to Italy, especially in the Veneto region, radicchio is often cooked, grilled or even roasted making it the perfect contorno or side dish.

So, do like the Italians and serve grilled radicchio as a quick side dish to meats, chicken or fish!

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

Ciao for now,

Maria 

★★★★★ If you have made this Grilled Radicchio recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

Recipe

Grilled Radicchio

Did you know that Grilled Radicchio makes a perfect side dish?The colorful leaves become slightly charred imparting a wonderful smoky flavor.

5 from 3 votes

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 158kcal

Author: Maria Vannelli RD

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Ingredients

• 2 heads radicchio properly rinsed
• 4-6 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
• salt to taste, Fleur de Sel
• pepper to taste
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

Instructions

• Preheat grill pan (or outdoor grill) to medium/ medium high heat.
• With a very sharp knife, cut each head in half through the root section and then in thirds. If you find that you have a small radicchio, simply cut the whole radicchio in quarters.
• Brush the sides of the radicchio with olive oil.
• Place on grill and carefully turn the radicchio every minute or so until the leaves begin to wilt. Continue to brush the tops with olive oil. This process should take about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the grilled radicchio to a serving plate and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Drizzle with balsamic vinegar.
• Serve immediately.

Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon't miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

Notes

• Be careful to leave as much as the stem intact when trimming the end -this will ensure the radicchio does not fall apart when grilling it.
•  
• Feel free to top the grilled radicchio with grated cheese or shavings of Parmigiano-Reggiano
• How do you make radicchio less bitter? Immersing the whole head of radicchio in water (for a few minutes) can reduce a little of the overall bitterness of this vegetable. Roasting and grilling is another great alternative.

 

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 158kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 31mg | Potassium: 422mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 11.2mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 0.9mg

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