Easy Grilled Radicchio Salad Recipe: Michael Symon’s Perfect Touch

Radicchio transforms an ordinary salad into a culinary masterpiece for adventurous home cooks.

Bold and slightly bitter, this vibrant ingredient brings unexpected depth to your plate.

Michael Symon understands how grilling softens radicchio sharp edges while intensifying its natural flavors.

Mediterranean-inspired techniques elevate this simple vegetable into something truly spectacular.

Charred edges and a tangy dressing create complex taste sensations that surprise and delight.

Seasonal ingredients make this recipe shine with robust character and elegant simplicity: prepare to be amazed.

Why Grilled Radicchio Salad by Symon Pops

• Grill-Master's Delight: This recipe transforms humble radicchio into a smoky, charred sensation that elevates a simple salad into a restaurant-worthy dish with minimal effort.
• Quick Flavor Explosion: In just 27 minutes, you'll create a vibrant salad bursting with tangy balsamic dressing, crispy grilled edges, and a perfect balance of bitter and sweet notes.
• Technique-Driven Simplicity: By using direct high-heat grilling, home cooks can easily achieve professional-level char and depth of flavor without complicated cooking methods.
• Versatile Cheese Finish: The optional Pecorino or Parmesan topping allows personalization, adding a salty, creamy element that complements the salad's bold grilled characteristics.

Ingredients for Grilled Radicchio Delight

Main Ingredients:

• Radicchio: Crisp, slightly bitter leafy vegetable perfect for grilling, choose fresh and firm heads with deep red color.

• Pecorino, Parmesan: Sharp, salty cheeses that add rich, tangy flavor to finish the salad, opt for freshly grated for best taste.

Dressing Ingredients:

• Balsamic Vinegar: Provides sweet and tangy base for the dressing, select high-quality aged vinegar for deeper flavor.
• Olive Oil: Smooth, rich oil that helps emulsify dressing and adds subtle fruity undertones, choose extra virgin for best quality.

• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and helps balance the bitter radicchio, use kosher or sea salt for best results.
• Garlic: Adds sharp, pungent flavor to the dressing, fresh garlic cloves provide more intense taste than pre-minced.
• Black Pepper: Provides mild heat and complexity to the final dish, freshly ground offers more robust flavor.
• Mustard: Helps emulsify dressing and adds subtle tang, Dijon works best for smooth texture and bright flavor.

Grilling Steps for the Perfect Salad

Step 1: Blend Zesty Dressing

In a blender or food processor, combine salt, minced garlic, mustard, and balsamic vinegar. Pulse ingredients briefly. Slowly drizzle olive oil while blending until dressing emulsifies smoothly. Set aside.

• Salt
• Minced garlic
• Mustard
• Balsamic vinegar
• Olive oil

Step 2: Prepare Grill

Set up grill for direct, high-heat cooking at approximately 450-500°F.

Step 3: Prepare Radicchio

Carefully slice each radicchio head in half along the stem to keep quarters intact.

Step 4: Season Radicchio

Brush radicchio halves with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.

• Radicchio (2 heads)
• Olive oil
• Salt

Step 5: Grill Radicchio

Place radicchio on hot grill. Cook 2-3 minutes per side, watching carefully to achieve light charring without burning.

Step 6: Chop and Dress

Transfer grilled radicchio to cutting board. Chop into bite-sized pieces. Toss with prepared dressing and freshly ground black pepper.

Step 7: Finish and Serve

Sprinkle with grated Pecorino or Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately while warm.

Tips for Smoky, Bold Flavor

• Chill and Rest: Let grilled radicchio cool for 5 minutes after cooking to help it absorb dressing flavors more effectively.
• Balance Bitter Notes: Sprinkle a pinch of sea salt over the grilled radicchio to soften its natural bitterness and enhance overall taste.
• Serve Strategically: Plate the radicchio while slightly warm to maintain its smoky essence and capture peak texture.
• Knife Technique: Cut radicchio into uniform wedges for even grilling and consistent caramelization across each piece.
• Brush Wisely: Use a silicone brush to apply olive oil evenly, ensuring each section gets a light, consistent coating without oversaturating.

How to Store Grilled Salad Right

• Vacuum Sealing: Lock in the vibrant flavors and crisp texture by using a vacuum sealer. Remove excess air that causes wilting, keeping your grilled radicchio salad fresh and appetizing for up to 36 hours. Perfect for meal preppers who want to preserve every delicious bite.
• Separated Storage: Keep dressing and salad components separate to prevent soggy greens. Store vinaigrette in a small glass jar with a tight lid, and place grilled radicchio and other ingredients in individual compartments of a sectioned container. This technique maintains optimal crunch and prevents flavor mixing.
• Moisture Control: Place a paper towel inside the storage container to absorb extra moisture, preventing leaves from becoming limp and soggy. This simple trick extends the salad's freshness and ensures each bite remains as delightful as when first prepared.

Flavorful Variations for Michael Symon’s Grilled Radicchio Salad

• Smoky Mediterranean Remix: Swap radicchio with grilled endive and add crumbled feta cheese for a tangy Mediterranean-inspired version that brings robust Mediterranean flavors to the plate.
• Herb-Infused Grilled Green Salad: Replace radicchio with grilled romaine lettuce and incorporate fresh chopped herbs like basil and oregano into the dressing for a lighter, herbaceous profile.
• Spicy Southwestern Crunch: Substitute radicchio with charred poblano peppers and mix in roasted corn kernels, add a dash of chipotle powder to the dressing, and top with queso fresco for a bold southwestern kick.
• Autumn Harvest Elegance: Use a mix of grilled radicchio and roasted butternut squash, enhance the dressing with a touch of maple syrup, and sprinkle toasted pumpkin seeds on top for a seasonal, textural experience.

Savory Wrap-Up for Symon’s Grilled Radicchio Salad

Grilled radicchio transforms ordinary salads into culinary masterpieces with Michael Symon’s brilliant technique.

Smoky char whispers Mediterranean secrets across each bitter leaf.

Bold flavors dance between balsamic’s rich depth and olive oil’s smooth embrace.

Wine enthusiasts and grill masters will discover unexplored dimensions of this simple yet sophisticated dish.

Crisp radicchio arrives with unexpected complexity, challenging traditional salad expectations.

Michael Symon Grilled Radicchio Salad Recipe

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4.6 from 37 reviews

• Total Time: 27 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Micheal Symon’s grilled radicchio salad brings Mediterranean charm to summer tables with a perfect balance of smoky, bitter, and tangy flavors. Crisp radicchio leaves charred on the grill mingle with creamy goat cheese and zesty lemon vinaigrette, creating a refreshing dish you’ll crave all season long.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 heads radicchio
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• Pecorino or Parmesan cheese

Flavoring Ingredients:

• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• ½ teaspoon mustard

Seasoning Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Combine salt, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, and balsamic vinegar in a blender or food processor. Pulse briefly to integrate the ingredients.
2. Gradually stream olive oil into the mixture while the blender is running, continuing until the dressing emulsifies into a smooth consistency.
3. Prepare the grill for direct, high-temperature cooking, aiming for approximately 450-500°F (230-260°C).
4. Carefully slice each radicchio head in half lengthwise, maintaining the stem intact to keep the quarters connected.
5. Gently brush the radicchio halves with extra virgin olive oil, ensuring even coverage, and season generously with kosher salt.
6. Place the prepared radicchio directly on the hot grill grates, monitoring closely to prevent burning.
7. Grill for 2-3 minutes per side, seeking a light charred exterior while maintaining a slight crispness.
8. Transfer the grilled radicchio to a cutting board and allow to cool for 1-2 minutes.
9. Chop the grilled radicchio into bite-sized pieces and transfer to a serving bowl.
10. Drizzle the prepared balsamic vinaigrette over the radicchio, tossing to coat evenly.
11. Finish with freshly cracked black pepper and sprinkle with grated Pecorino or Parmesan cheese.

Notes

• Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the grilled radicchio just before serving to boost its rich, smoky flavor.
• Slice radicchio into wedges carefully to maintain structural integrity during high-heat grilling.
• Select compact, vibrant radicchio heads with deep burgundy leaves for maximum visual appeal and crisp texture.
• Wear heat-resistant grilling gloves to safely handle and turn radicchio during cooking.
• Keep a close eye on radicchio during grilling, as its delicate leaves can quickly burn if unattended.
• Pat radicchio dry with paper towels before oil coating to ensure proper caramelization and char marks.
• Use tongs for precise placement and turning of radicchio wedges on hot grill grates.
• Allow grilled radicchio to rest briefly after cooking to let flavors settle and intensify.
• Experiment with different balsamic vinegars for unique flavor variations in the final dressing.
• Check grill temperature with a surface thermometer for consistent, even cooking results.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Grilling
• Cuisine: British

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Fat: 27 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 5 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 5 mg