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If you’re looking for a show-stopping salad that’s as delicious as it is beautiful, this Pink Radicchio Salad with a blood orange vinaigrette is the perfect choice. Made with radicchio rosa di Verona, fresh apples, dates, pistachios, and a citrusy homemade dressing, this salad is bursting with flavor and texture. The tangy-sweet blood orange vinaigrette ties everything together, making each bite refreshing and satisfying. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or simply want to elevate your weeknight meal, this salad is guaranteed to impress.
This pink radicchio salad with blood orange vinaigrette is a stunning mix of colors, flavors, and textures. With the bittersweet crunch of radicchio rosa di Verona, the juicy brightness of blood oranges, the crisp sweetness of apples, and the peppery bite of radishes, this dish offers a perfect balance of taste and nutrition.
Why You’ll Love My Pink Radicchio Salad
Visually Stunning – The vibrant pink hues of radicchio rosa make this salad stand out on any table.
Nutrient-Rich – This radicchio salad is packed with antioxidants, fiber, and healthy fats from nuts and olive oil.
Perfect Balance of Flavors – The bitterness of radicchio, sweetness of dates, crunch of pistachios, and citrusy zing from blood oranges create a harmonious taste.
Simple Yet Gourmet – Despite its elegant appearance, this radicchio salad is quick and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Radicchio Rosa – This gorgeous pink-hued chicory is known for its mild bitterness and tender leaves. It adds a sophisticated, slightly earthy flavor that pairs beautifully with sweet and tangy ingredients.
🍊Blood Oranges – Their deep red flesh and sweet-tart citrus notes bring brightness to the salad. In the vinaigrette, blood oranges add a fresh acidity that enhances the dish’s overall balance.
Radishes – If you love an extra crunch with a bit of spice, thinly sliced radishes make a fantastic addition. Their peppery flavor enhances the complexity of the salad, balancing the sweetness of dates and apples.
🍎 Apples – Diced apples lend a natural sweetness and crisp texture, complementing the radicchio’s slight bitterness while adding a refreshing contrast to the rich Parmigiano Reggiano.
How to Make Radicchio Salad
Prepare the Radicchio– Trim the stems and remove the outer leaves from each radicchio head. Separate the leaves and arrange them on a large serving platter or salad bowl.
Assemble the Salad– Scatter the diced apples, chopped pistachios, diced dates, and blood orange supremes over the radicchio leaves. Sprinkle shaved Parmigiano Reggiano on top and add microgreens (optional).
Make the Blood Orange Vinaigrette– In a blender, combine the blood orange segments, olive oil, sherry vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, and salt. Blend until smooth and well-emulsified.
Dress and Serve– Drizzle the blood orange vinaigrette generously over the salad just before serving. Enjoy immediately!
🪄Recipe Tips
- Use Fresh Ingredients – The quality of radicchio, oranges, and apples makes a huge difference in flavor.
- Balance the Bitterness – If radicchio is too bitter for your taste, soak the leaves in ice water for 10 minutes before assembling the salad.
- Slice Apples Last – To prevent browning, cut the apple just before serving or toss slices in a bit of lemon juice.
Variations
This gorgeous pink salad can be customized to suit your taste and diet.
- Add Protein – Make this a hearty main dish by adding grilled chicken, seared shrimp, or chickpeas.
- Make it Vegan – Skip the Parmigiano Reggiano or substitute it with a plant-based cheese.
- Boost the Crunch – Add toasted walnuts, almonds, or even crispy prosciutto for extra texture.
- Spice It Up – A pinch of crushed red pepper in the vinaigrette can add a mild heat that complements the citrus.
Substitutions
- Can’t find radicchio rosa? → Use regular radicchio or a mix of endive and mixed greens for a similar effect.
- Can’t find blood oranges? → Swap with Cara Cara oranges, mandarins, or grapefruit for a different citrus profile.
- Don’t have sherry vinegar? → White wine vinegar will work as an alternative.
- Use what you have → Swap pistachios for almonds, walnuts, or sunflower seeds for a nut-free option.
- Vegan Friendly Options → Swap honey for maple syrup or agave nectar. Swap the Parmigiano Reggiano for vegan cheese.
Best served with
- Baked Chicken Cutlets
- Shrimp and Spaghetti
- Pistachio Crusted Salmon
How to Store Leftovers
It’s best to store the dressing and salad toppings separately. To store the radicchio leaves, place them in a bowl with a damp paper towel over them, then place them in the refrigerator.
Common Questions
Is radicchio rosa bitter?
Yes, it is bitter, but slightly sweeter and less bitter than regular radicchio. The dressing in this radicchio salad balances the natural bitterness.
Can I substitute radicchio rosa with regular radicchio?
Yes, you can substitute radicchio rosa with regular radicchio or endives.
Pink Radicchio Salad
Equipment
- 1 mandoline
- 1 blender
Ingredients
- 4 blood orange segments
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp sherry vinegar
- 1 ½ tbsp honey
- ½ tsp dijon mustard
- ½ tsp salt
- 4 heads of radicchio rosa di Verona
- 1 apple diced
- ⅓ cup diced dates
- ⅓ cup chopped pistacchio
- 1 blood orange peeled and supremed
- ¼ cup shaved Parmigiano Reggiano
- 2 cups micro greens or arugula, optional
Instructions
- Add the blood orange segments, olive oil, sherry vinegar, honey, dijon mustard and salt to a blender. Blend well and set aside
- Trim the stems and remove the outer layers of each radicchio head. Separate the leaves and place them onto a serving tray. Top with remaining ingredients and drizzle blood orange vinaigrette
