By Leah Eskin / Chicago Tribune
Gingerbread was invited to every open house. Eggnog was the toast of the town. Escarole, endive, radicchio? Shut-ins of the crisper bin. No wonder they’re bitter.
And misunderstood. Most greens celebrate spring, summer or fall. In winter, escarole is ready to roll. Radicchio, too: the darker the days, the brighter the leaves; the colder the weather, the sweeter the crop.
So invite a bunch. Curly frisee, creamy endive, unruly escarole and tender radicchio can be braised mellow. Or simply torn and tossed. The fresh flavor and crisp crunch offer a welcome respite from the heavy lifting of beef Wellington. The bitter bite can be balm to the sugar-shocked. And the leaves, even when sharpened with mustard and sweetened with honey, are sturdy enough to linger all night long.
Plus, they need no time to prep.
Chicory salad
3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
3 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons honey (warm briefly to make measuring easier)
1 large head escarole, leaves separated and torn
1 large head frisee or 2 heads Belgian endive, leaves separated and torn
1 large (or 2 small) head(s) radicchio, leaves separated and torn
¼ cup snipped fresh chives
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard, oil and honey.
In a large salad bowl, toss together escarole, frisee, radicchio and chives.
Drizzle greens with dressing to taste. Season with salt and pepper. Toss.
Makes 8 to 10 servings
— Recipe inspired by Bon Appetit.
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