Description
A vibrant and flavorful Radicchio Caesar Salad featuring crisp, slightly bitter radicchio leaves tossed with a classic homemade Caesar dressing, topped with freshly toasted garlic panko and shaved Parmesan cheese for added texture and richness.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 1 head radicchio (large, cored and cut into quarters)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese (freshly shaved or more to taste)
Dressing
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ large lemon (juiced)
- 1 ½ tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp salt
- 1–2 anchovies fillet (or 1 1/2 tsp anchovy paste)
Toasted Garlic Panko
- ¾ cup gluten-free panko
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
- Prepare Radicchio: In a large bowl, fill with cold water and ice. Core and quarter the radicchio and then cut the quarters in half. Add the radicchio to the ice water and, using your hands, separate the leaves and gently squeeze them to help release some of the bitterness. Let the radicchio soak completely submerged for at least 15 minutes.
- Dry the Leaves: Use a salad spinner or kitchen towel to thoroughly dry the radicchio leaves. This step can be done ahead of time, and the dried leaves can be stored in a ziplock bag for 4-5 days.
- Make Toasted Garlic Panko: While the radicchio is soaking, melt the unsalted butter in a small pan over medium-low heat with the garlic powder. Add the gluten-free panko crumbs and cook, stirring constantly to prevent burning, until the crumbs are browned and toasted. Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl to cool.
- Prepare Classic Caesar Dressing: Add mayonnaise, grated Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and anchovies (fillets or paste) into a large mason jar. Use an immersion blender to blend until emulsified, about 15-30 seconds, moving the blender up and down.
- Adjust Seasoning: Stir the dressing and taste it. Adjust seasoning as needed by adding more anchovy, salt, or lemon juice to get the perfect flavor balance.
- Toss the Salad: Toss the dried radicchio leaves with the Caesar dressing, massaging the dressing into the leaves for better flavor absorption. Then add the toasted garlic panko and shaved Parmesan cheese. Lightly toss again to distribute evenly.
- Serve: Transfer the dressed salad onto a serving platter and enjoy immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Soaking radicchio in ice water helps mellow its natural bitterness.
- Drying the leaves well prevents soggy salad and helps the dressing adhere better.
- Use gluten-free panko to make this salad gluten-free.
- The dressing can be stored refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
- Toasted garlic panko adds a crunchy texture and rich garlic flavor to the salad.
- Massaging the dressing into the leaves enhances flavor penetration.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Radicchio salad, Caesar salad, gluten-free panko, garlic panko, homemade Caesar dressing, toasted breadcrumbs, easy salad recipe
