Radicchio Is On...Get Ready for Tasty Winter Salads!
Three colorful radicchios resting on a head of their close cousin, escarole
I have developed a deep appreciation for radicchio over time, particularly due to my proximity to one of the finest radicchio producers in the northwest. Farmer Siri, from Local Roots Farm, is renowned for cultivating exceptional radicchio. Drawing inspiration from visits to northern Italy and supported by a dedicated community of radicchio enthusiasts and cultivators, Siri consistently delivers exquisite and flavorful radicchio varieties to our tables.
So, you know those small radicchio heads you find at some grocery stores? Well, the dozen or so types that Siri is growing are like masterpieces! They come in all sorts of colors, textures, and flavors. Apparently, farmers in northern Italy love to show off by creating new and unique varieties of this bitter veggie to bring promenence to their farm. Luckily for us, Siri has been to Italy multiple times to bring back these amazing radicchio types.
These tasty gems are the best! They thrive in cool fall/winter weather, giving you fresh salads all winter long with their delightful bitterness. They go perfectly with a salad dressing made with zesty Hawthorn Oxymel or BioBoost Concentrate. These products made from local fruits and berries are carefully harvested and hand-crafted into healthy preparations that can be used for dressings, marinades, refreshing drinks, or even to jazz up your cocktails.
As well as being a crunchy and fresh salad all through winter, the bitterness of the radicchio and the nourishing tonic effect of the hawthorn provides you with a powerful antioxidant rich meal or side dish.
Yummy Hawthorn Oxymel* Salad Dressing
Just grab 2 ounces of Hawthorn Oxymel
Then add 6 ounces of olive oil
Sprinkle in 1/2 -1 teaspoon of mustard (Dijon or whole seed are both great choices)
A pinch of salt for flavor
Simply mix all the ingredients in a 1-cup jar, close the lid, and shake it up until everything comes together and thickens up nicely Adjust as necessary to your taste
*You can try out the Hawthorn Oxymel, BioBoost Concentrate, or Hawthorn Sipping Vinegar. They're all good options!
Easy-Peasy Radicchio Parsley Salad
Coarsely chop radicchios of your choice and lots of parsley
Mix together
Add feta cheese, toasted nuts or seeds, apple, orange or pear
Toss and dress with Hawthorn Oxymel Dressing
I absolutely love this quote “Enjoy Changing the Meaning of Medicine”. It expresses an invitation to circumvent one’s social conditioning about what medicine is. It also reflects the spirit of everything EagleSong and her sweet defiance of being held hostage by the question “what is this plant good for?”