Chicories Salad with Moscato Vinaigrette, Hazelnuts, and Pomegranate Seeds
At the farmers’ market, the many varieties of winter chicories inspire and delight with beautiful names like Castelfranco, Tardivo, and radicchio rosso di Treviso. In this salad, the bitter lettuces play nice with sweet and herbaceous fennel, peppery arugula, and a sharp vinaigrette. Tip: Slice the fennel at the last moment; it will discolor as it sits.
Servings4servings
Ingredients
2medium fennel bulbstrimmed
21/2tablespoons Moscato or Moscatel vinegar (or champagne or white balsamic vinegar)
1/4teaspoonDijon mustard
5tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
Freshly cracked black pepper
3cupswinter chicories: a mix of endive, curly endive, radicchio, escarole, frisee, or other sturdy, bitter lettuces
3 cupsarugula
1/3 cuppomegranate seeds
1/3cuptoasted hazelnutsroughly chopped
Instructions
Remove the tough outer layer of each fennel bulb. Using a mandoline or a sharp knife, slice the fennel very thinly crosswise.
In a small bowl, whisk the mustard into the vinegar until smooth. Whisk in the olive oil, in a steady stream, then season to taste with salt and pepper.
Add the chicories, arugula, and fennel to a large salad bowl. Dress with the vinaigrette and season with salt and freshly cracked pepper, then sprinkle the salad with the pomegranate seeds and hazelnuts.