22 Chicory Recipes to Get On Immediately, Because Bitter Is Better

We're swapping our summer lettuces for fall's best bitter chicories, from radicchio to escarole.

September 26, 2015

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When the first chilly wave of fall hits, we trade in the mild head lettuces of summer for the season's bitter and bracing chicories. Endive, escarole, frisée, radicchio—we love 'em all, and these 22 recipes showcase the best these leafy greens have got to offer.

Nicole Franzen
1/22
Radicchio Salad with Pickled Grapes and Goat Cheese
Crunchy, bitter, acidic, juicy: If these words don’t make you think of salad, this gorgeous dish is about to expand your vocabulary.
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Alex Lau
2/22
Savory Porridge with Pickled Radicchio and Roasted Apples
Yes, savory porridge is a thing. And if you bolster this creamy bowl of grains with lots of surprising toppings, it’ll also be a thing you crave for any meal of the day.
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3/22
Escarole and Seared Radicchio Salad with Pecan Vinaigrette
This is our idea of the perfect fall salad.
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Kyle Johnson
4/22
Seared Halibut with Fall Mole and Radicchio
What makes the dish is a 26-ingredient mole, a riff on the Oaxacan sauce that the chef calls a "happy accident."
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Peden + Munk
5/22
Seared Sweet Potatoes with Sausage and Radicchio
These days, it goes without saying that if you’re a vegetarian, you can simply leave out the sausage.
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Christopher Baker
6/22
Endive Salad with Toasted Walnuts and Breadcrumbs
Chef Ignacio Mattos says to get both the walnuts and the breadcrumbs very toasty and dark brown; he loves the contrast between the rich, crunchy bits and the bright, juicy endive on top.
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Alex Lau
7/22
Chicory-Apple Salad with Brown Butter Dressing
Even if you’re not a huge fan of bitter greens, don’t substitute regular lettuce here; the slightly sweet dressing will taste cloying without some sharp contrast.
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Eva Kolenko
8/22
Radicchio Salad with Sourdough Dressing
There's bread in my vinaigrette! And we like that way. Sourdough enriches salad dressing for a creamy, tangy finish.
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Christopher Testani
9/22
Radicchio and Apple Salad with Parmesan Crisps
For a dinner party twist, serve this salad at the end of the meal; with this one, you get a bit of a cheese course at the same time.
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Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott
10/22
Radicchio, Fennel, and Olive Panzanella
Make sure to have fresh bread on hand to soak up any extra dressing in the bowl.
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Yossy Arefi
11/22
Chicory Salad with Smoked Salmon
Skip the bagel—this salad is packed with smoked salmon and is 100% breakfast-worthy.
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Ture Lillegraven
12/22
Endive and Radicchio Salad with Roasted Hazelnuts
This simple, palate-cleansing salad looks great with different types of radicchio—some are deep burgundy and round; others have spotted, ruffled leaves.
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Peden + Munk
13/22
Chicory and Asian Pear Salad with Membrillo Vinaigrette
Membrillo lends subtle sweetness to the dressing; look for it at any well-stocked cheese counter.
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Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott
14/22
Citrus and Endive with Walnut Gremolata
Cutting endive into long, layered spears gives it an elegant look.
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Eva Kolenko
15/22
Frisée-Lardon Salad
Buying slab bacon rather than sliced allows you to cut it into the perfect size and shape.
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Gentl & Hyers
16/22
Chicken-Leg Confit with Potatoes and Escarole
Save the extra chicken-infused olive oil for all your roasted vegetable needs or to make this dish a second time.
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17/22
Escarole Salad with Horseradish and Capers
Soaking the onion mellows its sharpness. If you can’t find fresh horseradish, add 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish to the crème fraîche mixture.
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Ditte Isager
18/22
Toasted Spelt Soup with Escarole and White Beans
This toasted spelt soup with escarole and white beans was inspired by the classic Italian pasta and bean stew. Unlike macaroni, the grains stay nice and chewy, even when reheated days later.
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19/22
Crispy Chicken Breasts with Chermoula and Escarole
Chermoula, a spice and herb sauce popular in Morocco and Tunisia, can be used as a marinade or condiment for these crispy chicken breasts over escarole.
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Gentl & Hyers
20/22
Wilted Escarole Salad
Sturdy escarole can sit for a few minutes, even when tossed with a warm vinaigrette
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21/22
Warm Shrimp and Escarole Salad
Hearty escarole maintains its volume when cooked, which makes it a great choice for a quick sauté with shrimp.
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22/22
Warm Escarole Salad with Anchovies and Mustard Seed Vinaigrette
Briny anchovies and a bright vinaigrette balance the bitter escarole.
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Explore Bon AppétitEndive Escarole Frisée Radicchio

Radicchio Salad with Pickled Grapes and Goat Cheese

Savory Porridge with Pickled Radicchio and Roasted Apples

Escarole and Seared Radicchio Salad with Pecan Vinaigrette

Seared Halibut with Fall Mole and Radicchio

Seared Sweet Potatoes with Sausage and Radicchio

Endive Salad with Toasted Walnuts and Breadcrumbs

Chicory-Apple Salad with Brown Butter Dressing

Radicchio Salad with Sourdough Dressing

Radicchio and Apple Salad with Parmesan Crisps

Radicchio, Fennel, and Olive Panzanella

Chicory Salad with Smoked Salmon

Endive and Radicchio Salad with Roasted Hazelnuts

Chicory and Asian Pear Salad with Membrillo Vinaigrette

Citrus and Endive with Walnut Gremolata

Frisée-Lardon Salad

Chicken-Leg Confit with Potatoes and Escarole

Escarole Salad with Horseradish and Capers

Toasted Spelt Soup with Escarole and White Beans

Crispy Chicken Breasts with Chermoula and Escarole

Wilted Escarole Salad

Warm Shrimp and Escarole Salad

Warm Escarole Salad with Anchovies and Mustard Seed Vinaigrette