A simple yet luxurious and flavorful salad is a must-have for the holidays. How do you make a salad easy yet sophisticated? By using pure, slightly more exclusive ingredients or preparing familiar ingredients in a unique way.
In this salad, we’ve chosen radicchio, a slightly less common lettuce variety that can easily be substituted with endive or red chicory for variety. The pears, caramelized in butter and honey, add a sweet touch. We also include fennel, one of the most underrated vegetables. Thinly sliced, it provides a light crunch and a subtle anise-like flavor that pairs wonderfully with the slightly bitter radicchio.
Preparation
Prepare the Pears:
Heat the butter in a frying pan. Meanwhile, slice the pears. Brown the pear slices in the butter, then add the honey in the last few minutes to caramelize. Season with salt and set aside.
Prepare the Vegetables:
Thinly slice the fennel and roughly chop the radicchio (or endive/red chicory).
Make the Dressing:
Finely chop the garlic and fresh herbs. Mix the sour cream with mayonnaise, then stir in the garlic and herbs. Season with pepper and a pinch of salt if needed.
Assemble the Salad:
Arrange the radicchio (or endive/chicory) on a serving platter. Add the fennel slices and top with the caramelized pears. Drizzle small amounts of the dressing over the salad, then garnish with roughly chopped pistachios and fresh dill. Serve the remaining dressing on the side.