Food & Cooking Recipes Quick & Easy Recipes Roasted Radicchio 4.0 (93) This elegant, unexpected side is ready in 20 minutes flat. Close Credit: Jake Sternquist Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 15 mins Total Time: 20 mins Servings: 4 Jump to recipe Our roasted radicchio recipe is a flavor-packed side dish that couldn't be simpler to pull off. It calls for just three ingredients (plus olive oil, salt, and pepper) and is ready in only 20 minutes. Roasting the radicchio mellows its slightly bitter flavor and softens its leaves. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar brings a touch of welcome sweetness while shavings of Parmesan cheese brings nuttiness and umami depth. You can use either of the popular varieties of radicchio—round Verona or slender Treviso—in this recipe, since they both yield delicious results. Serve this simple, cool weather side with pasta or a roasted protein like beef, pork, or salmon. Radicchio Is the Colorful Winter Vegetable You Didn't Know You Needed Why You Should Roast Radicchio Crisp-yet-tender radicchio brings delicious depth to salads but it shouldn't be relegated to raw dishes. Roasting it at a high temperature softens its bitter edge and brings out a subtle sweetness, similar to what cooking does to earthy and peppery cabbage. (Do note that it will still be somewhat bitter, but the vinegar, oil, and cheese will add sweetness and richness, further mellowing out its assertiveness.) How to Buy and Prep Radicchio for This Recipe When shopping for radicchio, seek out firm, compact heads that feel heavy for their size. Look for deep-colored leaves with bright, white veins and avoid any heads that are brown or wilted. Once home, transfer radicchio heads to a resealable bag along with a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture. Stashed in your crisper drawer, they'll stay fresh for one to two weeks. Prepping Radicchio When you're ready to roast the radicchio, remove any soft or frayed outer leaves, then rinse the radicchio under cool water. Using a chef's knife, cut each head in half lengthwise, then again to form quarters, keeping the core intact. Other Key Ingredients Balsamic vinegar: Balsamic vinegar can range from runny and tangy to thick and syrupy-sweet, depending on age and quality. When shopping, check the ingredient list to ensure the vinegar you are buying contains only grape must and/or wine vinegar—some brands of balsamic contain added color, flavoring, and thickeners designed to mask a lower-quality product. Olive oil: This recipe calls for a generous amount of olive oil (a full quarter cup!). While it may seem like a lot, the added fat balances the radicchio's bitterness and promotes caramelization. Parmesan cheese: Seek out real Parmesan-Reggiano cheese for this recipe if you're able to—it's worth it for all the salty, nutty notes it will bring to the dish. Use a vegetable peeler, rather than a microplane or box grater, to achieve thin, bite-sized shavings. Directions Credit: Jake Sternquist Drizzle radicchio with olive oil and toss: Preheat oven to 400°F. Put radicchio wedges on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Toss gently to coat, and turn each wedge so a cut side faces sheet. Credit: Jake Sternquist Roast radicchio: Roast, turning once, until leaves are wilted and slightly charred, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a platter. Credit: Jake Sternquist Drizzle with vinegar and garnish with cheese: Just before serving, drizzle vinegar over each wedge, and garnish with cheese shavings. Credit: Jake Sternquist Storing and Repurposing Leftovers Roasted radicchio can be refrigerated for up to one day; after that, the leaves may start to become unpleasantly soft and soggy. To put leftovers to good use, chop the radicchio finely and toss with cooked pasta, olive oil, and plenty of Parmesan. It would also be delicious added to a farro or wheat-berry grain bowl. What to Serve With Roasted Radicchio This simple side works with a number of entrées from pasta to roasted proteins. Try it alongside a creamy, long noodle like a classic carbonara or this garlicky whole-wheat pasta recipe. For a heartier main, opt for our simple seared pork chops with lemon or these melt-in-your-mouth roasted salmon fillets. 5 More Roasted Vegetable Recipes to Try Honey-Roasted Vegetables Roasted Cabbage Wedges Roasted Spiced Acorn Squash Roasted Carrots With Feta and Parsley Oven-Roasted Asparagus Updated by Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds is an experienced recipe developer, recipe tester, food editor, and writer with over a decade of experience in the food and media industries.