Baked Radicchio

Baked radicchio is a simple and tasty dish, typical of Italian cuisine, especially Venetian, where radicchio is highly appreciated. Here is the recipe to prepare baked radicchio.

Ingredients

• 4 heads of red radicchio from Treviso or Chioggia
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves of garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Balsamic vinegar (optional)
• grated Parmesan (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.
2. Clean the radicchio by removing the damaged outer leaves and the end of the core. Cut it in half lengthwise or into four parts if the heads are particularly large.
3. Arrange the radicchio halves in a baking dish lined with parchment paper.
4. Lightly crush the garlic cloves with the side of a knife and distribute them in the baking dish.
5. Drizzle the radicchio with extra virgin olive oil, then season with salt and pepper to taste. If desired, you can add a drizzle of balsamic vinegar to give a sweet and sour contrast.
6. Bake and cook for about 15-20 minutes or until the radicchio becomes tender and slightly caramelized on the edges.
7. Optionally, in the last 5 minutes of cooking, you can sprinkle the radicchio with grated Parmesan which will form a nice golden crust and add flavor.

Trivia

The radicchio, in addition to being delicious, is also very healthy. It has few calories and is rich in antioxidants. It is also traditionally used in Italy not only in baked dishes, but also raw in salads and even in risottos and pastas. According to Venetian tradition, radicchio caramelized with balsamic vinegar is a classic pairing that enhances the natural sweetness and slight bitterness of this vegetable.