Grilled Verona Radicchio with Bottarga and Wild Apple Molasses

A drizzle of tart apple molasses tames this elegant starter of charred radicchio stuffed with butter and bottarga. Radicchio rosso di Treviso can be substituted for Verona, but keep in mind that the head and leaves are less compact.

Grilled Verona Radicchio with Bottarga and Wild Apple Molasses
Photo: Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christine Keely
Active Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
4

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (3 ounces), softened

  • ¼ cup finely grated bottarga di muggine (about ¾ ounce)

  • 1 teaspoon  grated garlic

  • ½ teaspoon grated lemon zest

  • 1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt, divided

  • 1 (10 1/2-ounce) head rosso di Verona or Treviso radicchio

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • Wild apple molasses or pomegranate molasses, smoked olive oil, and flaky sea salt, for serving

Directions

  1. Stir together butter, bottarga, garlic, lemon zest, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt in a small bowl until combined. Transfer mixture to a piping bag or a ziplock plastic bag with a small corner snipped off. Set aside.

  2. Trim and discard ½ to 1 inch from bottom of radicchio head, exposing the base of the leaves. Place your thumbs inside center of the trimmed end, and gently pull apart to expose more of the leaves, keeping head as intact as possible. Starting in center of radicchio and working outward, insert piping bag between inner layers of radicchio; pipe filling, rotating radicchio as you pipe to coat leaves with filling. Using kitchen twine, secure radicchio head at 2-inch intervals. Rub outside of radicchio with extra-virgin olive oil; sprinkle with remaining ¾ teaspoon kosher salt.

  3. Preheat grill to very high (500°F and up). Place radicchio on oiled grates; grill, uncovered, rotating often, until charred and just softened, about 5 minutes. Remove from grill; discard twine.

  4. Slice radicchio crosswise into 4 rounds. Drizzle each slice with molasses and smoked olive oil; sprinkle with flaky sea salt.

Make Ahead

Radicchio can be filled up to 1 day ahead and stored in an airtight container in refrigerator.

Notes

Find bottarga di muggine at gustiamo.com; find smoked olive oil such as Castillo de Canena Smoked Arbequina online or at specialty food stores.

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