Name: Radicchio Salad with Beets, Pear, Walnuts and Roquefort
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 3/4 cup walnuts; 2 medium red onions, each cut into 6 wedges through the root ends; 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling; Kosher salt; 4 medium beets (1 1/4 pounds); 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar; 1 teaspoon dark brown sugar; 1 large firm pear such as Bosc—quartered, cored lengthwise and cut into 16 slices; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 large head of radicchio (1 pound), leaves torn into bite-size pieces; 1 endive, cored and leaves halved crosswise; Freshly ground pepper; 5 1/2 ounces Roquefort cheese, crumbled (1 cup)

Radicchio Salad with Beets, Pear, Walnuts and Roquefort

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This is a serious autumn salad, with an abundance of sweet roasted onions, juicy pear, crisp greens and salty, pungent Roquefort cheese. But the most compelling part of the dish is the beets, which are first boiled then roasted to deepen and intensify the flavor. More Ideas for Fall Produce

By Neil Perry

Updated on October 21, 2015

Active Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

1 hrs 10 mins

Yield:

Ingredients

3/4 cup walnuts
2 medium red onions, each cut into 6 wedges through the root ends
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
Kosher salt
4 medium beets (1 1/4 pounds)
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon dark brown sugar
1 large firm pear such as Bosc—quartered, cored lengthwise and cut into 16 slices
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 large head of radicchio (1 pound), leaves torn into bite-size pieces
1 endive, cored and leaves halved crosswise
Freshly ground pepper
5 1/2 ounces Roquefort cheese, crumbled (1 cup)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°. Spread the walnuts in a pie plate and toast for 8 minutes, until fragrant. Let the walnuts cool, then coarsely chop them.
Increase the oven temperature to 450°. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the onion wedges with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and season with salt. Roast the onions for about 25 minutes, turning once, until tender and browned in spots. Let the onion wedges cool to room temperature.
Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cover the beets with water and bring to a boil. Simmer the beets over moderately high heat until almost tender, about 25 minutes; drain and let cool slightly.
Peel the beets and cut each one into 6 wedges. Transfer the beets to a small baking dish and toss them with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and the balsamic vinegar and brown sugar; season with salt. Roast the beets for about 15 minutes, turning once, until tender. Let the beets cool to room temperature.
In a small bowl, toss the sliced pear with 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice. In a large bowl, toss the radicchio and endive with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Mound the salad on plates and top with the walnuts, onions, beets, pears and Roquefort. Drizzle with olive oil and serve.

Make Ahead

The toasted nuts can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The roasted beets and onions can be refrigerated overnight. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Suggested Pairing

For Perry's salad—which expertly balances salty, sweet, nutty and bitter tastes—Jeffrey Grosset suggests pouring an Australian Sauvignon Blanc with up-front tropical fruit notes and bone-dry finish.