Griddled Chicory, Apple and Stilton Salad with Balsamic Glaze

Griddled Chicory, Apple and Stilton Salad with Balsamic Glaze

Read on to find out how to pair bitter chicory with sweet balsamic and salty blue cheese for a warm, hearty lunch.

The Warm Salad Series

Back in 2012 I shared a series of salad recipes which were perfect for the colder months – the theme was that these salads all involved “warm” ingredients, from grilled nectarines to roasted butternut squash. One of my favourite recipes from the series used griddled chicory as the star of the show.

There are so many textures in this salad with the crunchy walnuts also helping to keep you fuller for longer, this salad is a meal in it’s own right. Chicory is actually at it’s best in the depths of winter when the likes of iceberg lettuce and romaine lettuce struggle to grow so well.

Chicory leaves are a little more substantial which means they hold up well to heat and have a bit more bite to them. It just goes to show that chicory is the perfect salad vegetable for the winter months in more way than one

How to make a Chicory, Apple and Stilton Salad

The base of this salad is the humble chicory leaf. I start by cutting the chicory into wedges before griddling them on a super high heat. I like to have the leaves really charred which helps to bring out a bit of sweetness in this bitter leaf.

Next I slice a sweet apple, crumble over some salty blue cheese and finish it off with creamy walnuts and a drizzle of balsamic glaze for a little acidity. The sweet, salty, bitter and sour flavours of this salad all work really well together.

Too much of one thing and it’s easy to have a bland and boring salad but with some many different, interesting flavours this salad is anything but boring!

Salads are for winter too check out this Griddled Chicory Apple and Stilton Salad recipe from Supper in the Suburbs

The recipe

Salads are for winter too check out this Griddled Chicory Apple and Stilton Salad recipe

Chicory, Apple and Stilton Salad with Balsamic Glaze

This simple Chicory, Apple and Stilton Salad with Balsamic Glaze is a real celebration of autumn produce
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Dinner, lunch, Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine British
Servings 2 people
Calories 378.25 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 chicory
  • 1 apple
  • 100 g blue cheese
  • 2 tbsp walnuts
  • 1 tbsp Balsamic glaze

Instructions
 

  • Turn up the heat under your griddle pan to really high.
  • Cut the chicory hearts in quarters lengthways.
  • Place the chicory wedges face down on to the hot griddle pan and cook for 2-3 minutes or until charred.
  • Scatter the griddled chicory on your plate.
  • Top with thinly sliced apple, crumbled blue cheese and walnut pieces.
  • Finally drizzle with balsamic glaze to taste.
  • First throw on the green beans and fennel.
  • Griddle for 2-3 mins or until then begin to brown. Give the pan a shake then add in the cherry tomatoes and chicory.
  • Griddle for a further 2 mins before turning over the vegetables.
  • Once the vegetables have cooked through serve on a plate and drizzle with balsamic glaze. Serve hot!

Nutrition

Calories: 378.25kcalCarbohydrates: 33.71gProtein: 18.08gFat: 21.95gSaturated Fat: 10.19gCholesterol: 37.5mgSodium: 797.61mgPotassium: 1682.47mgFiber: 16.8gSugar: 12.59gVitamin A: 10184.14IUVitamin C: 33.57mgCalcium: 513.26mgIron: 4.29mg
Keyword apple, balsamic glaze, chicory, stilton
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More warm salad recipes

Are you a fan of warm salads? Let me know in the comments below.



20 thoughts on “Griddled Chicory, Apple and Stilton Salad with Balsamic Glaze”

  • Such an amazing combination of salty cheese with the chicory – love it. Will look forward to conjuring up something with blue cheese and walnuts soon!

    • Thanks Ceri! I’m a big, big fan of chicory so jump at the chance to get some when I see it. I’m also a sucker for blue cheese so this is a dream combination for me. I’m glad you like it 🙂

    • Thanks for your kind words 🙂 I think warm salads are essential this time of year! A cold one just won’t cut it!

    • Thanks Felesha. I hadn’t tried chicory until a year or so ago and it is now one of my favourite leaves! It’s quite bitter but that works really well with the salty cheese and sweet balsamic! You should give it a try!

    • Thanks Ali! I always say colourful food tastes best and this dish is certainly colourful 🙂

    • Thanks Peter! I can’t get enough of the stinky stuff, we always over buy blue cheese at Christmas and eat it well into the new year, this salad is a fun way of using it up.

    • Thanks Kate. Love the idea as serving it as a starter! Would have to refine my plating skills. …

    • Thanks Dannii! I don’t know why people don’t use it more. I love it and always hunt it down this time of year 🙂 I guess bitter is an acquired taste!

    • Thanks Swayam. I think fruit is too often left out of a salad but can beautifully balance a bitter leaf like chicory 🙂

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