Endive salad with parmesan — a crisp & flavorful french‑italian fusion

Preparazione

• 1

  Endive salad is a quick and versatile recipe that can be served as a light main course or as a fresh starter.

  With its crunchy raw endives, toasted walnuts, and creamy Italian cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano D.O.P. and Gorgonzola Cremoso D.O.P., this dish offers a perfect blend of textures — crisp, soft, and rich. It’s simple to prepare, easy to customize, and ideal for an elegant lunch or dinner.

  The combination of fresh herbs, warm bacon, and tender potatoes makes this salad both wholesome and refined

• 2

  Slice the endives thinly and cut the red onion into fine rings.

  Place both into a large salad bowl. In a small pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil and fry the lardons until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towel to remove excess fat. Cook the eggs to your liking (hard boiled works best for this recipe), then set aside

• For a touch of sweetness, add thin slices of apple or pear before dressing the salad — they pair beautifully with endive’s slight bitterness

• 3

  In a small bowl, prepare a simple dressing by mixing:

  • olive oil

  • balsamic vinegar

  • lemon juice

  • finely chopped shallot

  • chives

  For extra richness, whisk in a little grated Parmesan.

  Pour the vinaigrette over the endives and onions, then toss gently so everything is coated. Add the sliced eggs and mix lightly. Sprinkle generously with Parmesan and a little more chives

• To make the salad heartier, you can also add cold cooked potatoes

• This salad adapts wonderfully to your preferences. Here are some easy ideas:

  • Add lentils to make the salad softer and more filling.

  • Brighten the plate with cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, grated carrots, or red/green peppers.

  • Sweeten the dressing with a drizzle of honey — it complements Parmesan and Gorgonzola beautifully.

  • Vegetarian version: Replace the bacon with feta cubes or tofu with sesame seeds.

  • Seafood twist: Use smoked trout or salmon instead of lardons for a lighter, aromatic variant