Puntarelle is the shoots of a range of Catalonia chicory which sticks out for its lengthened shape: it appears like a white head at the base, with extreme green leaves, which confine the crispy shoots in the centre. Puntarelle are generally consumed raw in salads, experienced with additional virgin olive oil and lemon juice, so regarding value their bitter taste and crunchiness.
With the arrival of spring, Puntarelle start to be present in vegetables and fruit markets throughout Italy, however if there is an area understood for its Puntarelle it is unquestionably Lazio. Roman-style chicory is a specialized valued throughout the Peninsula, which is prepared in its initial variation with anchovy fillets, garlic, additional virgin olive oil and vinegar. Lots of choose to sauté them in a pan, constantly with the addition of anchovies.
However what if you do not like anchovies, or you just wish to prepare a vegetarian or vegan variation of chicory salad? We recommend how to season them with basic, authentic and delicious active ingredients, without utilizing anchovies.
How to season chicory without anchovies
Puntarelle and anchovies are a vital mix for lots of: the taste and extreme taste of the anchovies stabilizes the bitterness of the chicory, developing a meal that is as basic as it is well balanced.
If you do not wish to utilize anchovies, our recommendations is to pick similarly delicious active ingredients as a dressing such as dried tomatoes, olives and capers, to alternate with cheeses such as feta or salted ricotta, and dried fruit to include a crispy touch.
Here are some really basic and delicious mixes:
garlic, additional virgin olive oil and vinegar: prepare the emulsion in a mortar, squashing the garlic with a little oil up until it becomes a cream, then include vinegar to taste, more additional virgin olive oil, salt and pepper; additional virgin olive oil, lemon juice and sliced capers; emulsion of oil and lemon juice or vinegar with the addition of Taggiasca olives; additional virgin olive oil, feta, cherry tomatoes and black olives; sliced dried tomatoes, garlic flavored oil and coarsely sliced walnuts.
