Arugula, endive and radicchio are some of my favorite salad ingredients. So simple, yet so delicious! To bring out their flavors I made a simple extra virgin olive oil and red  balsamic vinegar dressing, not too much, just enough to taste the sweetness of the balsamic. Since I love cheese, I also added some Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Quick, colorful, delicious and healthy. Just the way I like it!

Radicchio (pronounced ra-dee-kyoh) is a leaf chicory, sometimes called Italian chicory. It has a slight bitter and spicy taste, that can be mellowed if you grill it for a few minutes. Either way, it’s delicious.

Radicchio is a rich source of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. It also has high amounts of antioxidants and is low in calories. It contains no fat or cholesterol.  That’s great news for people who need to watch out for this. Radicchio is also a good source of selenium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, B-vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin E and folate.

So next time you decide to make a salad, I suggest you try this red leafed beauty. It’s good to try new things and as always, enjoy!