Linguine with Grilled Radicchio and Bacon

Name: Linguine with Grilled Radicchio and Bacon
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Bacon Drippings: 2 tbs; Apple Cider Vinegar: 1 tbs; Brown Sugar: 1 tsp; Fresh Ground Pepper: 1/2 tsp; Radicchio: 1 head; Linguine Pasta: 1/2 lbs; Bacon Drippings: 4 slices; Parmesan Cheese: 1/4 cup

Totally different flavor than your typical cold salad greens

Ingredients

2 tbs Bacon Drippings
1 tbs Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tsp Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp Fresh Ground Pepper
1 head Radicchio
washed and halved
1/2 lbs Linguine Pasta
cooked
4 slices Bacon Drippings
crumbled
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
grated

Directions

Sometimes certain ingredients perplex me more than others. Last week, it was radicchio that had me scratching my head.

I knew that I had seen a million recipes for people grilling it. That sounded good to me. Grilled lettuces are delicious, and a totally different flavor than your typical cold salad greens.

So there was one option. But what to do with a head of grilled radicchio? I had run across an Alton Brown recipe for grilled radicchio with bacon vinaigrette. Bacon vinaigrette? Sign me up.

Since this was lunch, I wanted to think of a way to make it into more of a complete meal. My brain’s answer to everything is add pasta and parmesan cheese. This seemed like a reasonable solution.

It was really pretty good except that I realized I don’t love radicchio. For me, it’s a little bitter. The parmesan and bacon add a nice contrast to its bitterness, but I still couldn’t get past it. I do also think this would make a warm salad better than a pasta dish.

But if you are a radicchio lover, then give this a whirl and let me know how you like it.

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Steps

1 Done	Mix together bacon drippings, cider vinegar, brown sugar and black pepper. Set aside.
2 Done	Spray a grill pan or outdoor grill with non-stick spray. Place the halved head of radicchio cut side down on the grill pan or outdoor grill. Grill until edges are wilted, about 2 minutes. Flip and grill the other side another minute more.
3 Done	Cut the radicchio halves into bite-sized pieces.
4 Done	Toss the radicchio with the warm cooked linguine, and then dress with bacon dripping mixture. Top with the bacon crumbles and parmesan cheese and serve warm.