This Radicchio Caesar Salad with Toasted Garlic Panko is far from your average Caesar salad recipe! Tossed in a homemade Caesar dressing, shaved parmesan, and toasted garlic panko breadcrumbs, every bite of this simple salad is packed with flavor.
In a large bowl add cold water and ice. Cut the radicchio into quarters and then cut off the core. Then cut into halves again.
Add the radicchio to the ice water, with your hands separate the leaves and then squeeze them a bit to help release the bitterness. Let it sit in the ice cold water that covers the lettuce all the way for at least 15 minutes.
Use either a salad spinner or a kitchen towel to dry the leaves fully. (Can be done ahead of time and stored after drying for up to 4-5 days in a ziplock bag.)
Prepare the dressing and toast the panko.
Toss the salad with dressing, I like to massage the dressing into the leaves. Add panko and Parmesan cheese, lightly toss and add to a platter.
Toasted Garlic Panko
While the lettuce is resting, make the garlic panko. In a small pan, melt the butter along with the garlic powder. Add in the panko crumbs. Cook on medium-low heat until browned and toasted. Making sure to move around to prevent burning. Remove into a bowl and let cool.
Classic Homemade Caesar Dressing
Add all of the ingredients to a large mason jar.
Use an immersion blender to blend all of the ingredients together. Pull the blender up and down until the dressing has emulsified. Blending will only take around 15-30 seconds.
Stir the dressing, and taste to adjust the seasoning if needed. Tasting is key to achieving the perfect taste. You may want a little more anchovy, salt, or lemon.
Keep the dressing refrigerated and eat it within 2 weeks.
Notes
Radicchio Tips: To make the salad ahead, soak the radicchio leaves, this is super important to get the bitterness out of the radicchio. Keep it in a ziplock bag a few days in advance.Dressing: Make the dressing ahead of time. It will last in the fridge for a week in an airtight container.Panko: Toast the Panko, and keep it in an airtight container for a few days ahead. Leftovers will last in the fridge for at least a month.Lettuce Substitute: You can use kale or romaine with this as a substitute.