Grilled Radicchio With Cherry Gastrique Recipe

This grilled side dish a bold marriage of sweet, sour, and bitter, making it the perfect accompaniment for a fatty charred steak.

By
Daniel Gritzer
Daniel Gritzer
Daniel Gritzer
Editorial Director
Daniel joined the Serious Eats culinary team in 2014 and writes recipes, equipment reviews, articles on cooking techniques. Prior to that he was a food editor at Food & Wine magazine, and the staff writer for Time Out New York's restaurant and bars section.
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Updated July 14, 2023
Wedges of grilled radicchio plated with cherry gastrique and fresh mint leaves

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

Why It Works

  • The sweet-sour cherry sauce is jammy and fruity, with enough of a deep vinegar tang to stand up to all that sweetness.
  • Radicchio grows even more bitter on the grill as it chars and lightly wilts, resulting in an intense flavor that requires an equally intense sauce.

A bold marriage of sweet, sour, and bitter defines this grilled radicchio side dish. Charred and wilted, the radicchio is brought back to life by a vivid sweet-and-sour cherry sauce, making it the perfect pairing for a sizzling and fatty grilled steak. Keep in mind, though, that this side dish is truly a powerhouse, so it's better not to match it up with lighter fare, like fish or simple roast or grilled chicken.

June 2017

Recipe Details

Grilled Radicchio With Cherry Gastrique Recipe

Active 30 mins
Total 45 mins
Serves 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound (450g) sweet red cherries, halved and pitted

  • 1/4 cup sugar (1 3/4 ounces; 50g)

  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (90ml) sherry vinegar, plus more if needed, divided (see note)

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 (12-ounce; 340g) heads radicchio, quartered, cores left intact

  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

  • Fresh mint leaves, for garnish

Directions

  1. Light 1 chimney full of charcoal. When all charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread coals evenly over half of coal grate. Alternatively, set half the burners of a gas grill to high heat. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill, and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil grilling grate.

  2. Meanwhile, in medium saucepan, combine cherries with sugar and 1/4 cup (60ml) vinegar. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until sugar is dissolved and cherries have cooked down to a saucy, jammy consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Add remaining 2 tablespoons (30ml) vinegar in stages, tasting along the way and adding more if needed, until the flavor is brightly acidic with a strong sweet-sour balance, like tart lemonade. Simmer sauce further, if necessary, to reduce to a lightly syrupy consistency. Set aside to cool.

  3. Arrange radicchio directly over the coals or high heat on a gas grill. Cook on both cut sides until lightly wilted and charred in spots, about 2 minutes per side.

  4. Transfer radicchio to a platter, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle cherry sauce all over radicchio and scatter with mint leaves. Serve.

Special Equipment

Grill

Notes

Other vinegars will work here as well, such as white wine, red wine, Champagne, and cider. Exactly how much you need will depend on the vinegar you use and the sweetness of your cherries.

Read More

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
117Calories
3gFat
23gCarbs
2gProtein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories117
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g3%
Saturated Fat 0g2%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 131mg6%
Total Carbohydrate 23g8%
Dietary Fiber 2g8%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 13mg66%
Calcium 31mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
Potassium 477mg10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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