Name: Citrus Salad with Radicchio, Dates, and Smoked Almonds
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 red grapefruit; 3 navel oranges; 1 teaspoon sugar; Salt and pepper; 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1 small shallot , minced; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 1 small head radicchio (6 ounces), halved, cored, and sliced 1/4 inch thick; 2/3 cup pitted dates , chopped; 1/2 cup smoked almonds , chopped coarse

Why This Recipe Works

Savory salads made with oranges and grapefruit are an impressive way to showcase colorful winter fruit but only if you can work with the bitterness of the grapefruit and prevent the fruit’s ample juice from drowning the other components. We started by treating the fruit with salt to counter its bitter notes (a technique we’ve used in the past with coffee and eggplant), but the salt pulled even more juice out of the fruit and onto our platter. Draining the seasoned fruit enabled us to preemptively remove the excess juice, some of which we used in the dressing for the salad greens. Salted nuts added richness that contrasted nicely with the fruit and the assertively flavored greens, and dried fruit added texture and sweetness.

Before You Begin

You may substitute tangelos or Cara Caras for the navel oranges. Valencia and blood oranges can also be used, but since they are smaller, increase the number of fruit to four.

Instructions

Cut away peel and pith from grapefruits and oranges. Cut each fruit in half from pole to pole, then slice crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces. Transfer fruit to bowl and toss with sugar and ½ teaspoon salt. Set aside for 15 minutes.

Drain fruit in colander, reserving 2 tablespoons juice. Transfer fruit to platter, arrange in even layer, and drizzle with oil. Whisk reserved juice, shallot, and mustard in medium bowl. Add radicchio, 1/3 cup dates, and ¼ cup almonds and toss to coat. Arrange radicchio mixture over fruit, leaving 1-inch border around edges. Sprinkle with remaining 1/3 cup dates and remaining 1/4 cup almonds. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.