This Italian Winter Salad reminds me of a dish I had many years ago in a cozy Italian bistro just beside Trevi Fountain.
Although I could easily make this a post dripping in memories of a special dinner we had long ago in a small cozy Italian bristro, I’ll save that story for another day. Yes – that memory inspired this dish, however, it was equally inspired by the need to enjoy something more than cookies, panettone French toast and, well, more cookies.
I needed fresh. I needed cold. I needed herbs. I needed crunch. I needed flavors (and colors) born from nature. I needed balance!!
I wanted:
- fresh parsley
- ice cold celery
- scallions
- radicchio
- red onion
- tuna
- cannellini beans
- and a simple full-flavored vinaigrette
Because sometimes we crave:
- a fancy tuna salad
- an elaborate bean salad
- a crisp salad with a zippy dressing
- a salad that conjures up memories of special times with family
- a salad that has Italian roots
- a salad that comes together quickly and is just perfect for a tasty lunch with friends
This Italian Winter Salad checks all the boxes!
Plus one more……….. Isn’t it pretty?!
Buon Appetito!
Print
Italian Winter Salad
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
This Italian Winter Salad reminds me of a dish I had many years ago in a cozy Italian bistro just beside Trevi Fountain.
Ingredients
Red Wine Vinaigrette
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
Salt & black pepper, to taste
Salad
4 Tbsp. roughly chopped flat leaf parsley
6 scallions, thinly sliced
4 stalks celery, thinly sliced
1 15 oz, can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 can tuna packed in oil, drained
1 head radicchio, quartered and cored, leaves separated and torn in bite sized pieces
2 – 3 Tbsp. chopped red onion (optional)
Instructions
For the vinaigrette, in a medium bowl, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Whisk until the ingredients are completely mixed together. Set aside.
In a small bowl, combine the chopped parsley, scallions and celery.
Add three tablespoons of vinaigrette to the herbs and stir.
In the meantime, in a medium bowl, give a gentle stir to combine the cannellini beans, tuna and remaining vinaigrette. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
Prepare serving platter with radicchio leaves.
Top with the cannellini bean mixture, then spoon the fresh herb mixture over top.
Finish with chopped red onion and salt and pepper, to taste.
Enjoy!
I’m with you, my friend! Definitely need the cold, crunchy, fresh salad right now. You do have me looking forward to reading about the cozy Italian bistro!
It’s a meal I just have not forgotten in 12 years…. Thank you, friend!
What a delicious looking salad! I love it!
Thank you, Jeff!! 🙂
Swooning over the vibrant colors in this salad, Annie! All of those textures and flavors…it’s exactly the kind of salad that I crave ALL the time, especially when I’ve had just a few too many cookies…
I’m with you! I crave salads like this all the time!! Thank you, friend!
It is pretty! And it has one of my favorite winter ingredients, radicchio, so under appreciated! Plus, love that this salad was inspired by a memory from my favorite place in Rome, Fontana di Trevi! 🙂
Fontana di Trevi! Awhhhh – be still my heart! Thank you, Nicoletta!
Love the combo of ingredients in this salad Annie, and you’re right, it is absolutely pretty! This salad could definitely help me strike a balance with all the cookies and heavy meals this holiday season!
Yesss! And it’s just so tasty! Nothing like a good red wine vinaigrette! Thanks, friend!
Balance is good! We can only eat cookies and sweets for so long. A great salad filled with healthy options is just what we need and just what I crave! I love the balance of colors and flavors in your salad.
Thank you so much, Kathy! I think it’s a pretty one, too!
It can’t all be sweets and cookies! Sometimes I need a break, and a salad is just the ticket! I love all of the fresh and bright ingredients in this beauty!
It’s all so relative, isn’t it? Thank you, dear!
Beautiful. If you had posted on cookies, I wouldn’t have clicked on it. I’d much rather enjoy this salad any time of the year than eat cookies!
Hahaha! So happy it was a salad! Thank you, Mimi!
This salad is packed full of crispiness and flavors, much needed to “keep those holiday pounds off”! Gorgeous shots of the salad too!
It’s like a switch flipped and all I craved was salad….after weeks of craving cookies! 🙂
It IS so pretty and so much crunch Annie… I’m in need of fresh too with all the holiday eats and rich food. I love the beans and celery.. with the red wine dressing… such a great way to marry the flavors!
The ultimate equalizer! Thank you, dear!
So vibrant, Annie! And the combination of flavors is outstanding, definitely a must add to the holiday menu salad.
Yes! Perfect for the holiday table! Thank you, friend!
I NEED balance right now too Annie! And I LOVE all the ingredients in this salad too! It sounds so fresh and flavorful! On my list! Pinned!
Yay! I think you will love it, Mary Ann! Thank you!
We’re so on the same page right now. With all the cookies and candy I’ve eaten in the last week, all I really want today is veggies! This looks fabulous, Annie!
I just woke up that morning and was like, “I NEED SALAD!” 😉
Such a beautiful salad! And yes, it’s all about balance this time of year. I am the same. After a period of indulging, I absolutely crave fresh and crunchy, too 🙂
Thanks, Jennifer! Bring on the crunch!
Love the pretty colours of this one! And we all know we could use something a tad healthier this time of year with all the cookies and treats floating around 🙂 Balance, right?? Happy Monday, my friend. XOXO
Thank you, Dawn! We loveeee the cookies and sweets but sometimes a little salad just hits the spot! Thank you, friend! Happy Monday! XOXO