Radicchio, Pickled Fennel, Blue Cheese, Pear & Pistachio Salad with OG ‘grette

Looking for an impressive salad recipe packed with bold flavours, contrasting textures and restaurant-quality ingredients? This Radicchio, Pickled Fennel, Blue Cheese, Pear & Pistachio Salad with OG ‘grette combines bitter leaves, sweet pear, creamy blue cheese and crunchy pistachios with a vibrant dressing that brings everything together beautifully.

Perfect as a dinner party starter, a light lunch, or an elegant side dish, this pear and blue cheese salad recipe is ideal for home cooks who want something fresh, seasonal and full of flavour. The quick-pickled fennel adds brightness, while the OG ‘grette dressing delivers a balanced finish with depth, acidity and richness.

At Infusions4Chefs, we’re proud to stock the full range from ‘grette, a collection of premium dressings created for people who love proper ingredients and bold flavour combinations. Whether you’re building simple salads, grain bowls, roasted vegetable dishes or marinades, the ‘grette range makes it easy to create restaurant-style food at home.

What is ‘grette?

Serious flavour. All-natural ingredients. Salads worth looking forward to.

‘grette creates small-batch dressings for people who want proper flavour without compromising on quality. Made using all-natural ingredients and bold flavour combinations, these are dressings designed to make your greens the best dressed thing on the table. Because eating well shouldn’t feel boring.

Whether you’re building a simple lunch salad, serving a dinner party spread or throwing together a quick midweek meal, ‘grette brings restaurant-style flavour with minimal effort. Bright, punchy and full of character, the range is made for people who love fresh food but also enjoy life properly, the type of people who order the fries and the martini alongside the salad.

Founded by Gus and Juno, ‘grette was created to give salad dressings a much-needed glow-up. Frustrated by shelves full of bland, overly oily or preservative-packed options, they set out to create dressings that looked good, tasted incredible and actually made people excited to eat salad.

Now stocked at Infusions4Chefs (i4C), the full ‘grette range makes it easy to add bold flavour to salads, grain bowls, roasted vegetables, marinades and everyday cooking.

Shop the full range of ‘grette dressings at Infusions4Chefs and bring restaurant-quality flavour to your cooking at home.

Why This Salad Works

This radicchio salad recipe balances sweet, bitter, salty and sharp flavours in every bite.

• Radicchio adds a slightly bitter crunch
• Pickled fennel brings freshness and acidity
• Pear softens the bitterness with natural sweetness
• Blue cheese adds creaminess and savoury depth
• Pistachios provide texture and nuttiness
• OG ‘grette ties everything together with a balanced finish

It’s an ideal autumn and winter salad recipe, but works beautifully all year round alongside roast meats, grilled vegetables or fresh bread.

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Radicchio, Pear & Blue Cheese Salad Recipe

Serves 4 | Prep Time 15 minutes | Cook Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

For the Salad

• 1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
• 4 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 1 tsp caster sugar
• ½ tsp fine sea salt
• 1 radicchio, leaves torn
• 2 ripe pears, cored and thinly sliced
• 100g blue cheese, crumbled (such as Gorgonzola or Roquefort)
• 50g shelled pistachios, roughly chopped
• 4–6 tbsp OG ‘grette dressing
• Fennel fronds, to garnish

Method

1. In a small bowl, combine the white wine vinegar, caster sugar and salt, stirring until dissolved. Add the thinly sliced fennel and toss well to coat. Leave to pickle while preparing the rest of the salad.
2. Place the chopped pistachios into a dry frying pan over a medium heat. Toast for 2–3 minutes, stirring regularly, until lightly golden and fragrant. Set aside to cool.
3. Arrange the torn radicchio leaves across a serving platter or large bowl. Drain the pickled fennel and scatter over the leaves. Add the sliced pear evenly across the salad.
4. Crumble over the blue cheese and sprinkle with the toasted pistachios. Drizzle generously with OG ‘grette dressing and garnish with fennel fronds before serving immediately.

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Recommended Pairings & Ingredient Suggestions

You can easily adapt this salad recipe using other premium ingredients available from Infusions4Chefs.

Cheese Pairings:

• Goat’s cheese
• Burrata

Nuts & Texture

• Toasted hazelnuts
• Pumpkin seeds

Pantry Pairings

• Aged balsamic vinegar
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Artisan crackers
• Sourdough bread sticks

FAQ’s

What does radicchio taste like?

Radicchio has a slightly bitter, peppery flavour with a crisp texture. Its bitterness pairs particularly well with sweet ingredients like pear, honey or balsamic vinegar, as well as rich cheeses such as Gorgonzola or Roquefort.

Can I make this salad ahead of time?

You can prepare the pickled fennel and toast the pistachios in advance, but it’s best to assemble and dress the salad just before serving to keep the leaves crisp and fresh.

What cheese works best in pear salad?

Blue cheeses such as Gorgonzola, Roquefort or Stilton work beautifully with pear thanks to their creamy texture and salty flavour. Goat’s cheese or feta can also work well if you prefer something milder.

What is OG ‘grette used for?

OG ‘grette is a versatile premium dressing that can be used for salads, marinades, roasted vegetables, grain bowls and finishing dishes. Its balanced acidity and savoury depth make it suitable for both simple and more complex recipes.

Can I substitute radicchio?

Yes. Chicory, red leaf lettuce, little gem or rocket can all work as alternatives if you prefer a less bitter salad base.

How do you pickle fennel quickly?

Thinly slice fennel and soak it in vinegar with sugar and salt for around 10–15 minutes. This softens the fennel slightly while adding brightness and acidity.