The late Charlie Hicks, a renowned fruit and veg supplier from Covent Garden market, would have been delighted to see his name associated with the humble yet flavorful puntarelle. A key ingredient in his Italian-inspired salads, puntarelle's bitter taste is perfectly balanced by its sweet, succulent inner tubes. In this recipe, Chef Rachel Roddy has beautifully captured Charlie's essence by combining puntarelle with radicchio, celery, apple and a tangy cheese.
To start, the outer leaves of the puntarelle are removed, followed by the tougher parts of the inner tubes. The latter is sliced into short lengths, while the radicchio is broken down into manageable pieces. The celery's strings are also removed before slicing it thinly on an angle. Meanwhile, the apple is quartered and rubbed with lemon to prevent browning.
In a large bowl, the whisked olive oil, vinegar, honey, and salt come together in perfect harmony. The puntarelle leaves are then tossed with this dressing, followed by the celery, apple, and walnuts. Finally, half of the cheese is added, before being topped with the remaining cheese and served immediately.
The result is a salad that not only celebrates Charlie's market report but also his passion for using seasonal ingredients to create bold flavors. The addition of radicchio adds a touch of bitterness, while the apple provides a sweet contrast. This beautifully crafted recipe is a testament to Chef Roddy's ability to capture the essence of a beloved figure and translate it into a delicious culinary experience.
A perfect ingredient combination that brings together flavors from Rome, with a hint of rustic British charm, this salad will transport you straight to Covent Garden market where Charlie Hicks would often sell his wares.
To start, the outer leaves of the puntarelle are removed, followed by the tougher parts of the inner tubes. The latter is sliced into short lengths, while the radicchio is broken down into manageable pieces. The celery's strings are also removed before slicing it thinly on an angle. Meanwhile, the apple is quartered and rubbed with lemon to prevent browning.
In a large bowl, the whisked olive oil, vinegar, honey, and salt come together in perfect harmony. The puntarelle leaves are then tossed with this dressing, followed by the celery, apple, and walnuts. Finally, half of the cheese is added, before being topped with the remaining cheese and served immediately.
The result is a salad that not only celebrates Charlie's market report but also his passion for using seasonal ingredients to create bold flavors. The addition of radicchio adds a touch of bitterness, while the apple provides a sweet contrast. This beautifully crafted recipe is a testament to Chef Roddy's ability to capture the essence of a beloved figure and translate it into a delicious culinary experience.
A perfect ingredient combination that brings together flavors from Rome, with a hint of rustic British charm, this salad will transport you straight to Covent Garden market where Charlie Hicks would often sell his wares.
. He had such a passion for what he did, and it's lovely that his legacy lives on in this beautiful salad recipe 
. The way Chef Roddy has combined all these flavors is just magic - the bitterness of the radicchio balances out so well with the sweetness of the apple 
. It really makes you appreciate Charlie's love for seasonal ingredients, and how he'd use them to create something truly special 
. This salad should definitely be on everyone's menu! 
i can almost smell the Covent Garden market vibes wafting from my screen, it's so cool to see Chef Rachel Roddy paying homage to Charlie Hicks 
what's your favorite way to enjoy puntarelle?
I'm definitely adding this to my weekly salad rotation, thanks for sharing the recipe!
. Every time, it's just some overpriced restaurant or chef sharing their "signature" dish without any real context about the ingredients or market they're using. Like, what even is Covent Garden market? Sounds like some fancy-schmancy place that only rich people go to 
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. It's all so pretentious and formulaic. "A key ingredient in his Italian-inspired salads..." Gag me 
. Can't they just write something genuine and simple? This whole thing feels like a choreographed foodie Instagram post 
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. But honestly, who needs another fancy salad when there are real people struggling to afford food on the platform? 
...I mean don't get me wrong, it's a great ingredient and all that jazz 
️ Still, I guess when you add radicchio and apple, it kinda works out 
It's like Charlie Hicks' spirit came back to life on my plate! 
And the walnuts? Game changer! 
I need to try this ASAP and share it with all my friends. I swear, this salad is a taste of Covent Garden market in every bite 
. I love how she's balanced out that bitter puntarelle with sweet radicchio and apple - it's like a match made in heaven 
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. And the cheese, oh man, it's like the icing on the cake (or should I say, the sauce on the salad?) 
. This recipe is a real winner, trust me, you'll be making it again and again 
️.
- bitter and sweet all at once! I love how Chef Roddy's recipe captures the essence of Charlie Hicks' Italian-inspired salads, it's like you can taste the Covent Garden market vibes 
. And radicchio's bitterness is the perfect balance to the apple's sweetness 
also why do people always say to use seasonal ingredients? like isnt that just a fancy way of saying we need to eat more veggies? 
. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to make this salad ASAP and taste the magic for myself 
but chef rachel rodry makes it shine 
! the combo with radicchio and apple is 
charlie hicks would be so proud 
. i love how she uses seasonal ingredients to create a bold flavor profile 
this salad is like a taste of italian charm in london 
. and that walnuts add a nice crunch 
. It'd be awesome if more people started using seasonal ingredients, just like Chef Rachel Roddy did here, it's like a breath of fresh air for your taste buds.
. I mean, who thought it was a good idea to pay tribute to some random guy named Charlie Hicks just because he sold veggies at a market? It's like they're trying too hard to be nostalgic and end up coming across as pretentious