The Answer to Midwinter Salad Fatigue

Singing the kale salad blues? Escarole could change your tune. Get to know this sturdy, flavorful winter green — and our 5 favorite ways to prepare it.

What It Is

Although escarole looks like lettuce, it’s actually a type of endive, which accounts for its bittersweet and slightly peppery flavor. What makes the green such an asset in the kitchen is its versatility — escarole is sturdy enough to braise or bake until meltingly tender but equally delicious served blanched or raw and crisp.

Buying and Storing

Look for full heads with more tender, light-green center leaves than dark outer ones. The bunch should be smooth and blemish-free with no brown tips. Trim off the base to separate the leaves and wash under cold running water. Dry well, then wrap in several paper towels, seal in a bag, and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

How to Use It

Quartered heads can be brushed with oil and quickly grilled. Hardy outer leaves can be braised or chopped and used in stir-fries or sautes. Mix tender inner leaves with romaine to add flavor to a Caesar salad. Stir a couple handfuls of torn escarole into a soup or stew; it pairs especially well with white beans and sausage.

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Escarole Salad with Green Apple Vinaigrette and Crispy Shallots

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 large shallot, thinly sliced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 tablespoons white-wine or Champagne vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
3 tablespoons diced peeled Granny Smith apple
1 large head escarole, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces
2 celery stalks, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, plus 1/2̇ cup tender inner leaves

1. In a small skillet, heat oil and shallot over medium-high; cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown. With a slotted spoon, transfer shallot to paper towels to drain and season with salt and pepper. Let oil cool slightly.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard, honey, and apple. Slowly add oil from skillet, whisking until combined. Season with salt and pepper, then add escarole and celery stalks and leaves. Toss to combine and top with shallots.

Bacon-and-Escarole Grilled Cheese

Leftover bacon fat makes these sandwiches crisp and flavorful — no butter required!

12 slices bacon (12 ounces)
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
8 slices sourdough bread
6 ounces sharp cheddar, sliced
1/2 small head escarole, trimmed and torn into bite-size pieces

1. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium-high until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp, about 7 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Pour off and reserve all but 1 tablespoon fat. In a small bowl, combine mustard and honey and spread on bread. Divide cheese and bacon among bread to make 4 sandwiches.

2. Place skillet over medium; in batches, add sandwiches and cook until bread is golden and crisp and cheese is melted, 6 to 8 minutes, flipping halfway through and adding more bacon fat as needed. Open sandwiches, add escarole, close, and serve immediately.

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Escarole Gratin

2 large heads escarole, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium shallot, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 slices white bread, crusts removed, torn into large pieces

Green Mix
You can use kale, chard, or spinach in place of some or all of the escarole in this dish.

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place a colander in a large bowl. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. In 2 batches, cook escarole until tender, 7 minutes, then drain in a colander, pressing with a spatula to squeeze out as much liquid as possible.

2. In a small saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium. Cook shallot and garlic until tender, 4 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Whisking constantly, add milk and cook, whisking, until mixture comes to a boil and thickens, 2 minutes. Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper, and stir in escarole. Pour mixture into a 1-quart baking dish.

3. In a food processor, pulse bread until coarse crumbs form; transfer to a small bowl. Melt 1 tablespoon butter and pour over breadcrumbs, stirring to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Top escarole with breadcrumbs and bake until golden brown and bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes.

Escarole with Olives and Tomato

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1 large head escarole, trimmed and torn into bite-size pieces
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 to 3 teaspoons red-wine vinegar

1. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add garlic, olives, and tomatoes; cook until tomatoes are soft, about 2 minutes; transfer to a plate. Add escarole to skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until escarole is wilted, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, return olive mixture to skillet, and stir in vinegar to taste. Serve immediately.

Wilted Escarole with Walnuts and Blue Cheese

1 large head escarole
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
Fresh lemon juice (optional)

1. Cut escarole into 1 1/2-inch wedges, leaving base intact. In a large skillet, heat 2 teaspoons olive oil over medium; add a few wedges and cook, turning, until escarole is wilted and light brown on all sides, 3 minutes total. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a platter. Repeat twice with more oil and remaining escarole. Top with walnuts and blue cheese; drizzle with lemon juice, if desired.

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