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Here’s what to know about frisée! This delicate, frilly lettuce is ideal for adding texture and sophistication to salads.
What’s with that frizzled lettuce perched next to romaine and iceberg at the grocery? It’s frisée! Frisée, also known as curled endive, is a leafy green with frilly leaves and a subtly bitter flavor. Its feathery leaves work great as a statement in salads, adding loads of texture and drama. Here’s more about it, how to keep it fresh, and ways it use it in recipes!
All about frisée
Frisée goes by several different names, including curly endive and endive lettuce. It’s part of the chicory family and technically a type of endive, though Belgian endive looks much different with its white color and cylindrical shape.
What does frisée taste like? It’s fluffy and crunchy with a hydrating burst and bitter peppery notes on the finish. Pair it with strong flavors like bold dressings, cheeses, eggs, cured meats, and more. It’s also a nice contrast to other types of greens in a salad.
Buying and storing frisée
Here’s what to know when looking for and buying this green at the store:
- Look for a head of ruffled leaves marked as frisée, curly endive, or endive lettuce. (While it’s not technically the best descriptor, the latter was the case at my local grocery.)
- Expect variation in size and texture. Some heads of frisée are very small and frizzy, others have larger leaves, like the photo above. This varies based on the maturity of the lettuce. I prefer a younger, more tender plant because it’s fluffier with a milder flavor, but it can be hard to find.
- Store frisée refrigerated for 5 days. It stays best unwashed and wrapped in a paper towel in a plastic bag. Wash it before serving, then thoroughly dry it in a salad spinner or with towels.
Frisée recipes
Frisée is most often eaten raw in salads or even as a garnish for dishes. It’s most well-known for its use in the famous French bistro salad, salade Lyonnaise, topped with lardons and a poached egg. You can even sauté it! Here are a few recipe ideas:
Frisee Salad
Try a crunchy and refreshing frisee salad! Frisée is ideal for adding flair and elegance to salads. This recipe pairs it with the burst of juicy orange, aged Manchego cheese, and crunchy almonds, covering it all in a zingy white wine vinaigrette.
Lyonnaise Salad
Frisee is most famous for its inclusion in this classic French bistro salad. It’s a combination of frisée tossed in a warm vinaigrette and topped with a poached egg and crispy thick-slab bacon pieces. It’s one of those timeless dishes that hits the spot every time.
Sauteed Lemon Maple Frisee
It's most often seen in salads, but frisee can be cooked too! Give it a quick saute, then add lemon juice, maple syrup and top with crunchy toasted breadcrumbs. It tastes sophisticated but it's fast and simple to put together.
Apple Cranberry Frisee Salad
Frisee works well with many flavors, and is ideal paired with fruits in a refreshing salad. Here it's tossed with apples, carrots, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and a homemade apple balsamic vinaigrette.
Want more quick guides? Try my Quick Guide to Endive, Quick Guide to Romaine, and Quick Guide to Butter Lettuce.
Frisée Salad
This frisée salad is refreshing and sophisticated. Pair this frilly leafy green with orange, almonds, and a zingy vinaigrette.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Salad
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
For the frisée salad
- 1 large or 2 to 3 small heads frisée* (may be marked as curly endive or endive lettuce)
- 1 orange, plus zest
- 1 shallot
- 1 ounce Manchego cheese (or shaved Parmesan cheese; omit for vegan)
- 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
- 1 handful fresh mint leaves, optional
For the dressing (makes ½ cup; use 3 to 4 tablespoons)
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- Fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Wash and dry the frisée, using a salad spinner or clean towel. Tear or chop the frisée into pieces.
- Zest half the orange. Then segment the orange, following the instructions in How to Cut an Orange.
- Thinly slice the shallot and slice the Manchego cheese into pieces.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the white wine vinegar, Dijon, maple syrup or honey, and salt. Whisk in the oil 1 tablespoon at a time until a creamy dressing forms. Add a few grinds of fresh ground black pepper. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 2 weeks. (Bring to room temperature prior to serving).
- Serve the salad. Place the greens on a large platter or separate plates. Top with orange slices, shallot, cheese, sliced almonds, orange zest, and mint leaves. Drizzle with about 3 to 4 tablespoons of the dressing, to taste.
Notes
*Sizes available at stores vary greatly based on the maturity of the plant. If the heads are very small, you may need 2 to 3. Estimate about 6 cups of greens total.
Let us know if you have any questions!