A few months ago I had the chance to develop three recipes using The Naked Grape wines. I was given the go-ahead to share them, and this is the first of the three. Take it away Malbec!
Radicchio and Malbec are both a bit off the beaten path. They’re not the usual mixed greens salad and house Merlot found in every restaurant. Both have bold personalities – radicchio with its bitter bite and Malbec’s spicy layers of leather and fruit.
This recipe combines the pair in a simple appetizer or side dish finished with creamy goat cheese and toasted hazelnuts. The Malbec becomes the backbone for a barbecue sauce used to flavor the radicchio before it’s put on the grill and set to char along the edges. The smooth wine and a tangy goat cheese mellow out the bitterness of the radicchio, and the dish is complete with the crunch of fragrant hazelnuts.
By itself, The Naked Grape Malbec is dry, spicy, and a bit leathery, with subtle notes of bourbon and blackberries.
To get started on the recipe, prepare the barbecue sauce by combining all ingredients in a bowl and mixing thoroughly with a whisk.
Slice radicchio in half and slice those into three pieces. Keep the stem intact so the leaves won’t fall apart.
Place in pan and coat radicchio with sauce.
Meanwhile, measure hazelnuts and finely chop.
Put hazelnuts in a skillet and set on low heat area of the grill for 10 minutes.
Place radicchio on grill for 3-4 minutes each side.
Flip! They sure look like little porcupines don’t they!?
Arrange radicchio on a plate and top with hazelnuts and crumbled goat cheese.
Pair with a glass of Malbec!
Grilled Radicchio with Malbec Barbecue Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 heads radicchio washed
- 1/3 cup whole hazelnuts
- 4 ounce log of goat cheese
- For the sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ½ cup Malbec
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon sunflower oil
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire
Instructions
- Preheat grill with high heat.
- Prepare the barbecue sauce by combining all ingredients in a bowl and mixing thoroughly with a whisk.
- Slice radicchio in half and slice those into three pieces.
- Place in pan and coat radicchio with sauce.
- Meanwhile, measure hazelnuts and finely chop.
- Put hazelnuts in a skillet and set on low heat area of the grill for 10 minutes. Alternatively, toast inside on your stove-top until hazelnuts are fragrant and beginning to brown.
- Place radicchio on grill for 3-4 minutes each side.
- Arrange radicchio on a plate and top with hazelnuts and crumbled goat cheese.
- Pair with a glass of Malbec!
Lynn @ the actor's diet says
Yummmmmmers. I don’t drink wine but I do love eating it.
Carly @ Snack Therapy says
This is one of those dishes that would be almost too gorgeous to eat.
Almost.
Ashlee@HisnHers says
I LOVE Naked Grape Malbec. Just finished off a bottle. What a creative recipe!
Cait's Plate says
Looks absolutely AMAZING!!
Alyssa @ Road to RD says
Interesting combo! I’m intrigued!
Sandra says
What a great idea! I am looking forward to trying this. Thank you for sharing.
Ashli @ But What About Protein? says
Yum! This looks pretty delish! I don’t drink but have recently been considering branching out with the occasional glass of wine – I might give this a try!
Susan says
As Alyssa says, an interesting combo. I like radicchio, but as you note, it’s a little strong. Goat cheese could be just the thing to balance it out, and you can’t go wrong with toasted hazelnuts.
I’m just branching into Malbecs. Some I like, but I also had some that seemed too harsh and rough around the edges. It is a powerful grape. I’ll have to see if I can find the Naked Grape Malbec
Elise @ Expeditions of Elise says
I must say I am not a huge fan of radicchio. Does grilling it mellow the flavor at all?
KathEats says
I think so. And a sweeter sauce will help balance a better flavor
Ella P says
Deat Kath,
thank you for this precious recipe. Radicchio is not really my best friend either, but I am sure that after this artful “fine-tuning” we can work it out and override the verdict 😉
Yes, let’s give radicchio its well deserved chance!
Ella
Amelia says
This is such a creative way to use these ingredients!!
J @ Chocolate Covered Chickpeas says
Mmm…Crumbled goat cheese and hazelnuts… I’m adding this to my recipes to try list!
Lisa @bitesforbabies says
I’m not even a fan of radicchio but that looks divine (maybe because I know there’s wine in it!) 😉
Lisa says
This looks amazing! It sounds perfect for summer grilling.
Deb @ Dietitian Debbie Dishes says
This sounds to yummy! My boyfriend and I had tried roasting radicchio before, but thought it was just a bit too bitter. We’ll have to give it another shot with this recipe! Sounds like the goat cheese and sauce really help with the bitter factor! Perhaps that was what we were missing. 🙂
Saffron says
Looks interesting. How much does the Malbec cost per bottle, and where can you get it?
Was this post sponsored? It’s not clear, sorry.
KathEats says
Nope, not a sponsored post. Just wanted to share my work here. Here’s their website with a Where To Buy.
Lindsay says
So you went to the store, bought the ingredients, and developed the recipes for no compensation? I’m only asking because, while you say this post is not sponsored, you also say that you have “been given the go ahead” to post the recipes. This sounds like you were either reimbursed for the ingredients or compensated for developing a recipe, or both. While the question is specifically asking about this post, I think it it misleading to insinuate that you have not been compensated monetarily at all for this endeavor (unless, of course, you haven’t).
KathEats says
I was paid to write the recipes for their use. They did not pay to be on KERF.
Jane @ Not Plain So Jane says
Pretty looking dish!
hannah says
Mmm, just up my alley! Perhaps this is the way I’ll learn to like alcohol 😉
Susan H @ The Food Allergy Chronicles says
Beautiful presentation…looks delish! 🙂
Liz @ iheartvegetables says
Kath, this sounds so amazingly good!! Perfect for summer!
Kim says
This looks delicious and I can’t wait to try it this summer! Thanks for the recipe!
Ahn Ei says
Looks delicious! So glad you were able to share with us!!
Sabrina @ Living, Learning, Eating says
I thought that was cake at first!
Alexandra @ Delicious Knowledge says
What an creative idea! I love radicchio but rarely make it. This sauce sounds perfect!
Jennifer says
You are lovely and creative lady 🙂 Please, continue your art.
Sara says
This looks incredible! I heart radicchio and will be making this for a cookout tomorrow night : )
Ann says
Love this recipe idea! What gorgeous photos you take.
Lisa Marie says
YUM. That is all.
Mary says
Did you see all the flack that Dooce took recently for not being up front with her sponsored posts? It doesn’t really matter to me, one way or the other you write a blog and earn money from it. I go to work and earn my money that way! So, I am wondering what your opinion is about all this? I assume you read a lot of blogs, does it bother you if bloggers reveal sponsorship at the beginning or the end or at all? I think each to his own, it’s all good one way or t’other.
I love me some red wine and goat’s cheese, that is for sure! This s a great post, it looks like you put a lot of your effort into it,
KathEats says
I’ve always been honest about when my posts are sponsored and clarify in the comments any time someone wants more information. I don’t care if bloggers reveal in the beginning, end, in a formal disclosure box or just state “X company provided me with” in their text – just so long as you’re not purposefully deceiving their audience (and I think that’s all the FTC cares about too). What does annoy me is that bloggers are nit-picked to death about this and that and celebrities can endorse a product with no disclosure and no one cares. See this well-written post for more on what I’m after.
KathEats says
PS. I think this is my favorite line from her post : )
Aimee says
It’s not really a 1:1 comparison, though, is it? Bloggers and celebrities, I mean. When we see Michael Jordon advertising for Hanes, we understand that he was paid. And the mediums– commercials or magazines, typically– alert readers to the money involved in the deal. The internet and free blog hosting (or domains with advertising slots, even more so) complicate things. Sometimes, bloggers post about PopChips because they just like them, sometimes they post about PopChips because the company gave them money, sometimes they post about PopChips because the company mailed some over (either explicitly or subtly asking to be posted about)… there’s less of an established, transparent practice re: blogger endorsements vs. celebrity endorsements.
Kate says
I find this discussion really interesting! I don’t think anyone has a problem with you working with a company to develop a recipe, and I think we all appreciate reading about the outcome! 🙂
What gets readers interested in these details is when bloggers mention specific brands in their writings. It’s one thing to write about your love of red wine in general, and develop a recipe using red wine, and to perhaps recommend a few of your personal favorites. When a *specific brand* is featured, the FTC requires all bloggers to disclose if there is a connection between a company and the blogger. In this case, it seems like that connection is certainly present. While true that Naked Grape did not require you to post this recipe as part of your contract with them, it is also true that you were paid to use their product and write this recipe which includes their product by name in the ingredient list. Therefore, a disclosure of your connection with the company seems in order.
As you mentioned above, I don’t think anyone really cares so much about how or where you make the disclosure, or that you have relationships with different brands. I’m all for doing what you need to do to make a living! It only matters that the disclosure is made, so that the difference between a personal recommendation and a corporate relationship is clear at all times.
KathEats says
I totally agree and said in the opening line that I developed recipes for them which is freelance work. Unless you assume I work for free, the relationship was defined in the first sentence.
Rebecca says
“A few months ago I had the chance to develop three recipes using The Naked Grape wines. I was given the go-ahead to share them, and this is the first of the three. Take it away Malbec!”
Sorry Kath, but that first line does NOT clearly define your relationship with the company. Something along the lines of ‘A few months ago I had the chance to work with the great folks at The Naked Grape. They gave me some of their products to test and I developed three recipes that incorporated their wines. Since it was a paid assignment, we worked together on the final product and now I get to share the results with my readers!’ would have accomplished that.
Em says
Actually most of us are smart enough to understand it how she wrote it. I don’t need every detail spelled out to get that she has been compensated by The Naked Grape. But maybe you should go into blog copywriting for a career since you are obviously sooo good at it.
Rebecca says
Em, I actually am a professional scientific writer. I know how to present facts in a concise, straightforward manner that leaves nothing up for (mis)interpretation.
Kate says
Em, I agree that most of us are smart enough to read between the lines and understand the sponsorship here, but the fact remains that the FTC has specific guidelines about how bloggers must disclose relationships – unfortunately this post left that disclosure a little too vague.
Angelica says
Oh yikes, Kath! That was originally a very nasty post later edited because of all the criticism she received for it. Did you read the original post, in which she wrote that her readers didn’t want to know what she thought of them (among other terrible things)? I’d like to think that you’re not that mean-spirited or conceited enough to compare yourself to a celebrity. And as someone already wrote, the difference is that when we see a celebrity on TV, we know they’re getting paid (and no, they don’t hold very much sway over me). It’s different for bloggers, and keep in mind that your job depends on readership, which is what the blogger you linked to seemed to forget and what I found most upsetting. (By the way, I have no issue with your post or the disclosure you provided. I am just a little shocked you jumped on the praise bandwagon for that awful rant.)
KathEats says
I didn’t read the original, no. I like to think that my readers are all my friends and of course I wouldn’t be here without them. It seems to me that the blog world is getting even more nit picky as time goes on and that’s what I took away from the post. You wouldn’t pick at your friends that way so what’s with the attack on bloggers? As a reader of many blogs, I see it all the time… It’s definitely not just on me. I’m guessing most of it has to do with the anonymity of the Internet.
Angelica says
Oh, I agree that there’s unnecessary meanness on the internet. I think if someone is genuinely trying to provide helpful feedback, it can always be given in a polite manner. It all comes down to civility and freedom of choice (to write, to read, or not). Have a great weekend!
Mary says
I am delighted to see that my wee comment sparked some discussion. I think that it is important to know whether something was sponsored or the product was provided (or whatever, you get my drift). For me it is a trust thing, and as Kath says, we all lke to think we are friends, very true. But even good friends have different tastes and needs so where as my sister can recommend a book to me, my faith and trust in her referrals of books that will be perfect for my reading needs is 100% whereas I wouldn’t necessarily have a lot of faith and trust in another friend’s book recommendations be ause we read very different genres. However if they were both gifted books to read or paid to read certain books and then recommended the books or even said dont read the book I might feel differently. Is their loyalty to me or the other party? Likely a bit of both.
I am more likely to follow advice on a product if someone just truly loves it and uses it or if it is a sponsored post where I can feel the love and excitement (OMG How did I live without this!!!!1!!!! ) kind of thing.
Great chat, this is why I like blogs insteAd of magazines. We’re communicaring … Oh ha. That is a good typo. Communicating!
Nate says
I love grilling radicchio and combining it with roquefort cheese the earthy tones combine well thrown into a pasta. By the way when I read the post I knew it was an endorsement (1) the first sentence (2) when you photoed the product by itself and stated “By itself, The Naked Grape Malbec is dry, spicy, and a bit leathery, with subtle notes of bourbon and blackberries.” (3) the product is in every other picture. I think it was pretty obvious without misleading anyone. Keep doing what you do, inspiring others to cook and eat nutritious food.
Kate says
Nate, you’re correct that the post very much read as an endorsement. I think what sparked the discussion is that the opening statement about having “the chance to develop three recipes using The Naked Grape wines” doesn’t really read as an official disclosure statement. When asked in the comments above, Kath says no, it’s not a sponsored post – I think that confused a lot of readers. Any one of us can develop some recipes at home using our favorite wines and write about it, but it needs to be made clear with a formal disclosure whether or not the blogger was compensated (either monetarily or in free goods) to write about the product. In this case, even though The Naked Grape did not require Kath to post the recipes she wrote for them on the blog, the fact remains that she was compensated for writing them, and readers are owed a disclosure.
As I wrote above, I don’t think anyone is getting on Kath’s case for having business/brand relationships, it’s just that readers want to be clear (and the FTC requires bloggers to be clear) on what the nature of the relationship is at all times. Unfortunately, this particular entry was a little murky on that point.
Nicole says
This doesn’t sound like your writing. Did Naked Grape write it for you?
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
This sounds amaaaazing!! I definitely need to try this, but with vegan Worcestershire sauce. Yum, yum :).