Though I've experimented with many Fregola Sarda recipes, it's this salad that I always return to.
Fregola Sarda, also called ‘Fregula', is a distinct pasta from the island of Sardinia, an Italian island that sits west of Italy's boot. On the island, this popular mini-pasta is crafted from durum wheat semolina flour and rolled into tiny balls that are toasted for a delectable nutty flavor. When boiled until firm to the bite, the pasta has a hearty, chewy texture. Sardinians often serve it with seafood, but it also makes a wonderful base for salads.
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The Fregola Sarda salad I'm sharing with you today is adapted from the cookbook Near & Far by Heidi Swanson. Heidi is a clever cook who reliably creates unusual flavor and texture combinations in her recipes. This salad, with its alluring list of savory ingredients, is no exception.
Ingredients You Need to Make this Fregola Sarda Salad
- Fregola Sarda: This distinctive Sardinian pasta with its ragged edges and nutty flavor can be challenging to track down, but it's worth the effort. If you can't find it at your local grocery store, you can purchase it online here. Israeli couscous, also called pearl couscous, is also an option.
- Garlic: Look for a head with firm, plump cloves and no shriveling or discoloration.
- Lemon: A standard lemon works well here, but sweeter, more floral Meyer lemon would also be delicious.
- Fresh Basil: Look for a bunch with bright green perky leaves.
- Eggs: Ideally pastured eggs for their deep orange yolks and rich flavor.
- Radicchio: Looks for a firm, bright purple head that's heavy for it's size.
- Capers: Use either salt cured capers or those bottled in brine (rinsed and drained either way).
- Olive Oil: Use a good, fruity extra virgin olive oil.
- Hazelnuts: Look for nuts that are plump and firm with tight skins.
Crunchy hazelnuts contrast with the chewy pasta balls and crunchy radicchio. Fried garlic and capers add flavor depth, while grated hardboiled eggs offer delicate texture and richness. Then slivers of fresh basil and a hearty dose of fresh-squeezed lemon juice pull it all together.
I stuck with the basics of Heidi's recipe, but swapped in radicchio for Belgian endive. The deep purple hue adds a lovely color contrast and, like endive, lends a pleasantly bitter flavor to the salad. Either works beautifully in this salad recipe. Or for even more variety add a little of both.
More Options
If you want to embellish this salad further, you could add shaved zucchini or fennel, a few cherry tomatoes, and/or shaved pecorino or parmesan cheese or crumbled goat cheese. And if you don't have hazelnuts, substitute pine nuts or pecans.
What to Serve Alongside
This salad is hearty enough to be a meal on its own, but also works well as a side dish. Particularly for any protein you're grilling.
More Must Make Main Course Salads
FAQ
Israeli couscous (also called ptitim or pearl couscous) is also a pasta, but is not the same as Fregola Sarda (Fregula). Both are balls of similar size, 2 to 3mm in diameter. But while Israeli couscous is smooth and uniform, Fregula has a rough texture, a less uniform size, and is toasted to varying shades of brown.
Fregola is pronounced FRAY-gola.
Fregola is not a grain, but a pasta made from durum wheat semolina flour.
Israeli couscous, also called pearl couscous, is a good substitute.
Fregola does have gluten as it is made from durum wheat semolina flour.
How to Make Fregola Sarda with Radicchio and Hazelnuts
Step 1: Hard boil eggs and cool in ice bath. When cool, peel and coarsely grate. Season lightly with salt.
Step 2: Cook fregola pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water. Gently shake colander to remove excess water.
Step 3: Meanwhile, cook and stir capers and garlic clove in olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until capers begin to brown and burst. Remove from heat; discard garlic clove and season lightly with salt.
Step 4: Transfer fregola pasta to serving bowl; pour olive oil and caper mixture over and gently toss to coat. Add raddicchio, basil and most of the hazelnuts; gently toss to combine. Top with remaining hazelnuts and grated egg; serve.
Fregola Sarda with Radicchio and Hazelnuts
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 7 ounces fregola sarda pasta recipe note #1
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup capers drained, rinsed and patted dry
- 1 large garlic clove smashed and peeled
- pinch fine sea salt
- 1 lemon juice and zest
- ½ small head raddichio or 3 medium Belgian endives, sliced crosswise into thin ribbons
- ½ cup torn fresh basil leaves about ½ ounce
- 1 ½ ounces toasted hazelnuts coarsely chopped
Instructions
- In a pot, bring enough water to boil to cover eggs by 1-inch. Carefully lower eggs into boiling water and allow to boil 30 seconds. Reduce heat to low and cover; simmer 10 minutes. While eggs cook, prepare an ice bath. When eggs have cooked; transfer to ice bath. Let cool 3 minutes then peel and coarsely grate with hand or box grater. Season lightly with salt; set aside.
- Heat a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook fregola until firm to the bite (al dente) according to package directions, 13 to 15 minutes. Drain and rinse gently with cold water; shake to remove excess water.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add capers and smashed garlic clove; cook and stir until capers burst and begin to brown. Remove from heat, discard garlic and stir in a pinch of salt.
- Transfer fregola to a large serving bowl or platter; add capers and oil from skillet and toss to coat. Add lemon juice and zest and toss to coat. Add raddichio, basil, and most of the hazelnuts and gently toss to combine. Top with grated eggs and remaining hazelnuts and serve.
Notes
- If you have trouble finding fregola sarda, orzo pasta or Israeli couscous would also work well.
I loved this recipe when I made it with fregola but in an attempt to reduce my carb consumption I turned it into a salad by replacing fregola with arugula (fresh spinach would also work). Another nice add is to top thebsalad version with slices of airfried halloumi. Delicious.
So glad you enjoyed this and made it your own, Christie!
Unique and satisfying salad. Solid technique.
I appreciated adding the slightly softened smashed garlic back into the salad after mincing it up. No need to waste!
To balance out the bitterness of radicchio, it is often paired with balsamic vinegar. In this case I would be tempted to add dried currants for a small bite of sweet.
Used a medley of toasted almonds, cashews and pecans as I didn’t have hazelnuts in my pantry.
We love the saltiness of capers so added more than recipe called for.
I will make this again. Thanks for sharing.
So glad you enjoyed it, Paula.
wow! The fregula aside, I love every single ingredient in this salad! Down to the hazelnuts! What perfection. Definitely printing this one. Thanks.
I've never tried or even heard of fregola sarda Marissa, but I really need to find it. This looks just delicious and by the list of ingredients, I know I'd love it!
Thanks so much, Mary Ann! I hope you'll give this a try!
I've cooked with Israeli couscous, but haven't tried tried this. I'm interested to see/taste how they might differ. This salad sounds amazing -- such an incredibly tasty combination of flavors! Love the egg, capers and generous amount of olive oil. Definitely keeping this on hand! 🙂 ~Valentina
I'm excited for you to try fregola sarda, Valentina! It is similar to Israeli couscous, but it's toastier and the edges are more ragged. Really special and worth seeking out!
This sounds like such a fun summer salad, Marissa! I don't think I've ever stumbled across fregola sarda in the stores, but as you pointed out, we can get anything online these days. I'm all about trying new ingredients...especially in the pasta category!
That's great to hear, David! I hope you'll track it down and give it a try.
I can't say I've ever seen fregola in the stores but now that I know about it I'll keep a closer eye out for it! I've been having a lot of fun experimenting with different salads lately, so now this one is on my radar! The radicchio and hazelnuts are perfect!
Thank you, Katherine! I think you and your family would love this!
I'm a huge pasta fan, but I've never heard of Fregola Sarda. How interesting - thanks for enlightening me! But the most surprising ingredient is the eggs; I've never paired them with pasta. Altogether, that's a beautiful and balanced combination of textures and flavours.
My pleasure, Ben! Thanks so much for your sweet comment!
What a wonderfully hearty salad! I know both hubby and I would devour this one. Nice touch with the hazelnuts too (love those). Bet they add such a lovely crunch and flavour.
Thanks, Dawn. 🙂 The hazelnuts really do add a delicious crunch!
I've never had Fregola Sarda before and clearly I am missing out!!! This dish looks absolutely delicious!!! I'm loving all the flavors and textures! I wish I had all the ingredients to make this today, because it would make the perfect lunch!!!
You've got to try it, Chey! It really has this terrific, unusual texture and flavor.
I don't think I have ever had Fregola Sarda pasta...so interesting and the salad turned out so colourful, delicious with different textures. Awesome!
Thank you, Angie!