Cinnamon Free Basil-Pesto Endive Salad
Bright, bitter, and genuinely beautiful on a platter, this endive salad is the kind of dish that looks like you spent hours on it but comes together in minutes. The homemade basil pesto is blended fresh with garlic, lemon juice, and good olive oil — no jarred shortcuts, no mystery spice blends, and absolutely nothing that could sneak in an unwanted warm spice. That matters more than it sounds, since store-bought pestos and pre-dressed salads can be surprisingly unpredictable when you're avoiding certain seasonings. Here, every ingredient is straightforward and easy to verify. Each endive leaf acts as a natural little scoop, holding a spoonful of vivid green pesto and a scatter of paper-thin radishes and fresh parsley. The lemon zest and flaky sea salt at the finish tie everything together with a brightness that feels light and sophisticated. It's the kind of salad that earns compliments at a dinner party without requiring any compromise.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the pesto
- 2 oz fresh basil leaves (about 2 packed cups)
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, peeled
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
For the salad
- 3 medium heads belgian endive (about 12 oz total)
- 4 radishes, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- flaky sea salt, to taste
Instructions
- 1
Combine the basil leaves, garlic, lemon juice, and fine sea salt in a food processor. Pulse 6–8 times until the basil is roughly chopped and the garlic is minced.
- 2
With the processor running, stream in the olive oil in a slow, steady pour until the pesto is smooth and bright green, about 20–30 seconds. Taste and adjust salt or lemon juice as needed.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!