Caramelized Pancetta and Fennel Salad

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Show: Everyday ItalianEpisode: Giada's Dating Tips for the Bachelor

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (62)

Cook Time:
10 min
Level:
Easy
Yield:
4 servings

Times:

Prep: 15 min
Inactive Prep: 5 min
Cook: 10 min
Total:: 30 min

Recipe Tools:

Select a Card Size

Add To My Recipe Box

Success

This recipe was added to your Folder_Name folder.

Do not show this message again

Add To My Recipe Box

Please sign in to add this recipe to your Recipe Box.

Ingredients

1 bulb fennel, halved and cut into 1/2-inch wedges
5 slices pancetta
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
5 ounces (about 6 to 7 cups) mixed salad greens
Red Wine Vinaigrette, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, toss together fennel, pancetta, garlic, brown sugar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place the ingredients on the baking sheet in a single layer. Cook until the pancetta is crisp and the fennel is caramelized, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.

In a large bowl, place the salad greens, crumbled pancetta, and caramelized fennel. Toss the salad with the Red Wine Vinaigrette and serve immediately.

Red Wine Vinaigrette:

2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Mix the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a blender. With the machine running gradually blend in the oil. Season the vinaigrette, to taste, with more salt and pepper, if desired.

Yield: scant 1/2 cup

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Next Recipe

More recipes? Try these recommendations:

Similar Recipe

Italian Stallion Salad

Picture of Caramelized Pancetta and Fennel Salad Recipe

Photo: Caramelized Pancetta and Fennel Salad

Similar Recipes

Recipes Like This

All About…

Recipe Collections

Showing 1-10 of 18

View all 18 Italian Collections

Comments & Reviews

recipe Caramelized Pancetta and Fennel Salad
Lorna Milan, IL 03-02-2010
Flag

LOVED this salad!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Even my non-veggie lover husband flipped for this! Will make again. I didn't use as much olive oil as called for and still... had extra dresing for another day. I used precooked bacon chopped and still baked with the fennel. It reminded me of wilted summer salad. A little crunchy radish could be good! Parchment paper was fine.Read more
recipe Caramelized Pancetta and Fennel Salad
Pamela Tonawanda, NY 02-16-2010
Flag

What a great salad!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I followed the recipe but I could not find pancetta so I omitted it. I've never tried fennel before and when I cut it open I... realized it smelled like black licorice. I wasn't sure if I was going to like this or not. But I did roast it in the oven with all the other ingredients and was pleasantly surprised how sweet it was. Instead of making the red wine vinag. dressing, I just used balsamic vinag. dressing which really tasted excellent with the fennel. A great alternative.Read more
recipe Caramelized Pancetta and Fennel Salad
Tanya Minneapolis, MN 02-12-2010
Flag

Company loves it
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I have made this recipe lots of times now. I read that some have had trouble with roasting and would say I have tried... roasting without the parchment (bare sheet) and with a silpat and burned it both times but have done fine when I use parchment - I don't know why. I have also used proscuitto when I can't find pancetta Read more
recipe Caramelized Pancetta and Fennel Salad
April Webster, MA 01-18-2010
Flag

Great Salad
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I made this for Thanksgiving, and everyone loved it! The dressing is tangy and delicious! It is a keeper in my recipe box!
recipe Caramelized Pancetta and Fennel Salad
Michelle Port St. Lucie, FL 10-21-2009
Flag

Giada at Her Best!!!!
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

This salad is sooo delicious and easy! The mixture of sweet/salty with the healthy greens is nice. Next time I will leave... the salt out of the dressing and cut the olive oil down to 2 tablespoonsful. I can't wait to make this salad again!Read more
recipe Caramelized Pancetta and Fennel Salad
Tara Benbrook, TX 10-21-2009
Flag

Amazing
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is a regular meal at my home. I use bacon instead of pancetta, to cut down on costs. I also add a pinch of red pepper... flakes to the bacon and fennell before roasting to give it some bite. My husband loves it. We serve it as a main course to bulk up on our veggies during the week. Delicious! Read more