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Heirloom Tomato & Endive Salad + Olive Bagna Cauda

Get ready for a delicious culinary sensation with this easy heirloom tomato and endive salad with warm olive bagna cauda and chickpeas!

top down view of plated tomato endive salad with olive bagna cauda

Filled with a mix of fresh tomatoes and endive and topped with this wonderful thing called Bagna Cauda.

We’ll also add chickpeas to the salad as a way to add more protein to the overall dish.

Everything pairs together beautifully, and this is one salad that will knock your socks off. Seriously!

black olives on a marble table top.
top down view of olive bagna cauda in a small pot with wooden handle.

What is Bagna Cauda?

Bagna Cauda, meaning ‘hot bath’ and pronounced bayn-ya code-a, originated in the Piedmont region of Italy and dates back to the 16th century. It’s traditionally used as a dip and served somewhat like a fondue for raw, broiled, or roasted vegetables. It can also be used to dip or top your freshly sliced bread. And let me tell you, it was so good with this baguette. A sourdough, whole grain, or artisan loaf would be heavenly too!

Traditionally Bagna Cauda is made with anchovies, olive oil, butter, and garlic. Here we are veganizing this dish and using the saltiness of olives and/or capers as a replacement for the anchovies and omitting the butter altogether. I used kalamata olives as they are my favorite but you can use regular black olives as well, or your favorite olives.

For this recipe, we will be using the Bagna Cauda as a warm dressing—an ever-so-wonderful dressing to top this fresh salad filled with heirloom tomatoes, chickpeas, and endive. But you can also make it raw and serve it at room temperature.

ingredients used to make tomato endive salad with olive bagna cauda.

How To Make Heirloom Tomato & Endive Salad with Olive Bagna Cauda

  1. Prepare your salad ingredients and set aside.
  2. Next, make the bagna cauda, in a small saucepan over low heat, add the garlic, black olives/capers, and optional red pepper flakes and cook, stirring often, for about 7 minutes. The garlic should soften, and the flavors will permeate the oil nicely. Add in the lemon juice and gently cook for another 2-3 minutes. Taste for seasoning, adding salt and pepper as needed. Remove from heat.
  3. Fill individual dishes with the salad ingredients and top with the warm bagna cauda.

I hope you will enjoy this salad and vegan Bagna Cauda as much as I did, garlic breath and all. This dressing-dip will pair well with most vegetables, so keep it in mind for other uses. It’s a simple and wonderful recipe—a true keeper!

Now, bon appetit!

top down view of plated tomato endive salad with olive bagna cauda

More Salad Recipes!

If you try this endive salad recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.

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HEIRLOOM TOMATO & ENDIVE SALAD + OLIVE BAGNA CAUDA

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Warm olive bagna cauda makes a delicious dressing for this heirloom and endive salad with chickpeas!

  • Author: Julie | The Simple Veganista
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Cook Time: 10 min
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 2
  • Category: Salad
  • Cuisine: Vegan

Ingredients

Scale

Salad

  • 2 medium heirloom tomatoes (any color), sliced into wedges
  • 1/2 cup grape heirloom tomatoes, sliced in halve
  • 1 cup cooked chickpeas
  • 23 endive, sliced (arugula would be great too)
  • lemon wedges, to serve
  • chopped parsley, to serve (optional)

Olive Bagna Cauda

  • 1/4 cup good olive oil, more as needed
  • 1/31/2 cup black olives and/or capers (I used a mix), pitted and minced, or diced
  • 3 large cloves garlic, minced
  • pinch of red pepper flakes, optional
  • juice of 1/2 lemon
  • salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste

Instructions

Prepare your salad ingredients and set aside.

In a small saucepan over low heat, add the garlic, black olives/capers, and optional red pepper flakes and cook, stirring often, for about 7 minutes. The garlic should soften, and the flavors will permeate the oil nicely. Add in the lemon juice and gently cook for another 2-3 minutes. Taste for seasoning, adding salt and pepper as needed. Remove from heat.

Arrange your salad on serving dishes and spoon the warm bagna cauda over the top and a squeeze of lemon juice. Serve with a slice of your favorite artisan bread. Bagna cauda is delicious on bread!

Serves 2

Notes

Bagna cauda can also be made raw and served at room temperature. Combine the bagna cauda ingredients in a small bowl. Mash the olives and capers a bit to allow the juices to escape, and let the mixture sit for an hour or two before serving. Serve as a dip or dressing with raw vegetables like fennel, zucchini, tomatoes, endive, arugula, radishes, carrots, cauliflower, celery, and bell peppers, to name a few.

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4 Comments

  1. eatgreatbegreat says:

    What a wonderful salad! The dressing sounds especilly delicious!

    1. julie@thesimpleveganista says:

      It is so delicious! :)

  2. The Yogi Vegetarian says:

    Lovely dressing- why is it called "hot bath?" Can you make it with chilis? Or is the black pepper the hot part?

    1. julie@thesimpleveganista says:

      It called a 'hot bath' because it's traditionally served somewhat like a fondue and set in the middle of the table on top of a flame to keep it warm. I use the olives and capers as a replacement for the anchovies because of their briny/salty nature, making them a great alternative in this case. You can add some chilies or make your own style with just chilies. There are no rules so make it your own, have fun and enjoy!

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