I LOVE this time of year.  Summer in Seattle is unparalleled, in my book.  Especially when you’re able to dote over an ever-abundant garden full of goodies.

Last night I harvested my first radicchio (GIANT radicchio, I might add — probably could’ve been yanked a week earlier).  I was eager to give it a roast and attempt a recreation of the amazing salad I inhaled at Olympic Provisions down in Portland last month.

The kitchen was hoppin’ yesterday afternoon and I was on a roasting roll.

First up:  Golden Beet Chips (piece of cake, piece of crumb cake).

Roasted Beet Chips

What you’ll need:

• Large bunch of beets (any variety will do — I just happened to have a good looking golden bunch)
• Olive oil
• Black pepper

How to do it:

Preheat oven to 350.  Using a mandolin or a spiralizer (again, best investment EVER — I’m completely obsessed), slice your beets to 1/16 of an inch.  Toss in a bowl with olive oil and black pepper (you could throw in whatever seasonings you were in the mood for.  Go easy on any salt — they don’t need it).  Place beets on a baking sheet in as single layer.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Rearrange (flip, if you’re able) and return to oven for another 10 – 15 minutes, or until crispy. Transfer to a wire rack to cool (they’ll crisp up a bit more on the rack).

My first batch was underdone (delicious, but squishy).  My second batch was burnt to a crisp (I enjoyed this).  My third batch was just about right:  golden and crispy.

Tip: they don’t go very far.  I had no problem throwing back three large beets (about a soup bowl full of chips).

With my already hot oven, I figured I’d throw in my prepped radicchio.

Roasted Balsamic Radicchio

What you’ll need:

• head of radicchio, halved, lengthwise
• handful of fresh thyme
• olive oil
• balsamic vinegar
• sea salt
• black pepper

How to do it:

Toss it all up in a great big bowl.  Place on your sheet pan, face down.  Bake for 10 minutes.  Remove and flip.  Bake for an additional 5-8 minutes.  Remove, cool to room temp, and drizzle with olive oil.  Serve whole (with a knife or you’re in for a mess).

I served my chips and radicchio with a mangled (read: attack of the grill) salmon burger and an itty side of aioli (veganaise, dijon, tapatio).

I left the table lickin’ my lips.