After you try this salad… nothing else will compare 😍 @dorsognasmallgoods Mortadella is an authentic family recipe, rediscovered in the D’Orsogna family vaults — and when grilled thick and golden, it becomes the hero of this vibrant antipasto plate 👌 Paired with fennel, orange, pickled shallots and a zesty mustard dressing, this is tradition reimagined.
🛒 INGREDIENTS (Serves 2–4 as antipasto):
For the grilled mortadella:
✅ 4 thick slices @dorsognasmallgoods mortadella (about 1.5cm)
✅ 1 tbsp olive oil
✅ ½ tsp black pepper
For the pickled shallots:
✅ 2 French shallots, thinly sliced
✅ ¼ cup red wine vinegar
✅ ½ tsp salt
✅ ½ tsp sugar
✅ ¼ cup water
For the fennel salad:
✅ 1 medium fennel bulb, thinly shaved
✅ Fennel fronds, finely chopped
✅ ¼ cup green + black olives, pitted
✅ 1 tbsp capers, drained
✅ ½ small orange, segmented
✅ 1 tbsp toasted almonds
For the mustard dressing:
✅ 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
✅ 1 tbsp lemon juice
✅ 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
✅ 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
✅ ½ tsp honey
✅ ½ small garlic clove, finely grated
✅ Salt & black pepper, to taste
To serve (optional):
✅ Crusty bread or sourdough
✅ Lemon wedges
👩🍳 STEP-BY-STEP:
1️⃣ Pickle the shallots: Mix vinegar, salt, sugar and water. Add shallots and let sit at least 15 minutes.
2️⃣ Make the dressing: Whisk mustard, lemon, vinegar, oil, honey and garlic. Season to taste.
3️⃣ Toss the salad: Combine fennel, olives, capers and orange. Drizzle with half the dressing.
4️⃣ Grill the mortadella: Heat oil in a skillet. Grill mortadella slices for 1–2 mins per side until golden and crisped.
5️⃣ Assemble: Plate mortadella with salad. Top with pickled shallots, almonds and fennel fronds. Drizzle with remaining dressing. Serve with lemon wedges and crusty bread.
💡 Hot tip: Thick-cut grilled mortadella adds smoky richness that takes your salad to a whole new level 🔥
This is not any salad. This is your special occasion salad. Shaved fennel, oranges, pickled French shallots and dsonia mortadella. Mortadella, but not thinly sliced. Sliced nice and thick and grilled. Mortadella is part of Italian tradition. This is an authentic family recipe rediscovered in the Dersonia family vault. They were looking through the family archives and found this recipe. It’s got a rich improved flavor that honors the past. A timeless taste perfect for today’s family table. Let’s assemble the salad. We’ve got thinly shaved fennel, orange segments. This is a classic Italian pairing. And of course capers and another salt bomb. Olives. I’ve got green olives and nice chubby black olives. Then I’ve got some French shallots, thinly sliced. Now let’s make a dressing. Nice and slightly tangy. A little sweetness from the honey. When I said thick, I meant thick. This elevates your orange and fennel salad to the next level.
Dining and Cooking