Wash and trim the chicory and celery. Then blanch separately in boiling water. Drain and let cool.

Once cold, place the vegetables in a salad bowl and add well-rinsed capers and pitted olives, chopped.

Mix well, then toss with extra virgin olive oil.

Transfer the salad to a serving dish. Place orange and lemon slices on top of your Christmas salad, then cover with pomogranate seeds.

Food History

Originally from Asia, the pomegranate tree was introduced to the Mediterranean basin by the ancient Phoenicians. From the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean, the pomegranate spread quickly across the African coast, then to Greece and on to the Roman territories. Wherever it appeared, the pomegranate was strongly connected to religion and tradition: it is considered the divine fruit in all three great monotheistic religions and has become the symbol of prosperity and fertility in most cultures. In ancient times, for example, Romans used to place pomegranate branches in the hair of young brides. Still today, it is a custom for newly weds to toss a pomegranate on the ground so that the fruit bursts open and the seeds that emerge represent the number of children that the couple will have.

Did you know that...

According to some, the forbidden fruit of Eden described in the Bible was pomegranate?

Other suggested recipes

This dish is part of our special Christmas menu

• Pasta with breadcrumbs
• Ligurian Christmas Maccheroni (in stock)
• Codfish Vicenza-style