If appearances were any indication, you'd expect lacy fronds of frisée to have a delicately sweet flavor best suited for a salad more pretty than tasty. And you'd be wrong. Nibble a piece of frisée, and you'll be met with one surprisingly bitter green. What do you think of frisée?

Frisée comes by its bitterness naturally. It's a member of the chicory family and can count endive and radicchio as its cousins. It also has a nicely crunchy texture that holds up well in dressed salads. And yes, a little mound of airy, barely-balanced frisée on a salad plate definitely makes a pretty picture at a dinner party.

Because of its bold flavor, frisée needs a firm hand when it comes to putting together a salad. It goes well with rich, creamy dressings and ingredients that complement its unique flavor and texture. Think: crunchy herbed croutons, cured meats, candied nuts, and tart dried fruits. One of the most classic takes on the frisée salad involves pork belly lardons, a poached egg, and a salad dressing made from the lardon drippings. It doesn't get much better than that!

• Frisée Salad with Red Currants
• Frisée Salad with Lardons and Poached Egg from Epicurious
• Quinoa Salad with Frisée, Eggplant, and Corn from Saveur
• Frisée with Walnuts and Balsamic-Sherry Vinaigrette from The Splendid Table
• Frisée and Green Apple Salad with Goat Cheese Toasts from Martha Stewart

Do you have a favorite salad with frisée?

(Image: Tobik/Shutterstock)