This basic wedge salad recipe options crisp iceberg lettuce, creamy home made blue cheese dressing, and crispy breadcrumbs for the right simple facet. It’s prepared in simply quarter-hour and works with virtually any meal.
Traditional is basic for a cause, and truthfully—a very good outdated wedge salad doesn’t disappoint. Whereas I wasn’t an enormous fan rising up, now as a cookbook writer and meals skilled I can respect why this 100-year-old salad has by no means gone out of favor.
There’s one thing magical concerning the distinction of crisp, chilly iceberg lettuce with wealthy, creamy blue cheese dressing and people tasty crunchy bits sprinkled excessive. I’ve served this basic wedge salad at dinner events, household gatherings, and weeknight meals, and each time it will get rave opinions. (Though, it’s a little bit tougher for teenagers to eat in a wedge: we chop it up for them for serving!)
Elements in a basic wedge salad
The primary ever recipe for an iceberg lettuce wedge salad was printed in 1916 in a ebook by Marion Harris Neil. It was known as “Lettuce Salad with Roquefort Dressing” and requires smothering lettuce hearts with a creamy blue cheese dressing and exhausting boiled egg whites minimize into rings.
Within the 1950’s, the wedge salad took on the blue cheese crumbles and bacon bits that you simply’ll see in immediately’s salad. By the 1970’s, it turned standard at steakhouses the place it nonetheless is immediately. Most eating places and cooks as of late prefer to put their very own artistic touches on wedge salads (which we’ll cowl under). The fundamental components of a basic wedge salad are:
- Iceberg lettuce types the inspiration – I search for heads which have tightly packed, crisp leaves. The outer leaves must be eliminated earlier than reducing into wedges.
- Blue cheese dressing is non-negotiable for the genuine expertise! I make my very own utilizing a mix of mayonnaise and Greek yogurt for a lighter however nonetheless creamy texture.
- Contemporary tomatoes add colour, acidity, and freshness. You should use sliced cherry tomatoes or diced common tomatoes.
- Chives present a refined onion taste and good inexperienced colour. It’s simple to slice them thinly with kitchen shears!
- Crunchy topping historically comes from bacon, however I’ve developed a fantastic meatless various utilizing smoky breadcrumbs that delivers related taste and texture. Be at liberty to make use of bacon should you choose!
Strive smoky breadcrumbs instead of bacon
Right here’s the place I put my very own spin on the basic – as a substitute of bacon, I prefer to make smoky breadcrumbs that provide you with all of the crunch and taste with out the meat. I noticed I might recreate the important smoky, salty aspect utilizing pantry staples.
I toast panko breadcrumbs in olive oil with smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt till they’re golden and aromatic. The smoked paprika is the star – it provides that signature smoky taste that makes you consider bacon. You could find smoked paprika (generally labeled as pimentón) in most grocery shops, and it’s value searching for out for this recipe.
A recent spin on blue cheese dressing
This wedge salad additionally makes use of my recent spin on blue cheese dressing. Listed below are just a few of the options of this dressing that makes it a go-to:
- Makes use of Greek yogurt. My go-to technique includes whisking collectively the mashed blue cheese, Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, and seasonings till clean. The result’s a dressing that coats the lettuce fantastically and has each creamy and chunky components.
- Straightforward to whisk up. It takes just some minutes: you’ll simply mash the blue cheese crumbles with a little bit of vinegar, then combine it along with the yogurt, mayo and spices.
Inventive variations and substitutions
Blue cheese is a robust taste, and several other folks in my household aren’t followers. You may combine issues up within the wedge salad and use a unique salad dressing, then high with feta cheese crumbles! Listed below are just a few concepts for alternate dressings:
- For blue cheese skeptics: I do perceive that blue cheese isn’t for everybody! You may simply substitute this home made ranch dressing and even Thousand Island dressing, and high with crumbled feta cheese.
- For a bacon model: In case you choose conventional bacon, prepare dinner 3-4 strips till crispy, then crumble them over the salad. You may as well attempt tempeh bacon or coconut bacon for a plant-based various with an identical smoky taste.
- For additional indulgence: Add sliced hard-boiled eggs or avocado chunks for added richness and texture.
Professional suggestions for reducing wedges
There are some things to notice while you minimize an iceberg head in your wedge salad:
- Search for a small to medium iceberg head. Some iceberg lettuce heads yow will discover on the retailer are large! Small to medium makes the very best wedge.
- Take away the outer leaves first. The outer leaves may be soiled and generally are broken. Pull all of them off first!
- Lower into 4 for a small head or 6 for big. If all yow will discover is a really massive iceberg head, you’ll be able to minimize it into 6 wedges. It will make it extra manageable on a plate!
Serving strategies
The basic wedge salad is among the most versatile salads we all know. It goes with almost something. Listed below are some our favourite methods to pair it with a meal:
Dietary notes
This wedge salad recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free.
Traditional Wedge Salad
This basic wedge salad recipe options crisp iceberg lettuce, creamy home made blue cheese dressing, and crispy breadcrumbs for the right simple facet. It’s prepared in simply quarter-hour and works with virtually any meal.
- Prep Time: quarter-hour
- Cook dinner Time: 0 minutes
- Whole Time: quarter-hour
- Yield: 4 1x
- Class: Aspect dish
- Methodology: Uncooked
- Delicacies: Salad
- Weight loss plan: Vegetarian
For the salad
- 1 recipe Blue Cheese Dressing*
- 1 small head iceberg lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered (or 4 sundried tomatoes, chopped)
- 2 chives, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons blue cheese crumbles
- Smoky breadcrumbs, for the garnish (1 handful crushed potato chips or crumbled bacon)
For the smoky breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup panko (or home made breadcrumbs)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon every onion powder and garlic powder
- 1/4 heaping teaspoon kosher salt
- Make the Blue Cheese Dressing.
- Make the smoky breadcrumbs, if utilizing: Warmth the olive oil in a small skillet over medium warmth. In a small bowl, combine the panko with the smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and kosher salt. Add them to the skillet and toast, stirring continuously, till golden and crisp, about 2 to three minutes. Take away to a bowl.
- Take away the outer leaves of the iceberg head, then slice it into wedges (4 for a small head, 6 for a big head). Prep the chives and tomatoes.
- To serve. place a wedge on a plate. High with dressing, tomatoes, chives, blue cheese crumbles, and smoky breadcrumbs. Serve instantly.
Notes
*Not a blue cheese lover? Make our Ranch Dressing and add ½ teaspoon smoked paprika for a smoky aptitude. Then high with crumbled feta cheese.
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Love the wedge? You’ll love these tremendous basic salads too:
