Basic Wedge Salad – A Couple Cooks

This traditional wedge salad recipe options crisp iceberg lettuce, creamy selfmade blue cheese dressing, and crispy breadcrumbs for the proper straightforward aspect. It’s prepared in simply quarter-hour and works with virtually any meal.

Components in a traditional 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 referred to as “Lettuce Salad with Roquefort Dressing” and requires smothering lettuce hearts with a creamy blue cheese dressing and laborious 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 at this time’s salad. By the 1970’s, it grew to become common at steakhouses the place it nonetheless is at this time. Most eating places and cooks as of late wish to put their very own artistic touches on wedge salads (which we’ll cowl beneath). The essential parts of a traditional wedge salad are:

• Iceberg lettuce kinds 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.
• Recent tomatoes add colour, acidity, and freshness. You need to use sliced cherry tomatoes or diced common tomatoes.
• Chives present a refined onion taste and good inexperienced colour. It’s straightforward to slice them thinly with kitchen shears!
• Crunchy topping historically comes from bacon, however I’ve developed an amazing meatless different utilizing smoky breadcrumbs that delivers comparable taste and texture. Be at liberty to make use of bacon should you desire!

Attempt smoky breadcrumbs rather than bacon

Right here’s the place I put my very own spin on the traditional – as a substitute of bacon, I wish to make smoky breadcrumbs that offer you all of the crunch and taste with out the meat. I spotted I might recreate the important smoky, salty ingredient 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’ll find smoked paprika (generally labeled as pimentón) in most grocery shops, and it’s value in search of 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 here are a couple of 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 easy. The result’s a dressing that coats the lettuce superbly and has each creamy and chunky parts.
• Straightforward to whisk up. It takes only a few 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 powerful taste, and several other folks in my household aren’t followers. You possibly can combine issues up within the wedge salad and use a special salad dressing, then prime with feta cheese crumbles! Listed here are a couple of concepts for alternate dressings:

• For blue cheese skeptics: I do perceive that blue cheese isn’t for everybody! You possibly can simply substitute this selfmade ranch dressing and even Thousand Island dressing, and prime with crumbled feta cheese.
• For a bacon model: If you happen to desire conventional bacon, prepare dinner 3-4 strips till crispy, then crumble them over the salad. You may as well strive tempeh bacon or coconut bacon for a plant-based different with the same smoky taste.
• For further indulgence: Add sliced hard-boiled eggs or avocado chunks for extra richness and texture.

Knowledgeable ideas for reducing wedges

There are some things to notice once you minimize an iceberg head to your wedge salad:

• Search for a small to medium iceberg head. Some iceberg lettuce heads you could find 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!
• Reduce into 4 for a small head or 6 for big. If all you could find is a really massive iceberg head, you’ll be able to minimize it into 6 wedges. This can make it extra manageable on a plate!

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Basic Wedge Salad

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This traditional wedge salad recipe options crisp iceberg lettuce, creamy selfmade blue cheese dressing, and crispy breadcrumbs for the proper straightforward aspect. It’s prepared in simply quarter-hour and works with virtually any meal.

• Writer: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: quarter-hour
• Prepare dinner Time: 0 minutes
• Whole Time: quarter-hour
• Yield: 4 1x
• Class: Facet dish
• Methodology: Uncooked
• Delicacies: Salad
• Weight loss program: 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 selfmade breadcrumbs)
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon every onion powder and garlic powder
• 1/4 heaping teaspoon kosher salt

1. Make the Blue Cheese Dressing. 
2. 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 regularly, till golden and crisp, about 2 to three minutes. Take away to a bowl. 
3. 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.
4. To serve. place a wedge on a plate. Prime 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 prime with crumbled feta cheese. 

Different traditional salads you’ll love

Love the wedge? You’ll love these tremendous traditional salads too: