Basic Wedge Salad – A Couple Cooks

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

Components in a traditional wedge salad

The primary ever recipe for an iceberg lettuce wedge salad was printed in 1916 in a e book 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 arduous boiled egg whites lower into rings.

Within the 1950’s, the wedge salad took on the blue cheese crumbles and bacon bits that you just’ll see in in the present day’s salad. By the 1970’s, it grew to become in style at steakhouses the place it nonetheless is in the present day. Most eating places and cooks today prefer to put their very own artistic touches on wedge salads (which we’ll cowl under). The essential components of a traditional wedge salad are:

• Iceberg lettuce types the muse – I search for heads which have tightly packed, crisp leaves. The outer leaves ought to 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 coloration, acidity, and freshness. You should utilize sliced cherry tomatoes or diced common tomatoes.
• Chives present a refined onion taste and good inexperienced coloration. It’s straightforward to slice them thinly with kitchen shears!
• Crunchy topping historically comes from bacon, however I’ve developed an excellent meatless various utilizing smoky breadcrumbs that delivers comparable taste and texture. Be happy to make use of bacon if you happen to want!

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 prefer to make smoky breadcrumbs that provide you with all of the crunch and taste with out the meat. I spotted I may 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 will discover smoked paprika (typically labeled as pimentón) in most grocery shops, and it’s value looking 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 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 clean. The result’s a dressing that coats the lettuce superbly and has each creamy and chunky components.
• 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.

Artistic variations and substitutions

Blue cheese is a robust taste, and a number of other folks in my household aren’t followers. You possibly can combine issues up within the wedge salad and use a unique 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 do-it-yourself ranch dressing and even Thousand Island dressing, and prime with crumbled feta cheese.
• For a bacon model: For those who want conventional bacon, cook dinner 3-4 strips till crispy, then crumble them over the salad. It’s also possible to attempt tempeh bacon or coconut bacon for a plant-based various with an analogous smoky taste.
• For further 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 once you lower an iceberg head to your wedge salad:

• Search for a small to medium iceberg head. Some iceberg lettuce heads you will discover on the retailer are huge! Small to medium makes the most effective wedge.
• Take away the outer leaves first. The outer leaves might be soiled and typically are broken. Pull all of them off first!
• Minimize into 4 for a small head or 6 for big. If all you will discover is a really giant iceberg head, you may lower 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 do-it-yourself blue cheese dressing, and crispy breadcrumbs for the proper straightforward aspect. It’s prepared in simply quarter-hour and works with nearly any meal.

• Creator: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: quarter-hour
• Prepare dinner Time: 0 minutes
• Whole Time: quarter-hour
• Yield: 4 1x
• Class: Aspect dish
• Methodology: Uncooked
• Delicacies: Salad
• Weight-reduction 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 do-it-yourself 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 steadily, 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. 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 prime with crumbled feta cheese. 

Different traditional salads you’ll love

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