Traditional Wedge Salad – A Couple Cooks

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

Substances in a basic 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 exhausting boiled egg whites reduce 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 turned fashionable at steakhouses the place it nonetheless is at this time. Most eating places and cooks nowadays wish to put their very own artistic touches on wedge salads (which we’ll cowl under). The essential parts of a basic wedge salad are:

• Iceberg lettuce kinds the inspiration – I search for heads which have tightly packed, crisp leaves. The outer leaves needs 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 shade, acidity, and freshness. You need to use sliced cherry tomatoes or diced common tomatoes.
• Chives present a refined onion taste and good inexperienced shade. It’s simple to slice them thinly with kitchen shears!
• Crunchy topping historically comes from bacon, however I’ve developed an ideal meatless various utilizing smoky breadcrumbs that delivers related taste and texture. Be at liberty to make use of bacon in the event you desire!

Strive smoky breadcrumbs rather than bacon

Right here’s the place I put my very own spin on the basic – as an alternative of bacon, I wish to make smoky breadcrumbs that offer you 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. Yow will discover smoked paprika (typically labeled as pimentón) in most grocery shops, and it’s price 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 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 easy. The result’s a dressing that coats the lettuce superbly and has each creamy and chunky parts.
• 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 individuals in my household aren’t followers. You may combine issues up within the wedge salad and use a distinct salad dressing, then prime with feta cheese crumbles! Listed here 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 do-it-yourself ranch dressing and even Thousand Island dressingand prime with crumbled feta cheese.
• For a bacon model: In the event you desire 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 the same smoky taste.
• For further indulgence: Add sliced hard-boiled eggs or avocado chunks for added richness and texture.

Knowledgeable ideas for reducing wedges

There are some things to notice while you reduce an iceberg head on your wedge salad:

• Search for a small to medium iceberg head. Some iceberg lettuce heads yow will discover on the retailer are huge! Small to medium makes the most effective wedge.
• Take away the outer leaves first. The outer leaves will be soiled and typically are broken. Pull all of them off first!
• Reduce into 4 for a small head or 6 for giant. If all yow will discover is a really massive iceberg head, you possibly can reduce it into 6 wedges. It will make it extra manageable on a plate!

Print

Traditional Wedge Salad

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No critiques

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

• Creator: Sonja Overhiser
• Prep Time: quarter-hour
• Cook dinner Time: 0 minutes
• Whole Time: quarter-hour
• Yield: 4 1x
• Class: Facet dish
• Methodology: Uncooked
• Delicacies: Salad
• Eating regimen: 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 continuously, 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 basic salads you’ll love

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