Classic Wedge Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a wedge salad made of? ›

Cut the iceberg lettuce in half. Cut each of the halves again in half or thirds (depending on how big the ice berg lettuce head is), to create "wedges". Place wedges on individual plates. To serve, spoon dressing over lettuce and then sprinkle the bacon crumbles, tomatoes, onion and blue cheese crumbles on top.

Wedge Salads as Sides - A traditional wedge salad with ranch dressing is always a welcome side to grilled steaks and roasted poultry. Dress up wedge salads for your best seafood dishes with a bright lemon vinaigrette.

Run cold water over each quarter, using your fingers to gently separate the leaves to let the water inside. You can also place the quarters in a bowl of cold water, gently swishing them to loosen any bad stuff trapped inside. Remove the lettuce from the water and let drain on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.

The wedge salad offers a cool, crisp dish that's appreciated by steak lovers and vegetarians. Restaurant chefs craft signature salads for their dining rooms. Home chefs keep fresh lettuce in the fridge for building healthy family meals around crisp wedges.

The Keys to Crisp Lettuce

Lettuce actually needs a good amount of airflow, in addition to a bit of moisture (but not too much!), in order to stay crisp. That's why restaurants store their lettuce in special perforated bins that allow for air circulation while it's held in the fridge.

While the fork secures the “wedge”, use the knife in your other hand to cut off one bite-size piece of salad from the tip of the wedge nearest you on the plate. (It's fine to turn the plate so one point of the salad wedge is near you to begin with.) Only cut one bite at a time.

When making a wedge salad you want to make sure the lettuce is clean while still having it hold its shape. Be sure to drain the water very well so your salad isn't watery. Choose a firm heavy head of iceberg lettuce. Remove any wilted outer leaves.

Adding vinegar to the water (1/2 cup distilled white vinegar per 1 cup water), followed by a clean water rinse, has been shown to reduce bacterial contamination but may affect texture and taste. After washing, blot dry with paper towels or use a salad spinner to remove excess moisture.

The oozing out water shrinks and kills the bacterial cells and destroys their presence on the vegetables. Hence, soaking the vegetables in salt water not only removes the pesticides and insecticides, but it also kills the bacteria and bugs present on them.

Yes, it's important to wash all fresh produce, but especially leafy greens and lettuce. Harmful bacteria from the soil can contaminate fruits and vegetables and lead to a foodborne illness if consumed. There's a higher risk associated with produce that is eaten raw, like romaine lettuce and salad greens.

How long to soak iceberg lettuce? ›

Bringing lettuce back to life

If your lettuce has wilted, this tip will help to revive it: Simply soak the lettuce in ice water for 15 minutes (or up to an hour, depending on how wilted your lettuce is), and its crispness will be restored.

A salad made from a head of lettuce halved or quartered, with other ingredients on top.

According to the food chain, the wedge is 'a refreshing appetiser which perfectly complements the rich flavours of steak'. The wedge provides a cold crisp texture to accompany the steak.

Probably a cored, quartered, head of iceberg lettuce richly slathered in blue cheese dressing and decked out with lardons, bacon bits, halved cherry or grape tomatoes, and possibly an outcropping of croutons or fried onions for a little textural sass? Iceberg Wedges with Bacon and Buttermilk Dressing.