The Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing is a classic American dish, known for its crisp, refreshing taste and its rich, creamy dressing. This salad is a staple in steakhouse menus and is cherished for its simplicity and bold flavors. It’s a dish that combines the cool crunch of iceberg lettuce with the tangy, savory taste of blue cheese dressing, often garnished with additional toppings for extra texture and flavor.
Ingredients and Preparation:
The centerpiece of this salad is a wedge of iceberg lettuce. This type of lettuce is chosen for its firm texture and mild flavor, making it the perfect canvas for the rich dressing and other toppings. The lettuce is cut into thick wedges, ensuring that each piece has a bit of the core to hold it together.
The blue cheese dressing is the heart of this dish. It’s made with crumbled blue cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk, creating a creamy base. To this, vinegar or lemon juice, garlic, and seasonings like salt, pepper, and a touch of Worcestershire sauce are added. The mixture is blended until smooth with chunks of blue cheese remaining for texture.
Toppings:
Traditional toppings for a Wedge Salad include crisp bacon, chopped into small pieces, and ripe cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered. These add a salty crunch and a burst of sweetness, respectively. Thinly sliced red onions provide a sharp, slightly spicy note, and fresh chives or parsley are sprinkled on top for color and a fresh flavor.
Assembly and Serving:
To assemble the salad, each wedge of lettuce is placed on a plate. The blue cheese dressing is generously drizzled over the wedge, allowing it to seep into the layers of lettuce. The bacon bits, cherry tomatoes, red onions, and herbs are then scattered over the top.
Variations and Tips:
While the Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing is traditionally served as described, there are numerous variations. For a lighter version, Greek yogurt can be used in place of some of the mayonnaise and sour cream in the dressing. Additional toppings like hard-boiled eggs, avocado, or cucumber can be added according to personal preference.
The Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing is a celebration of contrasting textures and flavors. Its combination of the cool, crisp lettuce with the creamy, tangy dressing, and the variety of toppings makes it a satisfying and visually appealing dish, perfect as a starter for a hearty meal or as a refreshing side during the warmer months.
Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing Recipe | S2Recipes
Details Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing Recipes
Prep Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 20 mins
Servings: 8
Ingredients For Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing Recipes
1 pound crumbled blue cheese, divided
½ cup mayonnaise
⅓ cup buttermilk
¼ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup sour cream
1 ½ tablespoons white sugar
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
ground black pepper to taste
1 head iceberg lettuce, cut into 8 wedges
2 roma tomatoes, diced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
Instructions: Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing Recipes
Step 1: Gather all ingredients.
Step 2: Combine 1/2 of the blue cheese, mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, sour cream, sugar, olive oil, garlic, and pepper in a bowl; blend with an electric hand mixer until well combined. Cover and chill in the refrigerator until serving.
Step 3: Place each lettuce wedge on a salad plate. Drizzle dressing over each wedge. Scatter tomatoes, onion, and remaining blue cheese over each salad.
Feedback of Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing Recipes
This is our favorite dressing. I added a small amount of sugar.
I notice that everyone who gave this 4 or 5 stars, and as shown in most of the photos, added bacon. There is no bacon in the recipe. I have never tasted vinegar in store bought or restaurant blue cheese but you sure can taste it in this recipe. Will stick with Litehouse brand.
If you leave out the sugar, vinegar, and oil and use only enough milk to thin it out to desired consistency. You'll have a good dressing. Add the blue cheese at the end for a nice chunky dressing.
Great base recipe - we left out the sugar, buttermilk and tomato. Perfect accompaniment for our surf and turf dinner!
Really liked it! Surprisingly easy and very refreshing. I didn't have any buttermilk, but I added vinegar and milk...it did the trick. I didn't chill overnight, but my cold ingredients did more than fine!
I’m not a blue cheese type of person but wanted to expand my horizons… I made the mistake of making half of the recipe!. It’s delicious
I’ve made it twice so far. My whole family loves it. So good!
It was a complete waste of the ingredients. Inedible is being kind. Sorry, but that's what the whole family said.
This is a great recipe. I cut both sugar and blue cheese by about a third. Will cut sugar more and probably try to use the same amount of better quality blue cheese next time. This is a real keeper and would be great as a creamy garlic without the blue cheese.
All Nutrifacts of Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing Recipes
TOP 5+ FAQ Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing Recipes
✅What are the main components of a Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing?
The main components of a Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing include a wedge of iceberg lettuce, a rich and creamy blue cheese dressing, and typical toppings like crumbled blue cheese, crispy bacon bits, chopped tomatoes, red onions, and chives. This combination offers a mix of crisp texture and robust flavors.
✅How do you make the blue cheese dressing for this salad?
To make the blue cheese dressing, blend or mix together blue cheese crumbles, mayonnaise, sour cream or Greek yogurt, milk or buttermilk, white vinegar or lemon juice, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. The dressing should be creamy with chunks of blue cheese for added texture and flavor.
✅What type of blue cheese works best in the dressing?
For the dressing, a milder and creamier blue cheese like Gorgonzola or Danish Blue is ideal, as it blends smoothly while still providing a distinct blue cheese flavor. Stronger blue cheeses like Roquefort can also be used for a more intense flavor profile.
✅Can the Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing be modified for different diets?
Yes, it can be modified. For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon or use a vegetarian bacon alternative. To reduce calories, use low-fat mayonnaise and Greek yogurt in the dressing. For a gluten-free version, ensure that all the ingredients, including the blue cheese and bacon, are gluten-free.
✅How should the iceberg lettuce be prepared for the salad?
For the salad, the iceberg lettuce should be cut into wedges. Ensure the lettuce is well-chilled and crisp. Cut the head of lettuce into quarters or sixths, depending on size, leaving the core intact to hold the wedge together. Rinse and dry the wedges before serving.
✅What are some popular toppings for the Wedge Salad?
Popular toppings include crumbled blue cheese, crispy cooked bacon chopped into bits, diced fresh tomatoes, thinly sliced red onions, and chopped chives or green onions. Some variations also include sliced hard-boiled eggs, avocado, or cucumber for additional flavors and textures.
✅Is the Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing a healthy choice?
While the iceberg lettuce in the salad is low in calories and provides hydration, the blue cheese dressing and bacon toppings are high in fat and calories. Moderation in portion size and dressing amount can make this salad a part of a balanced diet. Opting for low-fat dressing ingredients can also make it healthier.
✅Can this salad be prepared in advance?
The components of the salad can be prepared in advance. The dressing can be made and stored in the refrigerator, and the toppings can be prepped and kept separate. Assemble the salad close to serving time to keep the lettuce crisp and prevent it from getting soggy.
✅What are the best pairings with a Wedge Salad?
A Wedge Salad pairs well with grilled meats like steak or chicken, seafood dishes like grilled shrimp or salmon, or as a starter for an Italian meal like pasta or pizza. It's also great alongside soups and sandwiches for a complete meal.
✅How can one ensure the blue cheese dressing has the right consistency?
To ensure the right consistency for the blue cheese dressing, adjust the amount of milk or buttermilk. Start with a smaller amount and gradually add more until the desired thickness is achieved. The dressing should be creamy and thick enough to cling to the lettuce but not too solid.
