Putting a sweet twist on the classic crisp wedge salad by adding candied bacon crumbles on top. Serve this salad board style so your guests can choose their size wedge and select their own salad dressing.
I took this board to my family dinner last weekend and paired with a smoked brisket. We all had seconds and wiped this board clean… I think it’s safe to say it was a hit!
What is a wedge salad?
A wedge salad gets its name because it’s served on a wedge of crisp iceberg lettuce with minimal toppings. They are common on steakhouse menus. Think of a BLT, it’s basically a BLT salad, but add cheese because DUH!
What toppings are on this loaded wedge?
Wedge salads are generally a simple salad served with a few staple toppings such as blue cheese and bacon, but that’s now how I’m serving this up today! 😉
It should come to no surprise that I like lots of toppings on my salads and I like a good crunch. LOL if it’s not loaded with toppings, I’m not interested. One of the reasons I like this wedge salad is because it’s kind of like a build your own adventure. If you don’t like an ingredient, swap it or leave it out. Here are all the toppings I recommend:
- peppered candied bacon
- red onion
- snacking tomatoes
- radishes
- hard boiled eggs
- blue cheese crumbles
- chives
Tips for making this salad:
- Use fresh, crisp, iceberg lettuce. Remove all the flimsy leaves before slicing the head of iceberg lettuce into wedges. Keep in mind, the smaller you slice your wedges, the harder it will be for the toppings to stay on top of the lettuce. Which brings me to my next tip…
- A lot of times, toppings are served on top of the dressing as well as around the plate, but I went the non-traditional route and let my family pick their own dressing when plating, meaning the toppings were “loosely arranged” on the board. Even when it looks like you might have a lot of toppings, add more.
- If you don’t have the time to make candied bacon, regular bacon works just as well. Just promise me to try the candied bacon sometime!
What salad dressing to serve with this loaded wedge?
Wedge salad’s are known for their creamy dressings like blue cheese and ranch. My favorite is blue cheese, but there are always options…
My sister-in-law always serves her wedge salads with Catalina dressing. It’s still creamy in nature, but brings a tangy flare. It actually pairs nicely with the blue cheese crumbles. If you’re looking to switch things up, give this dressing a try. The salad would also be delicious with a buffalo ranch [not pictured].
In case you missed the other Salad Week posts, you can catch up here:
- Strawberry Salad with Fried Goat Cheese and Homemade Vinaigrette Dressing
- Broccoli Cauliflower Salad with Crispy Prosciutto
- Simple Broccoli Slaw Ramen Noodle Salad
Candied Bacon Wedge Salad
Ingredients
- 5-6 slices candied bacon sliced
- 1 head iceberg lettuce
- cherry tomatoes sliced
- red onion sliced
- blue cheese crumbles
- 3-4 hard boiled eggs roughly chopped
- radishes sliced
- chives for garnish chopped
Dressing
- Ranch
- Blue Cheese
- Catalina
Instructions
- Make the candied bacon or cook regular bacon.
- Slice the iceberg lettuce into wedges.
- Slice red onion, cherry tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, and radishes. Add to the salad.
- Crumble blue cheese on top of the salad wedges. Add sliced candied bacon.
- Add chopped chives and serve with desired salad dressing.
I’d love to hear from you once you get the chance to make this recipe. Leave a comment below with your review or any modifications you made! And don’t forget to tag @rightbackspatula on Instagram if you take any pictures!
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