Perfect Barefoot Contessa Crunchy Iceberg Salad with Creamy Blue Cheese Recipe

Barefoot Contessa Crunchy Iceberg Salad brings vibrant textures and bold flavors to your dining experience.

Cold and crisp ingredients transform an ordinary side dish into a memorable culinary moment.

Refreshing lettuce creates a perfect canvas for creamy blue cheese dressing that tantalizes your taste buds.

Lightweight yet satisfying, this salad offers a delightful balance between rich and fresh elements.

Versatile components allow for easy customization based on personal preferences or available ingredients.

Simple preparation techniques make this recipe accessible for home cooks at any skill level.

Colorful and inviting, the dish promises a delightful sensory experience that will elevate your meal: dig in!

Delight in Crunchy Iceberg Salad with Creamy Blue Cheese

• Elevate Everyday Salad: Transform a simple iceberg lettuce into a restaurant-worthy dish with minimal effort, creating a stunning presentation that impresses guests without complicated techniques.
• Creamy Texture Explosion: Enjoy the luxurious blue cheese dressing that perfectly balances tangy yogurt and rich mayonnaise, providing a silky smooth coating that clings beautifully to crisp lettuce rounds.
• Quick Gourmet Prep: Whip up this elegant salad in under 15 minutes, using simple microwave and food processor techniques that deliver maximum flavor with minimal cooking skills required.

Essential Components for Crunchy Iceberg Salad with Creamy Blue Cheese

• Iceberg Lettuce: Crisp and refreshing base for the salad, provides a cool and crunchy foundation.
• Fleur de Sel: Delicate French sea salt that adds a subtle mineral flavor and elegant finishing touch.

• Celery, Radishes, Scallions: Colorful mix of crunchy vegetables that provide texture and sharp, peppery notes.

• Blue Cheese: Rich, tangy cheese that forms the flavor base of the creamy dressing, choose a high-quality variety for best results.
• Mayonnaise, Greek Yogurt: Creamy base that creates a smooth, luxurious texture for the dressing.
• Sherry Vinegar: Adds depth and bright acidity to balance the rich blue cheese.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance and balance the overall flavor profile.

Easy Steps for Crunchy Iceberg Salad with Creamy Blue Cheese

Step 1: Craft The Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing

• Blue cheese
• Mayonnaise
• Greek yogurt
• Sherry vinegar
• Salt
• Black pepper

Add all ingredients into food processor and blend until smooth and silky. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Step 2: Chop Fresh Vegetables

• Slicing celery into thin pieces
• Dicing radishes
• Chopping scallions

Mix vegetables together in a mixing bowl.

Step 3: Arrange Iceberg Lettuce Rounds

Cut iceberg lettuce into four thick rounds, approximately 3/4 inch wide. Place one round centered on each serving plate.

Step 4: Dress And Garnish Salad

Generously spoon blue cheese dressing over each lettuce round. Sprinkle prepared vegetable mixture across top. Crumble additional blue cheese over salad. Finish with delicate fleur de sel and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately for maximum crunch and flavor.

Top Hints for Crunchy Iceberg Salad with Creamy Blue Cheese

• Boost Flavor Depth: Let the blue cheese dressing rest in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours to allow ingredients to blend and develop a more intense, complex taste.
• Preserve Salad Texture: Chop vegetables and prepare dressing ahead of time, but wait to combine until just before serving to keep iceberg lettuce crisp and crunchy.
• Elevate Dressing Profile: Experiment with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a few dashes of hot sauce to add brightness and unexpected complexity.
• Enhance Crunch Factor: Sprinkle toasted walnuts or pecans over the salad for an additional layer of texture and nutty richness.
• Maximize Freshness: Select the crispest, most vibrant iceberg lettuce, radishes, and celery for a salad that pops with flavor and satisfying crunch.

Keep Crunchy Iceberg Salad with Creamy Blue Cheese Crisp

• Refrigerator Sealing: Wrap crisp iceberg lettuce in slightly damp paper towels before placing in a sealed container. This technique preserves crunchiness and prevents wilting by maintaining optimal moisture levels without making leaves soggy.
• Dressing Separation: Store blue cheese dressing in a separate airtight glass jar in the refrigerator. Keeping dressing apart prevents lettuce from becoming limp and maintains the salad's signature crispness, allowing you to add fresh dressing just before serving.
• Veggie Preparation: Chop vegetables like radishes and cucumbers right before serving to maximize their texture and freshness. Cut vegetables release moisture quickly, so preparing them immediately prevents unnecessary sogginess and preserves their delightful crunch.

Innovative Spins on Crunchy Iceberg Salad with Creamy Blue Cheese

• Herbaceous Green Upgrade: Swap radishes with fresh cucumber and add chopped dill or chives for a brighter, garden-fresh flavor profile.
• Protein Power Salad: Include grilled chicken or crispy bacon bits on top to transform the light salad into a substantial main course meal.
• Mediterranean Remix: Replace sherry vinegar with red wine vinegar, add kalamata olives, and sprinkle crumbled feta cheese instead of blue cheese for a Greek-inspired version.
• Spicy Crunch Edition: Mix in thinly sliced jalapeños or add a dash of hot sauce to the dressing for people who enjoy a zesty kick with their salad.

A Delicious Close to Crunchy Iceberg Salad with Creamy Blue Cheese

Culinary mavens seeking refreshing elegance need look no further than Ina Garten’s crunchy iceberg salad masterpiece.

Cool, crisp layers showcase harmonious ingredients dancing across classic blue cheese terrain.

Mediterranean-style notes whisper sophistication through strategic ingredient combinations.

Summer table settings gain instant refinement with this simple yet extraordinary dish.

Blue cheese enthusiasts will savor complex flavor profiles melding perfectly between lettuce rounds.

Share this sensational recipe with friends, comment below with your delightful experiences, and let passionate food conversations begin!

Barefoot Contessa Crunchy Iceberg Salad With Creamy Blue Cheese Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa Crunchy Iceberg Salad delivers classic American comfort with crisp lettuce and tangy blue cheese dressing. Creamy, zesty, and packed with hearty flavor, this salad promises a delightful crunch that will transport you to a nostalgic summer picnic.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 1 large head iceberg lettuce, wilted outer leaves removed
• 4 tender inside celery stalks, trimmed and sliced crosswise 0.25 inches (6 mm) thick
• 6 radishes, trimmed and sliced into thin rounds
• 5 scallions, trimmed, white and green parts sliced 0.25 inches (6 mm) thick

Cheese and Dressing Ingredients:

• 115 grams (4 ounces) to 170 grams (6 ounces) Roquefort blue cheese, crumbled
• 160 milliliters (5.4 fluid ounces) good mayonnaise (such as Hellmann’s or Best Foods)
• 80 milliliters (2.7 fluid ounces) plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar

Seasoning Ingredients:

• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Fleur de sel

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Gently warm of blue cheese in the microwave for 15 seconds until it starts to soften and slightly melt.
2. Transfer the warmed blue cheese to a food processor, adding mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, sherry vinegar, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
3. Pulse the mixture until it transforms into a smooth, creamy dressing with a consistent texture. Refrigerate the dressing while preparing the remaining components.
4. Finely chop crisp celery stalks, thinly slice vibrant radishes, and delicately cut scallions into thin rings.
5. Carefully cut the iceberg lettuce into four uniform 3/4-inch (2-centimeter) thick circular rounds.
6. Position one lettuce round at the center of each serving plate as a fresh, crisp base.
7. Generously drizzle the prepared blue cheese dressing over each lettuce round, ensuring even coverage.
8. Distribute the chopped vegetable mixture evenly across the dressed lettuce rounds.
9. Sprinkle additional crumbled blue cheese over the top of each salad for extra flavor and texture.
10. Finish by lightly seasoning with fleur de sel and a final dusting of freshly ground black pepper before serving immediately.

Notes

• Maximize flavor by letting ingredients sit together, allowing each component to develop deeper, more complex tastes.
• Prep vegetables ahead of time to save kitchen stress, keeping them crisp in sealed containers until salad assembly.
• Experiment with alternative herbs like tarragon or chives to transform the traditional dressing profile.
• Toast nuts quickly in a dry skillet to enhance their natural oils and create a more intense, nutty crunch.
• Select seasonal, locally sourced produce for the most vibrant and authentic salad experience possible.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 250
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 550mg
• Fat: 22g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Carbohydrates: 8g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 7g
• Cholesterol: 35mg