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