Ingredients
Salad
- 1 medium head iceberg lettuce
- 8 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup minced fresh chives
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- 2 ounces blue cheese, crumbled (optional)
Dressing
- 1 cup Blue Cheese Dressing
Toppings
- 8 ounces thick-cut bacon, chopped
- 2 medium shallots, thinly sliced
- ½ cup vegetable oil (for frying shallots)
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt (for fried shallots)
Instructions
- Prepare lettuce wedges: Remove the core from the iceberg lettuce and slice the head into 6 even wedges. Arrange the wedges neatly on a serving platter to form the base of the salad.
- Add dressing: Drizzle or dollop the blue cheese dressing generously over each lettuce wedge, ensuring each wedge is well coated for creamy flavor.
- Fry shallots: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the thinly sliced shallots and cook, stirring frequently, until they turn golden brown and crispy, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fried shallots onto a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with sea salt to season.
- Cook bacon: In another or the same skillet, cook the chopped thick-cut bacon over medium heat, stirring often, until it becomes crisp, approximately 8 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
- Assemble salad: Sprinkle the halved cherry tomatoes, minced fresh chives, crispy bacon pieces, and fried shallots evenly over the dressed lettuce wedges. Add crumbled blue cheese on top if using. Finish with freshly cracked black pepper to taste.
Notes
- Using thick-cut bacon gives more texture and flavor, but you can substitute with regular bacon if preferred.
- Fried shallots add a lovely crunch and subtle sweetness—don’t skip this step for an authentic steakhouse taste.
- If you prefer, use store-bought blue cheese dressing for convenience or make your own for extra freshness.
- To make this salad gluten-free, ensure the blue cheese dressing and bacon do not contain any gluten additives.
- Serve immediately after assembling to keep the lettuce crisp and toppings fresh.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
