Say hello to your new favorite pasta! This vegan mushroom stroganoff is the ultimate creamy, hearty, comforting dish, and we’re so excited to share it with you! It’s savory and classic, but with a creamy cashew twist to keep it plant-based and options …
Say hello to your new favorite pasta! This vegan mushroom stroganoff is the ultimate creamy, hearty, comforting dish, and we’re so excited to share it with you! It’s savory and classic, but with a creamy cashew twist to keep it plant-based and options to make it gluten-free, too.
Made with just 10 simple ingredients, it’s an easy entrée for the holidays or to enjoy any time you’re craving comfort on a plate.
Have you tried farro? It is one of my favorite grains. I love using it in salads, soups, and more! I especially love it in this flavorful dish, Farro with Mushrooms & Asparagus. It has all of my favorite ingredients in one simple recipe. The dish s…
Have you tried farro? It is one of my favorite grains. I love using it in salads, soups, and more! I especially love it in this flavorful dish, Farro with Mushrooms & Asparagus. It has all of my favorite ingredients in one simple recipe. The dish starts with farro, the star, and then I add…
If you love pasta but are craving something lighter for spring and summer, this is the pasta for you! Avocado lovers unite! The key to this 10-ingredient, 30-minute dish is the avocado pesto sauce, which was inspired by the flavors and vibrant color of…
If you love pasta but are craving something lighter for spring and summer, this is the pasta for you! Avocado lovers unite! The key to this 10-ingredient, 30-minute dish is the avocado pesto sauce, which was inspired by the flavors and vibrant color of our Green Goddess Dressing!
It’s lemony, garlicky, herby, and incredibly creamy thanks to buttery avocado. Simply toss the pasta of your choice in this delicious sauce and add any seasonal veggies you have on hand and call it a meal or picnic-friendly side.
There’s something about the wedge salad that satisfies every time! This recipe breaks down all the elements of this classic side dish. Classic is classic for a reason, and the classic wedge salad does not disappoint. Every time we serve it, people ooo and ahh. Because it really is perfection: the crunch of iceberg lettuce against the creamy, savory blue cheese dressing just makes sense. Not to mention it looks stunning! There’s a reason this salad has been impressing us all for 100 years. It’s our favorite to serve with a grilled dinner or sheet pan salmon and asparagus. How do we make it? Here are all the classic elements: and of course, we’ve put our spin on it. What’s in a wedge salad? The first recipe for an iceberg lettuce wedge salad was printed in 1916 in the book Salads, Sandwiches and Chafing Dish Recipes by Marion Harris Neil. It was called “Lettuce Salad with Roquefort Dressing” and calls for smothering lettuce hearts with a creamy blue cheese dressing and hard boiled egg whites cut into rings. Not quite what the salad looks like today! In the 1950’s, the wedge salad took on the blue cheese crumbles and bacon […]
There’s something about the wedge salad that satisfies every time! This recipe breaks down all the elements of this classic side dish.
Classic is classic for a reason, and the classic wedge salad does not disappoint. Every time we serve it, people ooo and ahh. Because it really is perfection: the crunch of iceberg lettuce against the creamy, savory blue cheese dressing just makes sense. Not to mention it looks stunning! There’s a reason this salad has been impressing us all for 100 years. It’s our favorite to serve with a grilled dinner or sheet pan salmon and asparagus. How do we make it? Here are all the classic elements: and of course, we’ve put our spin on it.
What’s in a wedge salad?
The first recipe for an iceberg lettuce wedge salad was printed in 1916 in the book Salads, Sandwiches and Chafing Dish Recipes by Marion Harris Neil. It was called “Lettuce Salad with Roquefort Dressing” and calls for smothering lettuce hearts with a creamy blue cheese dressing and hard boiled egg whites cut into rings. Not quite what the salad looks like today!
In the 1950’s, the wedge salad took on the blue cheese crumbles and bacon bits that are traditional in today’s salad. By the 1970’s, it became popular at steakhouses where it still is today. Most restaurants and chefs these days like to put their own creative touches on wedge salads (which we’ll cover below). The basic elements of a classic wedge salad are:
Iceberg lettuce
Blue cheese dressing
Tomatoes
Chives
Bacon
Try smoky breadcrumbs in place of bacon!
For our spin on the classic wedge salad, we’ve created an innovation instead of the traditional bacon: smoky bread crumbs! You can use breadcrumbs to add the crunchy element that bacon provides, and season them to add a hint of the smokiness of bacon. It’s a fun way to get creative with your wedge salad (and makes it vegetarian). You’ll simply toast the breadcrumbs in a skillet with olive oil and spices until they’re golden, about 3 minutes. Here are the spices you’ll need:
Smoked paprika: Also labeled as pimentón at the grocery store, it’s a smoked version of sweet paprika and adds a hint of smoke to everything it touches. It’s worth seeking out here! (Use leftovers for all these smoked paprika recipes.)
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Salt
A fresh spin on blue cheese dressing
This wedge salad uses our favorite blue cheese dressing recipe: classic with a modern spin! Here are a few of the features of this dressing that makes it a go-to:
Uses Greek yogurt! Combining the standard mayonnaise with Greek yogurt helps to reduce the calories but still keeps the deliciously creamy texture.
Easy to whisk up. This one takes just a few minutes to make! You’ll mash the blue cheese crumbles with a bit of vinegar, then mix it together with the yogurt, mayo and spices.
Don’t like blue cheese? A few options
Blue cheese is a strong flavor, and we know several people in our immediate circle who aren’t fans. You too? You can mix things up in the wedge salad and use a different salad dressing. Then top with feta cheese crumbles! Here are a few ideas for alternate dressings:
Ranch dressing: Try our best Ranch Dressing! It also uses Greek yogurt. You can even add a little smoked paprika to make Smoky Ranch.
Feta dressing: Simply make the blue cheese dressing below but use feta cheese instead of blue cheese.
Thousand island: Who doesn’t love Thousand Island? It’s not classic for a wedge salad, but still tasty!
Cutting the wedges in wedge salad
Last up: there are a few things to note when you cut an iceberg head for your wedge salad! Here are a few notes and things to look for:
Look for a small to medium iceberg head. Some iceberg lettuce heads you can find at the store are massive! Small to medium makes the best wedge.
Remove the outer leaves first. The outer leaves can be dirty and sometimes are damaged. Pull them all off first!
Cut into 4 for a small head or 6 for large. If all you can find is a very large iceberg head, you can cut it into 6 wedges. This will make it more manageable on a plate!
Mains to pair with wedge salad…it’s totally versatile!
The classic wedge salad is one of the most versatile salads we know. It goes with nearly anything. Here are some our favorite ways to pair it with a meal…that’s not steak:
Make the smoky breadcrumbs, if using: Heat the olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. In a small bowl, mix the panko with the smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder and kosher salt. Add them to the skillet and toast, stirring frequently, until golden and crisp, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to a bowl.
Remove the outer leaves of the iceberg head, then slice it into wedges (4 for a small head, 6 for a large head). Prep the chives and tomatoes.
To serve. place a wedge on a plate. Top with dressing, tomatoes, chives, blue cheese crumbles, and smoky breadcrumbs. Serve immediately.
Notes
*Not a blue cheese lover? Make our Ranch Dressing and add 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika for a smoky flair. Then top with crumbled feta cheese.
Easter is right around the corner and that means we will be up to our eyeballs in hard-boiled eggs. We always dye way too many eggs, but it is so fun! Plus, I love having extra hard boiled eggs to make deviled eggs and Egg Salad! I love making Avocado …
Easter is right around the corner and that means we will be up to our eyeballs in hard-boiled eggs. We always dye way too many eggs, but it is so fun! Plus, I love having extra hard boiled eggs to make deviled eggs and Egg Salad! I love making Avocado Egg Salad, but classic Egg…
Deviled Eggs are a classic, iconic appetizer for springtime and Easter. It’s the perfect recipe for using up hard-boiled Easter eggs. But deviled eggs go way beyond Easter, they are a great appetizer or side dish for any and every day of the year…
Deviled Eggs are a classic, iconic appetizer for springtime and Easter. It’s the perfect recipe for using up hard-boiled Easter eggs. But deviled eggs go way beyond Easter, they are a great appetizer or side dish for any and every day of the year. I think every party, potluck, and special occasion should start with…
We’ve been wanting to up our sauce game for a while since we tend to have a thing for tahini and don’t stray far from it. Green goddess dressing was the perfect excuse to branch out and make something vibrant and tahini-free!
This inspired, vegan take…
We’ve been wanting to up our sauce game for a while since we tend to have a thing for tahini and don’t stray far from it. Green goddess dressing was the perfect excuse to branch out and make something vibrant and tahini-free!
This inspired, vegan take on green goddess dressing doesn’t skimp on flavor. It’s packed with fresh herbs, is subtly tart from lemon, and gets a bit of umami from coconut aminos.
Cobb Salad with chicken, bacon, tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, Avocado, blue cheese, chives, and a simple red wine vinegar dressing. This traditional salad is loaded with goodness and always a favorite! I love making salads because they are pretty, fresh,…
Cobb Salad with chicken, bacon, tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, Avocado, blue cheese, chives, and a simple red wine vinegar dressing. This traditional salad is loaded with goodness and always a favorite! I love making salads because they are pretty, fresh, and delicious. We have been eating salads all summer long and can’t get enough. Josh…
This is anything-but-boring tomato toast. And it is so, so perfect for the next month or two, when tomatoes are at peak ripeness – for both lunch and dinner! And let’s be real… maybe even breakfast. It wasn’t until I started this blog that I knew about the phenomenon of mayo tomato toast. Sure, we’ve […]
And it is so, so perfect for the next month or two, when tomatoes are at peak ripeness – for both lunch and dinner!
And let’s be real… maybe even breakfast.
It wasn’t until I started this blog that I knew about the phenomenon of mayo tomato toast. Sure, we’ve had incredible tomatoes come mid-summer here PA (for about five minutes) ever since I was a kid, but we usually served them as salad. Or just sliced with some balsamic.
P.S. there is a super easy, delicious tomato salad in my next book! It was a staple my mom made when we were growing up. Can’t wait!
Let’s just say that since the mayo/toast/tomato meal skipped over me, I’ve felt very deprived ever since discovering it. I mean, it is SO GOOD. So simple. Such a classic. How could I go so long without knowing this was a thing?
Granted, I thought I didn’t like mayo until about five years ago. But that’s neither here nor there.
So. You know I have made just about a million versions oftomatoes on toast right here on this blog. It’s unbeatable in the summer, the perfect lunch or dinner – just so unbelievably good.
Most of my tomato toast varieties include burrata cheese, so I left that out today in order to really switch things up. Hello BLUE CHEESE!
And not just any old boring blue cheese, We’re making blue cheese mayo. Which is really just a fancy way for saying that we’re stirring crumbled blue cheese into mayo. It’s true.
It.is.everything.
Especially slathered on sourdough toast!
Especially topped with ripe tomatoes!
Then sprinkle it all with flaked salt and you’re golden.
This is my perfect picnic toast.
Whether you’re throwing a blanket in the backyard for a weekday picnic lunch or actually venturing to a park, it’s the best way to elevate your tomato toast or sandwich.
Add a sprinkle of fresh chives and you won’t even want to eat anything else all summer.
This tomato toast is my new favorite lunch! Toasted sourdough spread with blue cheese mayo, topped with sliced heirlooms and sprinkled with salt. YUM.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15minutes
Total Time 15minutes
Servings 4people
Author How Sweet Eats
Ingredients
½cupmayonnaise
¼cupcrumbled blue cheese
4slicessourdough bread,toasted
1 to 2heirloom tomatoes,thinly sliced
1tablespoonfresh chives,for topping
freshly ground black pepper
flaked salt for sprinkling
Instructions
In a bowl, stir together the mayo and blue cheese. Toast the sourdough. Spread it with the blue cheese mayo, then layer with the sliced tomatoes. Sprinkle with flaked salt, pepper and chives. Eat!
Oh how I adore this smashed buffalo cucumber salad! It’s refreshing with a touch of heat and also has cheese and avocado which means it’s basically my favorite thing on the planet right now. So! I’d love to know what you’re eating right now. Are you working out of your pantry? Are you grocery shopping […]
Oh how I adore this smashed buffalo cucumber salad!
It’s refreshing with a touch of heat and also has cheese and avocado which means it’s basically my favorite thing on the planet right now.
So! I’d love to know what you’re eating right now. Are you working out of your pantry? Are you grocery shopping once a week, or twice? How is the fresh produce situation in your life?
Not only is it tricky for me to figure out what to share here on the blog, it’s just as tricky in real life to determine what we will eat. I feel like the past month we survived mostly on comfort food, even if it was a salad of sorts. And now that the weather is getting warmer, I’m craving fresher dishes. But that’s also hard since we’re only getting grocery pickup every ten days or so.
I’m still making (and wanting!) fresh salads and dishes like this, so I figured why not. After all, you have to know about this deliciousness.
Enter buffalo smashed cucumbers!
Last year I shared this sesame smashed cucumber salad here on the blog and it is SUCH a hit. I actually can’t believe how much I love it and how I often crave that salad, even for a snack. It’s weird. But it’s so refreshing and flavorful at the same time.
Eddie loathes cucumbers so it’s rare that I make that salad for dinner, unless I do just a few cucumbers for Emilia and me. She loves them too, though her preferred method of consumption is by dipping them in guac.
So this bowl!
We do the whole salt + sugar cucumber thing and let them hang out for 20 minutes or so. Enough time to grab the rest of your ingredients. Instead of an actual vinaigrette with this one, we’re doing buffalo wing sauce. It’s spicy and tangy, which is perfect for the fresh, juicy cucumbers.
We’re also adding an avocado. It keeps things mild, in a good and creamy way. It also adds some more substance so the salad, you know? So we’re not just eating a bowl of cucumbers.
I love to drizzle the wing sauce on at this point and toss the cucumber and avocado so it really gets coated in the flavor. I also do a splash of fresh lime juice!
Next comes the cheese. I’m all for blue cheese and definitely have it on hand. Plus, it works with the buffalo wing combo. But if you don’t have it or simply don’t like it, use feta, goat or even cheddar. They all work.
My favorite buffalo wing trifecta comes next: green onions, chives and cilantro. I love a mix of these three things on ANYTHING buffalo-wing flavored. It really makes a huge difference.
Finally, a big handful of crushed peanuts. These are everything. They add texture, of course (which I can’t live without) and again, more satiety to the dish! Also wonderful flavor too.
Cut the cucumbers into pieces (some in half, some lengthwise, whatever you want!) and use a jar or meat tenderizer to smash each piece, gently and most of the time, just once. You can discard any seeds that come out, but place all the cucumber pieces in a large strainer. Set the strainer over a bowl. Sprinkle on a generous pinch of salt and sugar, and toss the cucumbers. If you want, you can place a bowl (or something heavy!) on top of the cucumbers to help press out the water. Let the cucumbers sit for 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature.
While they sit, prepare the rest of your ingredients!
Drain the cucumbers and place them in a large bowl. Toss in the avocado. Add a small pinch of salt and pepper. Drizzle with the wing sauce and lime juice and toss. Sprinkle on the cheese, peanuts, onions, cilantro and chives. Serve immediately!