Romaine salad with blue cheese dressing – a romaine wedge salad.
Romaine salad with blue cheese dressing – my version of the classic American wedge salad with blue cheese dressing. Crisp romaine lettuce topped with a creamy blue cheese dressing, crunchy walnuts, extra blue cheese and a little greenery on top. Very simple, full of flavour and so decorative on the plate.
A classic American wedge salad is traditionally made with iceberg lettuce, cut into wedges and served with blue cheese dressing and various toppings. I have chosen to make mine with romaine instead. I simply think it has more flavour, a slight bitterness and plenty of crunch – and I love its deep green colour.
I use small romaine lettuces, which I halve lengthways from top to root, so each portion gets a half. If you are using one large head of romaine, one is plenty – just cut it into quarters. Do leave the core in so the lettuce holds together and gets that characteristic wedge look.
And then all the good things go on top. I spoon my homemade blue cheese dressing over the romaine and top with roughly chopped walnuts and a little extra blue cheese, crumbled over. The walnuts give a lovely crunch and go beautifully with the strong blue cheese.
You can also top with crisp bacon, which is another classic topping for these wedge salads.
Finally I top with a few micro greens. Use what you have – parsley, cress or other fresh herbs work perfectly too. It is mostly about adding a little extra green and freshness to the plate.
The result is a romaine salad with blue cheese dressing that is crisp, creamy, salty and full of flavour. And I love this way of serving salad. Instead of shredding and tossing everything together, the lettuce gets to lie in large, handsome pieces with the dressing and toppings over it.
Serve it as a side to a good steak or other beef, where blue cheese is such a natural match. But it tastes at least as good with chicken and pork, and it is brilliant alongside summer barbecues or on a tapas table.
Simple, delicious and a slightly different way to serve salad – and if you love blue cheese, I think this one will be a hit.
Romaine salad with blue cheese dressing
Ingredients
- 100 ml crème fraîche, preferably 18% fat
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 50 g firm blue cheese
To serve
- 3 baby romaine lettuces
- 30 g walnuts, roughly chopped
- 25 g firm blue cheese
- A little greenery (micro greens or fresh herbs), optional
Method
- Rinse the lettuces thoroughly, halve them lengthways from top to root and leave them to dry on a tea towel.
- Stir together the crème fraîche, mayonnaise, lemon juice and the spices.
- Crumble the blue cheese, fold it into the dressing and season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper.
- Place the lettuce halves cut side up on a plate.
- Drizzle the dressing over the top, scatter over the walnuts and crumble a little blue cheese on top.
- Garnish with a little greenery if you like and season with freshly ground pepper before serving.
Nutrition
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