Barefoot Contessa Wedge Salad Food

WEDGE SALAD

Steps:

• For the salad: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set a rack on the baking sheet and lay the bacon on it in a single layer. Cook until crisp, 35 to 45 minutes, turning halfway through. When cool enough to handle, chop coarsely.
• For the ranch dressing: In a bowl or a jar with a tight-fitting lid, add the buttermilk, sour cream, chives, mayonnaise, parsley, lemon juice, salt, celery seed, onion powder, garlic powder, garlic and scallions and whisk together (or shake vigorously if using a jar).
• Assembly: Lay a lettuce wedge on each of 6 salad plates. Drizzle each wedge with 2 to 3 tablespoons of the dressing, letting it flow between the leaves of the lettuce and pool on the plate. Sprinkle over the tomatoes, onion and bacon. Garnish with the chives.
• Any leftover dressing can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.

WEDGE SALAD

Steps:

• Puree 1 cup each mayo and blue cheese with 1/2 cup buttermilk, 1 shallot, lemon zest, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, salt and pepper. Drizzle over iceberg wedges; top with egg mimosa (See No. 42) and crumbled bacon.
• See all 50 Simple Salads

WEDGE SALAD WITH ELEGANT BLUE CHEESE DRESSING

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 pound blue cheese, sour cream, buttermilk, mayonnaise, vinegar, olive oil, sugar, garlic, and pepper in a bowl; blend using a hand mixer; chill until serving.
• Build the salad by placing 1 lettuce wedge on each of 8 plates. Drizzle equal amounts of dressing over each wedge. Scatter tomatoes, onion, and 1/2 pound blue cheese over each salad.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S CAESAR SALAD WITH PANCETTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut the pancetta into 1/2-inch cubes and cook it in a skillet over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until browned and crisp. (Pancetta is Italian bacon. You can find it in your Italian grocery or a specialty food store. Ask that it's cut 1/2-inch thick.).
• Remove to paper towels and drain.
• Place the tomatoes on a baking sheet and coat with olive oil.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, until soft.
• Wash the lettuce leaves carefully and spin-dry in a salad spinner.
• Stack the leaves on a cutting board and cut them crosswise into 1 1/2-inch slices.
• Place them in a large mixing bowl.
• For the dressing, place the egg yolk (*if you're nervous about raw egg yolks, substitue 2 tablespoons of real mayonnaise), mustard, garlic, anchovies, lemon juice, salt, and pepper into the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade.
• Process until smooth.
• With the food processor running, slowly pour the olive oil through the feed tube (as though you were making mayonnaise), until thick.
• Add the 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese and pulse 3 times.
• Toss the lettuce with enough dressing to moisten well.
• Add 1 cup grated Parmesan and toss.
• Divide the lettuce among 6 or 8 plates and sprinkle with the pancetta roasted tomatoes. Serve at room temperature.