Crunchy Spring Iceberg Salad Food

CRUNCHY SPRING ICEBERG SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare the salad: Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to the boil. Add the frozen peas and asparagus, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the asparagus and peas are bright green and crisp tender. Drain and run under cold water until they are cold. Leave to drain.
• Prepare the lettuce: Run a sharp paring knife around the core and gently pull it out. Remove the outer layer of the lettuce and discard. Tear the lettuce into large chunks. Wash the leaves and allow them to dry in a colander. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel.
• Prepare the spicy cilantro yogurt: To a blender or small food processor, add the yogurt, cilantro, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and 1 jalapeño. Blitz until smooth. (Add a teaspoon of water at a time to get the mixture moving in the blender if necessary.) Taste and add the second jalapeño if you would like it spicier.
• Serve as one large salad or divide among four individual serving plates: Add the lettuce chunks to the plate, and scatter the asparagus and peas on top and around the lettuce. Spoon the spicy cilantro yogurt all over the vegetables, dot with feta and squeeze the juice from the lemon half over everything. Season with salt and black pepper, and top with a few cilantro leaves.

ICEBERG SALAD

Steps:

• Wash lettuce. Top lettuce with ham and crumbled feta cheese. Fry potatoes in hot oil until crispy. Drain on paper towels and place on salad. Top with dressing.

CHOPPED ICEBERG SALAD WITH BUTTERMILK DRESSING AND CRISPY CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• For the onions: To pickle the onions, bring the vinegar, sugar, a pinch of salt and 1 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Put the onions in a small heatproof bowl and pour the pickling liquid over them. Let the onions cool to room temperature on the counter. Transfer to a resealable container and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• For the buttermilk dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, buttermilk and mayonnaise. Add the dill, hot sauce, Worcestershire, garlic powder, garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. If too thick, add a splash of more buttermilk or water to adjust.
• For the chickpeas: Pour the oil into a small, heavy-bottomed pot and heat over medium heat until it registers 350 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. Fit a baking sheet with a wire rack.
• Season the chickpeas with the paprika and salt and pepper to taste. Using a slotted spoon, drop half of the chickpeas into the hot oil and fry until browned and crispy, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer the fried chickpeas with the slotted spoon to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining chickpeas.
• For the salad: Spread the iceberg lettuce on a baking sheet and season liberally with salt and pepper. Drizzle with the dressing and follow with a layer of the scallions. Top with the pickled onions (drained of their liquid) and the crispy chickpeas. Season to taste.

CRUNCHY ICEBERG SALAD WITH CREAMY BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• For the dressing, place 4 ounces of blue cheese in a small bowl and microwave for 15 seconds, until it begins to melt. Place the mayonnaise, yogurt, warm blue cheese, sherry vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until smooth. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the salad, combine the celery, radishes, and scallions in a bowl. Slice the whole head of lettuce across to make four 3/4-inch-thick round disks and place each on a dinner plate. Spoon the dressing on the lettuce and sprinkle on a quarter of the vegetable mixture. Distribute the remaining crumbled blue cheese on the salads, sprinkle with fleur de sel and pepper, and serve.

ICEBERG SALAD WITH ROQUEFORT DRESSING & BACON

Steps:

• Mix the red onion and lemon juice together in a small bowl, cover and set aside. Cook the bacon in a dry frying pan over a medium heat for 10-15 mins, turning halfway, until very crisp. Drain on kitchen paper, then crumble into tiny pieces and set aside.
• To make the dressing, put all the ingredients in a bowl, season and whisk until well combined. Cut the lettuce into chunky pieces and place on a platter or in a bowl with the tomatoes, cucumber, radishes and onion. Just before serving, pour the dressing over and sprinkle with the bacon.

SPRING SALAD WITH CRISPY CHICKEN AND BACONY CROUTONS

Steps:

• Arrange a rack in center of oven; preheat to 475ºF. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Using kitchen shears, remove bones, keeping skin and flesh intact; discard bones. Season chicken all over with 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper.
• Heat a medium cast-iron or heavy ovenproof skillet over medium-high until hot but not smoking. Sear chicken skin side down, undisturbed, 2 minutes. Continue to cook, turning occasionally, until fat renders and skin is golden brown, 4-6 minutes more. Transfer chicken to a plate. Carefully pour off all but 2 tsp. fat and wipe off any fat that drips onto side or bottom of skillet. Return chicken to skillet skin side up. Transfer to oven and roast chicken, tenting skillet with foil if skin becomes too dark halfway through, until skin crisps and meat is cooked through, 8-12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, until just crispy, 4-5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a large heatproof bowl. Pour off all but 2 Tbsp. fat. Heat fat in skillet over medium. Add bread in an even layer, season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and cook, turning pieces occasionally, until golden brown and crisp, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat; add 1 Tbsp. vinegar and toss until absorbed. Let cool a few minutes, then taste and season with more salt and pepper, if needed. Transfer croutons to bowl with bacon.
• Remove chicken from oven and transfer to a plate; reserve skillet with fat and pan drippings. Let chicken cool 5-10 minutes, then cut into 1" pieces.
• Cook shallot, peas, 1/8 tsp. salt, and 1/8 tsp. pepper in reserved skillet over medium-low heat, stirring, until shallots are softened and peas are cooked, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in oil and remaining 2 Tbsp. vinegar (mixture will bubble) with a heatproof spatula. (If you want to ensure bright green peas, cook them separately in a small saucepan of boiling water or in the microwave and sprinkle over top of salad after plating.)
• Add escarole, fennel, and radishes to bowl with bacon and croutons. Pour warm dressing over. Toss to combine and slightly wilt greens.
• Mound salad among plates; nestle in chicken pieces. Top with mint. Serve immediately.

ICEBERG SALAD WITH DRIED OREGANO DRESSING AND CREAMY FETA

Steps:

• First, make your vinaigrette. In a small bowl or jar with a lid, combine the shallot, vinegar and salt. Leave to macerate for about 15 minutes. Next, add the oregano and olive oil and mix or shake to combine.
• Cut your iceberg into thin, long wedges and arrange on a platter. Shake the dressing up just before pouring it over the lettuce. Sprinkle a bit of salt on top, followed by the chives and dill, then shave slices of cheese over the whole thing, or simply crumble it in. Serve immediately.