Stuffed Iceberg Salad Food

STUFFED ICEBERG WEDGES

Steps:

• Remove core from the head of lettuce. Carefully hollow out lettuce, leaving a 3/4-in. shell (save removed lettuce for another use). , In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise and curry powder. Add the cheese, ham, celery, parsley and pimientos; mix well. Spoon into lettuce shell. Tightly wrap in plastic; refrigerate for at least 3 hours. Cut into wedges. Serve with salad dressing.

FROZEN ICEBERG SALAD

Steps:

• Place the head of lettuce on a flat surface and cut in half, then cut each half into 2 wedges. Transfer the lettuce to a small tray and put it in the freezer until just before serving. (It can remain in there for up to 2 hours, if necessary.)
• Whisk the mustard, vinegar and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Slowly whisk in the olive oil and add the tarragon. Taste for seasoning.
• When ready to serve, transfer the lettuce to a platter and drizzle with the dressing. Serve immediately.

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 ITALIAN DRESSING

Steps:

• Whisk oil, vinegar, mayonnaise, sugar, oregano, and garlic in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• Cut lettuce in half through stem end. Tear apart into large pieces. Arrange on a platter and scatter onion, provolone, mozzarella, and peperoncini over, nestling in among leaves. Drizzle with dressing to coat to your liking (you'll probably have some extra) and top with more black pepper.

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.

STUFFED ICEBERG SALAD

Steps:

• Remove and discard core from lettuce. Place lettuce core side down and cut in half with a plastic lettuce knife from top to bottom (save one half for another use). With knife, remove enough leaves from the center of the cut side of lettuce to create a 2-in. circle, about 1-1/4 in. deep., In a bowl, combine mayonnaise and curry powder. Stir in the cheese, ham, celery, parsley and pimientos. Spoon into center of lettuce. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap; refrigerate for 30 minutes or until serving. Cut in half, forming two wedges. Serve with salad dressing.

LAYERED BLUE CHEESE, BACON AND ICEBERG SALAD

Steps:

• Soak the onions in ice water for at least 20 minutes. Strain.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until brown and crisp, 6 to 7 minutes per side. Remove, drain on paper towels and roughly chop.
• Whisk together the blue cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, Worcestershire, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a medium bowl.
• Using a 3-quart straight-sided tall glass bowl for 1 large salad or four 16-ounce wide-mouth glass jars for 4 individual salads, make a layer with a third of the lettuce, then add the following in separate layers: the tomatoes, the olives, half the remaining lettuce, the carrots, the croutons, and the remaining lettuce. Sprinkle the top with the onions and bacon. (The salad can be put together, covered and refrigerated for up to 2 hours before serving.)
• If making 1 salad, just before serving, transfer it to a large bowl, toss with about half the dressing and season with salt and pepper. If making 4 salads, add dressing to each jar, season with salt and pepper, cover with the lid and shake to coat. Serve the remaining dressing on the side.

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.