Barefoot Contessa’s Crisp Iceberg & Blue Cheese Dream Recipe

Summer lunches demand fresh, vibrant salads that burst with flavor and texture.

This classic blue cheese iceberg salad delivers incredible crunch and zesty notes that dance across your palate.

Ina Garten’s recipe captures the essence of simple, elegant dining with its crisp iceberg lettuce and tangy blue cheese dressing.

Each bite promises a delightful contrast of cool, creamy, and crunchy elements that sing with bright, bold tastes.

The dressing blends rich, creamy blue cheese with subtle hints of herbs and seasoning that elevate this humble salad.

Refreshing and satisfying, this salad stands as a perfect side dish or light lunch that will quickly become a summer staple.

Grab your ingredients and get ready to experience a salad that turns ordinary into extraordinary.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Calories: 240 kcal

Servings: 6

Iceberg Salad with Creamy Blue Cheese: What You’ll Need

• Blue Cheese: Creamy, pungent cheese that provides the signature tangy flavor and rich texture to the dressing.
• Mayonnaise: Smooth base that adds richness and helps bind the dressing ingredients together.
• Greek Yogurt: Introduces a lighter, slightly tangy element that balances the richness of the blue cheese.
• Sherry Vinegar: Adds a sophisticated, slightly sweet acidity to brighten the entire dressing.

• Iceberg Lettuce: Crisp, refreshing base that provides a cool, crunchy foundation for the salad.
• Celery: Adds a delightful crunch and subtle peppery note to the vegetable mix.
• Radishes: Brings a peppery bite and vibrant color to the salad composition.
• Scallions: Introduces a mild, fresh onion flavor that complements the other ingredients.

• Fleur de Sel: Delicate, high-quality sea salt that enhances the overall flavor profile.
• Black Pepper: Provides a gentle heat and aromatic depth to the salad.
• Additional Blue Cheese: Crumbled on top for an extra burst of tangy, creamy flavor.

Tools for Assembling Iceberg & Blue Cheese Salad

• Food Processor: Essential for blending dressing ingredients smoothly and quickly.
• Small Microwave-Safe Bowl: Perfect for softening blue cheese before mixing.
• Cutting Board: Needed for slicing vegetables and lettuce precisely.
• Sharp Knife: Crucial for clean cuts on celery, radishes, scallions, and iceberg lettuce.
• Mixing Bowl: Great for combining chopped vegetables.
• Spoon: Helpful for spooning dressing over lettuce and distributing vegetables.
• Dinner Plates: Used for serving individual salad portions.

Making Iceberg Salad with Blue Cheese

Crunchy Iceberg Salad Sensation

• Cheese Fusion An easy blue cheese dressing brings magic to this salad. Warm blue cheese slightly in microwave, then blend smoothly with creamy yogurt, tangy mayonnaise, and zesty sherry vinegar. The result is a luxurious, silky sauce that transforms simple vegetables.
• Vegetable Symphony Crisp radishes, tender celery, and fresh scallions create a vibrant vegetable medley. Slice iceberg lettuce into thick, circular platforms that become delicious canvas for your flavor masterpiece. Generously drizzle the blue cheese dressing over each lettuce round, allowing it to cascade gracefully.
• Final Flourish Scatter the vegetable mixture across each lettuce slice with artistic flair. Crumble additional blue cheese on top, adding depth and richness. Finish with a delicate sprinkle of fleur de sel and fresh cracked pepper, elevating this salad from ordinary to extraordinary.

Salad Tweaks for Iceberg with Creamy Blue Cheese

• Gently warm blue cheese in the microwave to create a smoother, more spreadable texture that blends effortlessly into the dressing.
• Slice vegetables thinly and at an angle to maximize their crisp texture and create visually appealing salad layers.
• Prepare the blue cheese dressing up to two days in advance, storing it in an airtight container to let flavors develop and intensify.
• Sprinkle crispy bacon bits, grilled chicken, or sliced steak on top to transform this salad into a hearty main course.
• Chop fresh chives, parsley, or dill to add a bright, fresh dimension that complements the rich blue cheese dressing.

Serving Ideas for Iceberg Salad

• Serve on Individual Plates: Create an elegant presentation by placing a thick iceberg lettuce round on each plate, making every serving look like a beautiful, restaurant-style dish.
• Pair with Protein: Enhance the salad by adding grilled chicken, crispy bacon bits, or seared steak for a more substantial meal that transforms this side dish into a hearty main course.
• Wine and Dine Companion: Match the creamy blue cheese dressing with a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a light Pinot Grigio to complement the salad's tangy and fresh flavors.
• Add Crunchy Toppings: Sprinkle toasted sunflower seeds, candied pecans, or homemade croutons on top to introduce extra texture and a delightful crunch that elevates the overall eating experience.

Prep Tips for Iceberg Salad with Blue Cheese

• Quick Store Blue Cheese Dressing: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor retention.
• Extend Salad Veggie Crunch: Keep chopped celery, radishes, and scallions separately in sealed containers in the refrigerator, maintaining crisp texture for 2-3 days before serving.
• Prep-Ahead Salad Strategy: Slice iceberg lettuce rounds and store between damp paper towels in a sealed container, preventing wilting for up to 24 hours before assembling.
• Smart Serving Suggestion: Assemble salad components just before eating to prevent soggy lettuce and maintain the delightful crunch of fresh vegetables and crisp lettuce rounds.

Crispy Iceberg Salad Recipe

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4.6 from 34 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Greek-inspired crunchy iceberg salad from Barefoot Contessa delivers fresh Mediterranean flavors. Crisp lettuce, tangy blue cheese, and herbed dressing create perfect harmony for summer gatherings you’ll savor completely.

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Ingredients

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• 1 large head iceberg lettuce, wilted outer leaves removed
• 115 g (4 oz) to 170 g (6 oz) Roquefort blue cheese, crumbled
• 160 ml (5.4 fl oz) mayonnaise (such as Hellmann’s or Best Foods)
• 80 ml (2.7 fl oz) plain Greek yogurt
• 4 celery stalks, trimmed and sliced crosswise 0.25 in (6 mm) thick
• 6 radishes, trimmed and sliced into thin rounds
• 5 scallions, trimmed, white and green parts sliced 0.25 in (6 mm) thick
• 1 tbsp sherry vinegar
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Fleur de sel

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Instructions

1. Cheese Preparation: Gently warm blue cheese in microwave for 15 seconds until softened, then blend with mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, sherry vinegar, salt, and black pepper in food processor until smooth and creamy.
2. Vegetable Chopping: Finely dice celery stalks, thinly slice radishes, and delicately cut scallions into delicate rings while dressing chills in refrigerator.
3. Lettuce Cutting: Transform iceberg lettuce into four precise 3/4-inch circular rounds, creating elegant, uniform bases for the salad.
4. Plating and Dressing: Center each lettuce round on individual serving plates, lavishly drizzling prepared blue cheese dressing to ensure complete coverage.
5. Garnishing and Finishing: Scatter chopped vegetable medley across dressed lettuce rounds, sprinkle additional crumbled blue cheese, and crown with a whisper of fleur de sel and freshly ground black pepper before presenting immediately.

Notes

• Cheese Warming Tip: Gently microwave blue cheese for optimal softness and easier blending, preventing over-melting or burning.
• Dressing Consistency Check: Pulse ingredients until smooth and creamy, ensuring no lumpy textures disrupt the salad’s elegant presentation.
• Vegetable Prep Precision: Chop vegetables uniformly to create balanced flavor distribution and professional-looking salad appearance.
• Serving Temperature Hack: Serve immediately after assembly to maintain crisp lettuce texture and prevent wilting or dressing absorption.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 240
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 550 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 10 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg