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Iceberg Lettuce Salad Recipe
Pratiksh

Iceberg Lettuce Salad Recipe - Crisp, Refreshing, and Ready in Minutes

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 head iceberg lettuce, cold and crisp
  • 1/2 small red onion, very thinly sliced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced (Persian or English preferred)
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs (dill, chives, or parsley)
  • 1/3 cup crumbled feta or shaved Parmesan (optional but recommended)
  • 1/4 cup toasted breadcrumbs or crushed croutons for crunch (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon honey (or sugar)
  • 1 small garlic clove, finely grated or minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

Method
 

  1. Chill the lettuce: Pop the head of iceberg in the fridge for at least 30 minutes beforehand. Cold lettuce stays crisper and tastes fresher.
  2. Prep the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, vinegar, Dijon, honey, garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes until emulsified. Taste and adjust salt or vinegar.
  3. Wash and dry: Remove any wilted outer leaves. Cut the head into quarters, remove the core, then chop into bite-size pieces. Rinse and spin dry thoroughly. Dry lettuce is key to a glossy, clinging dressing.
  4. Slice the veggies: Thinly slice the red onion and cucumber. Halve the cherry tomatoes. Roughly chop the herbs. Keep everything bite-sized.
  5. Assemble: Add lettuce to a large bowl. Scatter on onions, tomatoes, cucumber, and herbs. If using, add feta and toasted breadcrumbs or croutons.
  6. Dress lightly: Drizzle about two-thirds of the dressing around the bowl’s sides (not straight on top). Toss gently with clean hands so every leaf gets a thin coat. Add more dressing if needed.
  7. Finish and serve: Taste for salt and acidity. Add a pinch more salt or a few drops of vinegar if it needs brightness. Serve immediately while crisp.