If you love classic flavors with a fresh and crunchy twist, this Cos Wedge Salad Recipe is an absolute must-try. Imagine crisp, vibrant romaine lettuce wedges loaded with tangy blue cheese, smoky bacon, and a luscious homemade dressing that brings every bite alive. Whether you’re serving it as a light lunch or a stunning starter for your dinner guests, this salad perfectly balances creamy, savory, and fresh elements in the most delightful way.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe keeps things simple but essential, each ingredient playing a vital role in building flavor, texture, and color. From the cool crunch of Cos lettuce to the sharp punch of blue cheese, every component creates harmony on your plate.
- Cos (Romaine) lettuce: Provides a crisp and sturdy base perfect for holding all the toppings.
- Cherry tomatoes: Adds juicy bursts of sweetness and a pop of vibrant red color.
- Red onion: Thinly sliced for a subtle sharpness that cuts through the richness.
- Bacon: Cooked and crumbled to infuse a smoky, savory crunch.
- Blue cheese crumbles: Brings tangy creaminess that’s unmistakably delicious.
- Chopped chives: Provide a mild onion flavor with a fresh green touch.
- Freshly ground black pepper: Seasons the salad beautifully, enhancing all the flavors.
- Mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk: These create a rich, creamy, and slightly tangy dressing base.
- White wine vinegar: Adds balanced acidity to brighten the dressing.
- Garlic powder and onion powder: Layer in additional depth and savory notes.
- Salt and black pepper: Essential seasoning elements for the dressing.
How to Make Cos Wedge Salad Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Creamy Dressing
Start by whisking together mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk to create a smooth base. Stir in white wine vinegar for that essential tang that lifts the flavors. Next, blend in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper for depth and seasoning. Finally, fold in the blue cheese crumbles so they gently infuse the dressing with their signature boldness. Chill the dressing until you’re ready to assemble the salad, letting the flavors meld beautifully.
Step 2: Prep the Lettuce Wedges
Trim the ends of each Cos lettuce head and slice lengthwise into halves or quarters, depending on their size. Rinse thoroughly under cold water to remove any grit, then gently pat dry to keep the leaves crisp. The wedges provide a stunning, structured base that holds all your toppings perfectly while making plating effortless and elegant.
Step 3: Assemble Your Salad
Arrange the lettuce wedges on individual plates or a large serving platter. Generously drizzle your chilled blue cheese dressing all over the wedges, ensuring each leaf gets coated with creamy goodness. Scatter halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onions, crumbled bacon, and blue cheese crumbles on top. Finish with a sprinkle of chopped chives and a few twists of freshly ground black pepper to enhance every bite.
How to Serve Cos Wedge Salad Recipe
Garnishes
To elevate your Cos Wedge Salad Recipe, don’t hesitate to add extra garnishes like crispy fried shallots for crunch, sliced radishes for a peppery snap, or even a few capers to introduce a briny twist. A tiny drizzle of high-quality olive oil can also add a luxurious sheen and flavor balance.
Side Dishes
This salad shines alongside hearty mains like grilled steak, roasted chicken, or even seared salmon. It’s light enough to refresh the palate but substantial enough to hold its own. Consider pairing with warm crusty bread or garlic-infused roasted potatoes for a fully rounded meal.
Creative Ways to Present
If you’re looking to impress guests or simply mix things up, present the salad wedges on a rustic wooden board with the toppings artfully scattered around. Alternatively, serve in deep bowls with the dressing on the side for those who love a little control over every bite. The crisp edges and brilliant colors invite everyone to dig in with their eyes first.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftovers, keep the salad and dressing separate for best results. Store the lettuce wedges in an airtight container with a paper towel to absorb moisture and extend crispness. The dressing can be refrigerated in a sealed jar for up to 3 days.
Freezing
Because of the fresh lettuce and creamy dressing, this salad is not suitable for freezing. Freezing will damage the texture of the lettuce and alter the creamy dressing’s consistency, so it’s best enjoyed fresh or stored short-term in the fridge.
Reheating
This is a cold salad designed to be served immediately, so reheating is not recommended. However, if you add grilled shrimp or chicken as a protein, warm those separately and serve atop the cold salad for a delightful contrast.
FAQs
Can I make this salad vegan?
For a vegan version of this Cos Wedge Salad Recipe, substitute the blue cheese with a vegan cheese alternative, use plant-based mayonnaise and sour cream, and skip the bacon or use tempeh bacon. The flavor profile will shift but can still be deliciously satisfying.
Is there a substitute for blue cheese?
If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, feta or goat cheese make excellent alternatives that still provide a creamy tang while being less intense in flavor.
How long does the dressing keep?
The homemade blue cheese dressing will stay fresh and flavorful for up to 3 days in the refrigerator when kept in an airtight container. Always give it a good stir before using.
Can I prepare the salad in advance?
It’s best to prep the ingredients ahead but assemble the salad just before serving to keep the lettuce crisp and the toppings fresh. This approach ensures the best texture and presentation.
What can I add to make it a main dish?
Grilled shrimp, chicken breast, or even crispy tofu add protein to make this Cos Wedge Salad Recipe hearty enough for a main course. Toss the protein lightly in seasonings and place on top of the salad wedges.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly special about the perfect wedge salad, and this Cos Wedge Salad Recipe hits all the right notes from crispness to creaminess and smoky to tangy flavors. It’s easy to make yet impressive enough to elevate any meal. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do and find yourself coming back to it whenever you crave that fresh, flavorful crunch.
Print
Cos Wedge Salad Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This classic Cos Wedge Salad recipe features crisp romaine lettuce wedges topped with a rich blue cheese dressing, cherry tomatoes, red onion, crumbled bacon, and fresh chives. The creamy dressing is homemade with mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, and blue cheese, providing a tangy and flavorful complement to the fresh vegetables. Perfect for a light appetizer or side dish, this salad is easy to prepare and packed with texture and flavor.
Ingredients
Salad
- 2 heads of Cos (Romaine) lettuce, cut into halves or quarters
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, white wine vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and blue cheese crumbles until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Chill the dressing in the refrigerator until ready to use to let the flavors meld.
- Prepare the lettuce: Trim the ends of the Cos (Romaine) lettuce heads. Slice each head lengthwise into halves or quarters depending on their size. Rinse the lettuce wedges gently under cold water and pat them dry carefully with paper towels to avoid wilting.
- Assemble the wedges: Arrange the lettuce wedges on individual plates or a large serving platter evenly spaced out for easy serving.
- Dress the salad: Generously drizzle the chilled blue cheese dressing over each lettuce wedge to coat them well for maximum flavor.
- Add toppings: Sprinkle halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onions, crumbled cooked bacon, additional blue cheese crumbles, and chopped fresh chives over the dressed lettuce wedges.
- Season and serve: Finish each salad wedge with a crack or two of freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately to enjoy the crispness of the lettuce and the creamy dressing.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute Greek yogurt for the sour cream in the dressing.
- You can use store-bought blue cheese or ranch dressing as a convenient shortcut.
- Add grilled shrimp or chicken on top to turn this salad into a satisfying main course.
