Salad-lovers, rejoice! This Wedge Salad with Candied Bacon, Walnuts, Blackberries & Basil Ranch is the perfect fresh summer lunch!

My name is Paige and I have a pretty solid salad addiction. Wow, it feels good to get that off my chest. This Wedge Salad with Candied Bacon, Walnuts, Blackberries & Basil Ranch is my latest lunch creation, and dare I say… It’s my favorite*.

I’m going to start a campaign to get people to appreciate iceberg again. Sure, we have kale, spinach, little gem, and arugula  — all of which are way more nutritious than iceberg.

But, I believe there’s still a place for it in our salad repertoire. I love how crunchy it is and how high the water content is. I find that you don’t need quite as much dressing because it’s not as dry as other greens.

You could also make this salad with a wedge of bibb or butter lettuce and it would be delicious! The symphony of flavors in this salad is a real treat for the taste buds.

Plump and juicy blackberries that have a bit of tartness, sweet and smoky candied bacon, buttery walnuts, and a creamy herbaceous ranch that I would happily eat off of a rusty brick.

If you need a break from your sad desk lunch of baby spinach with a drizzle of lemon and olive oil… this salad is your girl!

*(Until the next salad comes along)

Check out my Melon Prosciutto Salad with Mint Vinaigrette!

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Yield: 4 Servings

Wedge Salad with Candied Bacon, Walnuts, Blackberries & Basil Ranch

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

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Ingredients

For Candied Bacon

• 4 slices of cooked, thick cut bacon, crumbled
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• pinch of salt

For Basil Ranch

• 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/3 cup freshly chopped basil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

For the Salad

• 1 large head iceberg lettuce, quartered
• 1 cup blackberries
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
• 3 tablespoons basil, for garnish

Instructions

For Candied Bacon


Combine cooked crumbled bacon, sugar, and salt in a medium sauté pan over medium heat.

Toss until the sugar has dissolved and evenly coated the bacon, about 5 minutes. Be careful not to burn the sugar.

Set aside to harden a bit while you make the dressing.

For Basil Ranch


Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until creamy, scraping down the sides occasionally when needed. Taste and season additionally, if desired. Store in an air-tight container for 1 to 2 days.


To assemble the salads, place a quarter of the iceberg on each plate and liberally with salt and pepper. Drizzle with the basil ranch. Sprinkle on candied bacon, blackberries, and chopped basil.

Serve immediately.

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