Wedge Salad
on Jul 26, 2023, Updated Feb 15, 2025
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This wedge salad with creamy lemon parmesan dressing is the quickest, lightest dish. Thick wedges of crisp iceberg lettuce get smothered in a creamy, tart dressing that is downright chuggable 😉. Plain yogurt, maple syrup, and grated parmesan cheese add tang, sweetness, and richness for a perfect combination of flavors. Then, we top the salad with freshly crumbled feta (never pre-crumbled, please), cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, and jalapeños.
I love salads like this, that have a lot of volume but are also really light and refreshing. Iceberg lettuce is low in fiber and high in water content, which makes it a great choice for the base of a summer salad.
Why You’ll Love Wedge Salad
You’ll love this wedge salad for its perfect blend of crisp freshness and creamy dressing. The iceberg lettuce, with its high water content, provides a refreshing base, while the creamy lemon parmesan dressing, made with plain yogurt, maple syrup, and grated parmesan cheese 🧀, adds nuttiness.
The blend of flavors created by the dressing, complemented by fresh feta, cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, and optional jalapeños, will have you asking for seconds. Plus, the salad’s quick and easy preparation makes it an ideal choice for a light, yet satisfying meal on any warm day.
How to Prepare Wedge Salad
🥬When prepping the iceberg, first remove 1 to 2 layers of the outermost leaves, then compost them or give them to pets. Chop the iceberg into wedges and soak in a bowl of ice water.
🧊The ice water helps release any dirt hidden in the lettuce layers and gets the leaves even crisper. You can also add the sliced red onion to the iced water to help mellow the onion flavor.
🌶️Be sure to rinse and dry the lettuce and onion well. The jalapeños are completely optional, but as they’re growing like weeds this time of year, I couldn’t resist adding a few from my garden. They add a nice spicy counterbalance to the creamy feta and dressing.
Nonna’s Tip🧀
Use good quality parmesan. I use a real block of Parmigiano Reggiano and grate it. Authentic Parmigiano will have a stamp on the rind.
Wedge Salad Substitutions and Variations
Get ready to put your own spin on this classic wedge salad. With a range of versatile variations and substitutions, you can further tailor this salad to suit your preferences and dietary needs.
- If you are dairy-free, leave the yogurt out. You will still have a delicious dressing and you can also use any dairy-free alternative of choice.
- Any acidic component will work for the dressing, such as white balsamic vinegar instead of lemon juice.
- If you’re not a fan of feta or parmesan, you can certainly substitute it with other cheeses like blue cheese, goat cheese, or cheddar.
- To make this salad a more substantial meal, add protein. Grilled chicken, shrimp, bacon bits, or even tofu are equally great options.
Best Served With
Get ready to become obsessed with your favorite new easy salad! Pair it with my:
Similar Recipes
- My Italian Chopped Salad takes just a few minutes to make.
- My Creamy Greek Salad is a traditional recipe with a twist.
- This is the best Simple Green Salad recipe.
Common Questions
Soak the wedges in a bowl with ice water to get rid of any dirt or impurities and then let them dry on a paper towel. The ice water keeps the lettuce crisp.
Fresh basil, parsley, cilantro, or dill can add a burst of fresh flavor to your salad.
You can add grilled chicken, shrimp, bacon bits, or tofu to make the salad a heartier meal.
It’s best to prepare the dressing and chop the ingredients in advance, but assemble the salad just before serving to keep it fresh and crisp.
If you are dairy-free, leave the yogurt out. But you will still have a delicious dressing. You can also use any dairy-free alternative of choice.
Absolutely! While iceberg lettuce is traditional, you can use romaine, butter lettuce, or your favorite leafy greens instead.
Use good quality parmesan. I use a real block of Parmigiano Reggiano and grate it. Authentic Parmigiano will have a stamp on the rind.
I don’t remove the core, I cut right through it so that the wedges stay together.
Wedge Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 iceberg lettuce, quartered
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ red onions , thinly sliced
- feta cheese, measure with your heart
- jalapenos, optional
Lemon Parmesan Dressing
- ½ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup lemon juice , freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- salt, to taste
- ½ cup plain yogurt , any you enjoy
Instructions
- Note: this recipe makes a lot of dressing which I store in the fridge as I don't use it all. Feel free to use as much as you like and refrigerate the rest.
- I remove the two outer leaves of the lettuce and cut it in half. Cut those halves in half and gently soak them in ice water for a few minutes.
- Take it out of the water and let it dry on paper towel or gently pat it dry.
- Arrange the 4 wedges onto a large plate.
- Make the dressing by combining all of the ingredients in a mason jar or measuring glass. Stir the dressing and taste and adjust for salt.
- Pour a little bit of the dressing over the wedges, add the cherry tomatoes, onions, jalapenos (if any), and crumble the feta on top.
- Drizzle on some extra dressing and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
LOVE the dressing, delicious.
Thanks for sharing:)
Thank you for trusting me Kim! yayyyy 😋
I love a good wedge salad but the winner is hands down the dressing. I had a dressing out at a restaurant many years ago and I tried many recipes in hopes to recreate it. I had no success…until this recipe. I have now eaten this salad 4 times in the first week alone because of this dressing.
This looks AMAZING, Vanessa! Now I’m craving a wedge salad!
You Have To Make This! Awesome!
Thanks Jeff!
Delicious, as always. Thanks so much for sharing!
Elizabeth, your feedback always means so much. Thank you for being so sweet
Wow! I cannot believe how delicious this dressing is. Thank you for sharing! I will be making this often.
So glad you enjoyed it! ❤️
Yummy!!! So simple and tasty.
So glad you loved it, Ingrid!
Absolutely delish!
So happy you liked it, Joanna!
Wow, this is the first recipe from you that I made and it was awesome. Easy to make, but had tona of flavours. Now, I am bookmarking other recipes. Thanks a lot and keep em coming!
Love to hear that Alex! Enjoy!
Hi, what could I use as a substitute, for feta cheese instead, for this salad?
Any cheese you enjoy: crumbled blue cheese, grated parm, cotija, ricotta salata.