Smokey Mountain Wilted Lettuce
Elevate your salad game with Smokey Mountain Wilted Lettuce, a Southern classic bursting with bold flavors and rustic charm. This hearty dish combines crisp leaf lettuce and vibrant green onions, delicately wilted under a warm, tangy dressing infused with the smoky richness of bacon drippings. Balanced with a touch of white vinegar, a hint of sugar, and the perfect blend of salt and pepper, each bite offers a harmonious mix of savory, sweet, and tangy notes. Topped with crumbled, crispy bacon for irresistible crunch and served warm, this quick and easy side dish is ready in just 20 minutes—ideal for rounding out family meals or stealing the spotlight at your next gathering. Perfect as a comforting salad or a standalone dish, Smokey Mountain Wilted Lettuce brings Appalachian homestyle cooking straight to your table.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 6 cups fresh leaf lettuce
- 3 stalks green onions, chopped
- 6 slices bacon
- 3 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 0.5 teaspoons salt
- 0.25 teaspoons ground black pepper
Instructions
Wash and thoroughly dry the lettuce leaves. Tear them into bite-sized pieces and place them in a large serving bowl.
Add the chopped green onions to the bowl with the lettuce.
In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove the bacon and place it on a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Reserve the rendered bacon drippings in the skillet.
Crumble the cooked bacon into small pieces and set aside.
To the skillet with the bacon drippings, add the white vinegar, granulated sugar, salt, and black pepper. Stir over low heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is well combined. This will form the warm dressing for the salad.
Immediately pour the warm dressing over the lettuce and green onions, tossing gently to slightly wilt the greens and evenly coat them in the dressing.
Top with the crumbled bacon pieces for added flavor and texture.
Serve the salad warm as a side dish or enjoy it on its own.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
361 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 17.8 g | 23% | |
| Saturated Fat | 5.9 g | 30% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2.9 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 48 mg | 16% | |
| Sodium | 2116 mg | 92% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 29.5 g | 11% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 6.9 g | 25% | |
| Total Sugars | 17.0 g | ||
| Protein | 23.2 g | 46% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 199 mg | 15% | |
| Iron | 5.2 mg | 29% | |
| Potassium | 1242 mg | 26% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
