EMERIL'S WEDGIE SALAD

Emeril's Wedgie Salad image

Provided by Emeril Lagasse

Time 1h30m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 25

8 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
3 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 cup sour cream
6 tablespoons buttermilk
1 large head iceberg lettuce, cored, washed, and patted dry
8 slices cooked bacon
Louisiana Garlic Bread, recipe follows
Leftover Garlic Bread Croutons, recipe follows
Chopped fresh chives, for garnish
2 cups leftover garlic bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tablespoons olive oil
Emeril's Essence, recipe follows
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme

Steps:

Combine half of the blue cheese, the lemon juice, Worcestershire, hot sauce, salt and black pepper in a medium mixing bowl. Using the back of a fork, mash the mixture together to form a thick paste. Drizzle in the olive oil, stirring continuously with the fork until the mixture is creamy. Add the sour cream and buttermilk and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper, if needed.
Cut the lettuce into 4 wedges and place each wedge on a salad plate. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the dressing over each wedge. Crumble remaining cheese over each wedge and arrange 2 slices of bacon around each plate. Place croutons around each salad wedge. Garnish with additional cracked black pepper and fresh chives and serve immediately.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Toss garlic bread with the olive oil in a large bowl. Season lightly with the Essence and spread bread onto a baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and crisped through, 10 to 15 minutes.
Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, published by William and Morrow, 1993.