Carolina Wedge Salad with White Cheddar Pimento Cheese Dressing

A few weeks ago, Charlotte experienced cooler weather and ice caused by the climatic phenomenon known as the “Carolina Wedge.” When Sally heard this term, a different type of wedge came to mind. The classic wedge salad to be exact. Sally is off in Cancun with my youngest brother for his senior year of high school spring break (I’m sure there will be some stories to share when she returns), so I will share with you her version of the wedge.

Your classic wedge consists of a “wedge” of iceberg lettuce, blue cheese dressing, and can be topped with an assortment of ingredients, but usually bacon, onion, and tomatoes are included. This salad is a classic for a reason. Its flavors work really well together and appeal to a wide range of taste buds!

Sally’s “Carolina Wedge” was inspired by flavors found in the Carolinas: pulled pork, pimento cheese, and cornbread. In Sally’s wedge, the bacon was replaced with pulled pork. For a little more crunch, she added cornbread croutons to the crispy iceberg. The wedge is known for its signature blue cheese dressing. Sally decided the only way to top the Carolina Wedge was with a creamy and delicious White Cheddar Pimento Cheese Dressing!

The wedge gets its name from its classic shape, but you don’t have to stick to that! If you are serving family style, you can serve spread out the wedge over a platter like you see in the image above. However you decide to serve it, you can’t go wrong. The Carolina Wedge is a fun twist on this iconic salad.

White Cheddar Pimento Cheese Dressing:

8 ounces of sharp white cheddar cheese, grated

1/2 cup plus 1 Tablespoon mayonnaise

1/2 cup half and half

7 ounce jar pimentos sliced, drained, and chopped

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder

1/2 teaspoon Tabasco sauce, or to your taste

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

1. Put the cheese, mayonnaise, half and half and pimentos into a medium sized bowl. Stir the ingredients until well blended. Add the lemon juice, Worcestershire, dry mustard, Tabasco, salt and pepper to the dressing. Stir with a spoon until the dressing is well-mixed. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until ready to make the salad.

Carolina Wedge Salad:

Wedges of iceberg lettuce

Slow cooker pulled pork

Cooked, chopped applewood bacon pieces

Sliced red onions

Chopped shallots

Chopped chives

Chopped red jalapeno or red bell pepper

Corn bread croutons or Chipotle Gouda Cornbread Croutons

White Cheddar Pimento Cheese Dressing

1. To make the salads, put the ingredients onto a serving platter or individual bowls.

2. Serve with White Cheddar Pimento Cheese Dressing.

Comments

Kelly says

March 18, 2015 at 9:57 am

Just wanted to drop a note to say that I’m really enjoying Sally’s recipes (and your photography, of course!). They are unique and combine flavors that really stand out. I’m excited to try this dressing. Not only does it sound interesting, but also delicious!

- Sally says
  
  March 23, 2015 at 3:46 pm
  
  Hi Kelly, Glad you are enjoying the site! Yes, the dressing is pretty tasty. My son Harrison used it on his cuban sandwich and said it is a “keeper”.
  Take care,
  Sally
  
Mary // chattavore says

March 27, 2015 at 9:50 pm

Pimento cheese dressing? Are you KIDDING ME? Why didn’t I think of that? This sounds so amazing. I am going to make this for sure!

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