Smothered Lettuce

Sunday Dinner

Pimento Cheese and Cornbread Crostini

Hickory Smoked Beef Brisket
Smothered Lettuce
Corn on the Cob
Sliced Tomatoes with Chives
Potato Bread

Ice Box Strawberry Pie

Road trips here, road trips there, and another one coming up leave little room for a proper Sunday dinner, hence the absence of my menu posts. Fortunately, we are home this Sunday to enjoy a meal full of glorious summer flavors.

This meal is all about the beef, so I like to keep the sides nice and light (not to mention easy, given the labor of tending the smoker that demands attention). Smothered or “wilted” lettuce is a perfect accompaniment to the main dish. It is crisp, light, and refreshing with a pleasant sweet and sour vinaigrette made from bacon drippings. (Let’s face it, everything is better with bacon.) A hot mid-July Sunday filled with hickory smoke and the best of Summer’s bounty–that’s a special slice of heaven in my world.

Sunday Dinner one year ago
Sunday Dinner two years ago

Smothered Lettuce

By Nicole Prep: 10 minsCook: 12 minsTotal: 22 mins Servings: 8 This is an easy side salad for a summer meal!

Ingredients 

• 8 slices Hickory-smoked bacon, cut into 1½-inch wide strips
• 2 ½ tablespoons cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
• 1 ½ pound head of iceberg lettuce, cored and coarsely chopped
• 6 medium scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced including some green tops
• ¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Instructions 

1. In a large heavy skillet, fry the bacon over medium heat until brown and crisp, about 10-12 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon and drain on paper towels. Pour all the drippings from the skillet and measure out ¼ cup. (If the drippings do not measure out to ¼ cup, round out with a neutral oil.) Return the drippings to the skillet and add the vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper if using. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
2. Quickly mound the lettuce, scallions, and parsley in a large bowl. Pour the hot dressing evenly over the greens, add the reserved bacon, and toss well. Serve at once. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 153kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 11g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.04g, Cholesterol: 28mg, Sodium: 560mg, Potassium: 302mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 698IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 28mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.