Name: Kentucky Bibb Lettuce Salad with Bourbon Vinaigrette
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups pecan halves and pieces; 2 tablespoons butter (melted); 3 tablespoons light brown sugar; 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper; 6 bacon slices (cooked and crumbled); 8 cups torn Bibb lettuce (2 to 3 medium heads); 4 cups trimmed watercress; 4 large peaches (peeled and sliced); 1 small red onion (halved and thinly sliced); 4 ounces Gorgonzola cheese (crumbled); Bourbon Vinaigrette; Country Ham Corn Cakes

Print Recipe

3 from 1 vote

Kentucky Bibb Lettuce Salad with Bourbon Vinaigrette

Tender Bibb lettuce comes from Kentucky. Dress it up with bourbon-infused vinaigrette, and serve with Country Ham Corn Cakes.

Course: Salad

Keyword: lettuce

Servings:

Author: Southern Living

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups pecan halves and pieces
2 tablespoons butter melted
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
6 bacon slices cooked and crumbled
8 cups torn Bibb lettuce 2 to 3 medium heads
4 cups trimmed watercress
4 large peaches peeled and sliced
1 small red onion halved and thinly sliced
4 ounces Gorgonzola cheese crumbled
Bourbon Vinaigrette
Country Ham Corn Cakes

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°. Toss pecans in butter. Stir together brown sugar and red pepper in a bowl; add pecans, tossing to coat. Spread pecans in a single layer in a lightly greased aluminum foil-lined shallow pan. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned, toasted, and fragrant. Remove from oven, and toss pecans with crumbled bacon. Cool in pan on a wire rack 20 minutes; separate pecans with a fork.
Combine Bibb lettuce, next 3 ingredients, and pecan mixture in a large bowl. Top with crumbled cheese. Serve with Bourbon Vinaigrette and Country Ham Corn Cakes.
Bourbon Vinaigrette
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
3 tablespoons bourbon
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2/3 cup canola oil
Whisk together vinegar, brown sugar, bourbon, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Add canola oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly until smooth. Makes 1 1/4 cups.
Country Ham Corn Cakes
1 (6-oz.) package buttermilk cornbread mix
2/3 cup water
3/4 cup fresh corn kernels
1/3 cup finely chopped country ham
Stir together cornbread mix and water in a small bowl until smooth. Stir in corn kernels and ham. Pour about 1/4 cup batter for each corn cake onto a hot, lightly greased griddle or large nonstick skillet. Cook cakes over medium heat 3 to 4 minutes or until tops are covered with bubbles and edges look dry and cooked; turn and cook other side. Makes 8 servings.