Salad with Buttermilk Dressing
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Recipe courtesy of Alex Guarnaschelli

Chopped Iceberg Salad with Buttermilk Dressing and Crispy Chickpeas

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  • Level: Intermediate
  • Total: 45 min (includes cooling time)
  • Active: 25 min
  • Yield: 6 servings
The classic iceberg salad is always a welcome piece of Americana. You can even put the iceberg in the freezer for 30 minutes before serving to make it extra cold. So juicy. Hydrating. American. I love it. The combination here of tangy buttermilk dressing, juicy lettuce, pickled onions and crispy chickpeas is not your average chopped iceberg salad. Great textures and tastes!

Ingredients

Onions:

Buttermilk Dressing:

Chickpeas:

Salad:

Directions

Special equipment:
a deep-fry thermometer
  1. For the onions: To pickle the onions, bring the vinegar, sugar, a pinch of salt and 1 cup water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Put the onions in a small heatproof bowl and pour the pickling liquid over them. Let the onions cool to room temperature on the counter. Transfer to a resealable container and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
  2. For the buttermilk dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, buttermilk and mayonnaise. Add the dill, hot sauce, Worcestershire, garlic powder, garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. If too thick, add a splash of more buttermilk or water to adjust.
  3. For the chickpeas: Pour the oil into a small, heavy-bottomed pot and heat over medium heat until it registers 350 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. Fit a baking sheet with a wire rack.
  4. Season the chickpeas with the paprika and salt and pepper to taste. Using a slotted spoon, drop half of the chickpeas into the hot oil and fry until browned and crispy, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer the fried chickpeas with the slotted spoon to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining chickpeas.
  5. For the salad: Spread the iceberg lettuce on a baking sheet and season liberally with salt and pepper. Drizzle with the dressing and follow with a layer of the scallions. Top with the pickled onions (drained of their liquid) and the crispy chickpeas. Season to taste.