An old-fashioned wilted lettuce salad — hot bacon drippings, vinegar, water, and sugar poured straight over fresh leaf lettuce, then covered to let it wilt slightly. A classic Mary April side dish that comes together in minutes.
Ingredients
6 slices bacon
⅓ c vinegar
⅔ c water
1 Tbsp sugar
1 large bunch leaf lettuce
Instructions
Cut bacon into approximately ¼-inch pieces and fry in a skillet until crispy.
Add vinegar, water, and sugar to the skillet with the bacon and drippings. Bring to a boil.
Wash and dry the leaf lettuce and place in a heatproof bowl.
Pour the hot bacon mixture over the lettuce.
Cover the bowl for a few minutes to let the lettuce wilt slightly.
Toss well and serve immediately.
Serve right away: This salad is meant to be eaten immediately while the dressing is still hot and the lettuce is just wilted. It doesn’t keep well.
Leaf lettuce: Loose-leaf or butterhead lettuce works best — iceberg is too sturdy to wilt properly.
