Wilted Lettuce Salad Recipe (2024)

In this post I’m sharing the recipe for a Wilted Lettuce Salad Recipe, also known as killed lettuce.

Have you ever heard of Killed Salad, Scalded Lettuce, Wilted Lettuce, Kilt Lettuce, Wilted Salad or Killed Lettuce? It’s a traditional Appalachian dish. I had never heard of it before until I was reading a post from Blind Pig & The Acorn .

I’m always intrigued by the many traditions of southern cooking and how they can vary in different regions. This is a basic dish of torn lettuce and green onions dressed in a hot oil such as bacon grease, butter or olive oil and perhaps a dash of sugar. Have you ever had it?

I wrote a post on Facebook and lots of people knew of this dish and from all over the country. Since
I’ve never had it I put it on my list of things to make so I could try it. Of course I put my own little spin on the recipe too. So here it is y’all….

Southern Wilted Lettuce Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 Head Iceberg Lettuce
• 2 Bunches Green Spring Onions (scallions)
• 8 Slices Bourbon Glazed Thick Sliced Bacon
• 1 tsp Vegetable Oil
• 2 tsp Red Wine Vinegar
• Dash of Salt
• Cracked Black Pepper

Hot Bacon Grease Salad

Preparing the Wilted Lettuce Salad Recipe

In a large skillet over medium heat add 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil and thick sliced bourbon bacon . This bacon has a sweet taste to it which is why I decided to omit adding sugar to the recipe as some do. Good stuff!

While the bacon cooks I cut up the lettuce into chunks and added it to a mixing bowl. Slice the end (root ends) of the onions off and peel off the outer layer and trim the ends. Slice one bunch (5-6 green onions) and add to the salad. I reserved a bunch for garnish.

Cook turning the bacon until desired crispness and done. Remove bacon and place on a paper towel lined plate to remove excess drippings.

Add 2 teaspoons of red wine vinegar to the bacon drippings in the skillet and using a whisk stir to combine and deglaze the skillet releasing all those yummy bacon bits from the bottom of the pan.

Pour the hot drippings & vinegar over the salad with a dash of salt and a few cracks of black pepper and toss it all together. It will sizzle as it hits the lettuce and slightly wilts it. RIP lettuce, you’ve been killed!

Garnish with green onions and bacon slices and serve immediately.

Appalachian Kilt Lettuce

Hot Lettuce with Bacon Dressing

Wilted Lettuce Salad Recipe

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