Polish Wilted Lettuce Salad Salata z Boczkiem

Written by
Barbara Rolek
Barbara Rolek is a former chef who became a cooking school instructor and award-winning food writer.
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Barbara Rolek
Updated 07/18/19
Romaine lettuce

 

Inna Dodor / Getty Images 
  • Total: 35 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 20 mins
  • Yield: 6 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
252 Calories
15g Fat
13g Carbs
16g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 servings
Amount per serving
Calories 252
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g 20%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 41mg 14%
Sodium 691mg 30%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Protein 16g
Calcium 47mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This recipe for Polish wilted lettuce salad or sałata z boczkiem (sah-WAH-tah zeh BAWCH-kyem) is made with a warm bacon vinaigrette.

Romaine or iceberg lettuce is the best to use because, with tender lettuces like Bibb or Boston, the greens will wilt too much.

If you add chopped hard-cooked eggs to this salad, it becomes the main course offering. 

Ingredients

  • 1 head iceberg or romaine lettuce (washed, dried and torn coarsely into pieces)
  • 1/2 pound bacon (cut into 1/2-inch pieces)
  • 1 large finely chopped onion
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons sugar or to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Place lettuce in a heatproof bowl.

  2. In a large skillet, fry bacon until half cooked. Add onion and continue to fry bacon until crisp but not burned.

  3. Drain all but 4 tablespoons bacon grease from the skillet.

  4. Add water, vinegar, and sugar, and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.

  5. Pour hot vinaigrette over lettuce, add salt and pepper to taste and toss. Serve immediately.

Recipe Variations

  • This hot bacon salad dressing lends a smoky, sweet-and-salty flavor to any greens or vegetables, especially green beans or baby spinach, hard-cooked egg, red onion, and sliced mushroom salad. Try this Southern Wilted Lettuce Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing recipe.
  • For variety, you can swap out the white vinegar with balsamic or red-wine vinegar, olive oil in place of the canola or vegetable oil, light-brown sugar instead of white sugar, and red onion instead of white or yellow onion. If you like a little heat, add a pinch of cayenne pepper.

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