Name: Denny's Restaurants House Salad Recipe
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 6 cups iceberg lettuce, washed and chopped; 1 cup cucumber (English or Persian), thinly sliced; 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved; 3 oz mild cheddar cheese, shredded or small cubes; 3 oz croutons (store-bought or homemade); 1 tbsp fresh parsley (optional), finely chopped; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper; 0.5 cups ranch dressing (store-bought or homemade); 0.5 cups Italian dressing; 0.5 cups balsamic vinaigrette

Method

Salad

Prepare lettuce

Remove outer wilted leaves from iceberg head. Rinse under cold water, spin or pat dry until mostly dry, then chop or tear into roughly 1 to 1½-inch pieces. Measure 6 cups and place in a large mixing bowl.

Prepare cucumber

If using an English or Persian cucumber, trim the ends and slice thinly (about 1/8–1/4-inch). If using a larger slicing cucumber, peel if waxed and remove seeds if desired. Add 1 cup of slices to the bowl.

Prepare tomatoes

Rinse grape tomatoes, remove any stems, and halve each tomato. Add 1 cup of halved tomatoes to the bowl.

Add cheese and croutons

Measure 3 oz shredded or cubed mild cheddar and sprinkle over the salad. Add 3 oz croutons. If offering croutons on the side for texture control, set aside some to top servings individually.

Season and toss

Lightly sprinkle 1 tsp kosher salt and 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper over the salad. Add optional 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley. Gently toss everything with clean salad tongs or two large spoons until ingredients are evenly distributed. Do not overdress here — dress individual servings at the table if preferred.

Portion

Divide the tossed salad into 4 equal portions on chilled plates or bowls (about 1½ cups lettuce per serving plus toppings). Top each portion with any reserved croutons if kept aside.

Dressing

Offer ½ cup of a chosen dressing per 4 servings (about 2 tbsp per serving) on the side or drizzle over each portion to taste. Common choices: ranch, Italian, or balsamic vinaigrette. If serving homemade dressings, whisk or shake well before serving.

To serve: present the salad with the chosen dressing on the side or lightly drizzle 1–2 tablespoons over each plated salad. Provide extra dressing for guests who prefer more.