Wo-avery Island Salad Recipe

Wash and dry the romaine, iceberg, and watercress thoroughly. Tear romaine and iceberg into bite-sized pieces and place in a large mixing bowl. Add the trimmed watercress and sliced chives; gently toss to combine.

Halve the cherry tomatoes and add to the bowl with the greens.

Peel (if desired) and slice the English cucumber into thin half-moons; add to the salad.

Very thinly slice the red onion and separate into rings; add to the salad.

Slice the pickled green onions and fold them into the greens for a tangy, Avery Island-inspired bite.

Halve or slice the hard-boiled eggs and set aside for plating on top of the dressed salad.

Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 6–8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and crumble when cool.

If toasting pecans: heat a small dry skillet over medium heat, add pecans and toast, stirring, until fragrant and lightly browned, 3–4 minutes. Remove and cool; coarsely chop.

Have fried shallots or crispy onions ready to sprinkle on the finished salad for texture contrast.

Make the dressing

In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Creole mustard, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, sugar, salt, and black pepper until smooth.

Whisk in buttermilk a little at a time until the dressing reaches a pourable but still creamy consistency (approximately 2–4 tablespoons to adjust; the recipe lists 1/4 cup as a guideline). Taste and adjust seasoning: add more hot sauce for heat, more vinegar for brightness, or more buttermilk to thin.

Pour about half of the vinaigrette over the salad greens and gently toss to coat evenly. Add additional dressing to taste, taking care not to overdress.

Transfer the dressed salad to a serving platter or divide among 4 plates. Arrange sliced hard-boiled eggs on top, then sprinkle crumbled bacon, toasted pecans, and fried shallots evenly over each portion.

Garnish with chopped parsley and an optional extra dash of hot sauce at the table. Serve immediately.