2 large heads of iceberg lettuce, washed and cut into small wedges
1 cup blue cheese dressing, high quality and chilled
1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
1 pound turkey bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
1/4 cup fresh chives, finely chopped
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds, for a festive pop
1/2 cup toasted walnuts or pecans, chopped
Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
Start by preparing all your toppings so the assembly goes quickly. Cook the turkey bacon in a skillet or oven until it is perfectly crisp, then let it drain on paper towels before crumbling into small pieces. Dice the red onions, halve the cherry tomatoes, and chop the fresh chives and toasted nuts. Ensure your iceberg lettuce is cold, as the crispness is vital for the structure of the wreath.
Remove the outer leaves of the iceberg lettuce and cut each head into 4 to 6 wedges, depending on the size of the head. You want the wedges to be small enough for individual servings but large enough to hold the toppings. Trim the stem ends slightly so they sit flat on your serving platter, which helps maintain the circular shape later.
Take a large, round serving platter and place a small bowl or a large glass in the center to act as a guide. Arrange the lettuce wedges in a circle around the center guide, overlapping them slightly if necessary. Once the circle is complete, carefully remove the guide from the center. You should now have a beautiful ring of green lettuce ready for decorating.
Drizzle the blue cheese dressing generously over the lettuce wedges, making sure some gets into the layers of the leaves. Sprinkle the blue cheese crumbles, crispy turkey bacon, and red onions evenly over the top. The dressing acts as a glue to keep these smaller ingredients from sliding off the wedges.
Finish the dish by scattering the cherry tomatoes and pomegranate seeds around the wreath to look like Christmas ornaments. Sprinkle the chopped chives and toasted walnuts for extra texture and color. A final dusting of freshly cracked black pepper adds a nice bite. Serve immediately while the lettuce is at its peak crispness.
