04/21/2026
Our Blue Cheese has a mild, approachable flavor that takes salads like this to the next level.
Ingredients
5 slices thick-cut bacon
2 Tbsp. light brown sugar
1 loaf day-old Italian Bread
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 cups corn kernels, roasted
2 lbs. fresh tomatoes (about 5-6 tomatoes); cut into wedges or cubed chunks
1 medium cucumber, seeded and sliced into ½ moons
½ red onion, thinly sliced
½ large avocado
½ cup BelGioioso Blue Cheese, crumbled
About 18 basil leaves, thinly sliced
For dressing:
¼ cup olive oil
2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. honey dijon mustard
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ tsp. salt
Fresh ground pepper to taste
Directions
To make candied bacon: Preheat oven to 375° F. Lay 5 strips of bacon on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle brown sugar over bacon strips. Bake for about 22 minutes, until bacon is slightly crisp. Remove from oven and drain on a paper towel-lined plate until cool, then break into small pieces to garnish salad.
Reduce oven temperature to 300° F. Cut loaf of bread into 1-inch cubes. Toss cubes with 1 Tbsp. olive oil and 1 tsp. salt to coat. Spread in single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until just turning brown on edges, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
To make dressing:
Add all ingredients to a small container with a tight seal, shake or stir vigorously until dressing emulsifies. Set aside.
To assemble salad:
Combine tomatoes, cucumber, corn, onion, avocado and bread in a large bowl. Add dressing and lightly toss salad. Sprinkle basil, Blue Cheese and candied bacon over salad. Cover and let salad sit for about 30 minutes, then serve.