Cobb salad is supreme beyond any doubt when it comes to salads that can be hearty meals in themselves. It’s packed full of fresh greens, crisp bacon, creamy avocado and tons of protein in chicken and eggs, and it’s filling and adaptable — it’s as satisfying as it is versatile. I’ve made Cobb salad a thousand times and each time it makes you wonder how such a fine dish ever became American.
cobb salad recipe: My First Encounter
Cobb salad was first when I was on a road trip and I found it at a family style diner. Against my better judgement, call myself a lettuce slave and roll into a place I would normally be allergic to due to the lack of air conditioning and the super full place (I was sure no one but bloodsucking witches and vampires were out – it’s October after all), I was craving something fresh yet filling, and the server recommended their “famous Cobb salad.” One bite, and I was hooked. All the smoky bacon, tangy blue cheese with chicken perfectly seasoned, it was a balanced out symphony of flavors and textures. It was no salad—this was a feast.
Then, I was inspired to experiment with my own home version of that meal. You know, over the years, I have really worked on a recipe, a recipe that does honor of the original, but hands it my own personal touch.
What Makes a Cobb Salad?
A standard Cobb salad consists of a medley of ingredients laid out in nice neat rows on top of crisp greens. Here’s what you’ll need to recreate this timeless dish:
Salad Base:
Mixed greens: Romaine, butter lettuce, or arugula, or a mixture, 5 cups (quart)
Cooked chicken breast: Dice or shred to equal 2 cups, grilled or roasted.
Crispy bacon: 4–6 slices, crumbled
Hard-boiled eggs: 2–3, peeled and sliced
Avocado: 1 large, diced
Cherry tomatoes: 1 cup, halved
Blue cheese: Crumbled into ⅓ cup (if desired, use feta in place of crumbled feta).
Dressing:
3 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
½ cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp salt & 1tbsp freshly ground black pepper to taste
Step-by-Step Preparation
Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients
If you can cook the bacon until it’s crispy Cricket seasoning (which I can’t as it’s duvet season) then crumble it into bite size pieces.
Slice the eggs and hard boil them then peel.
Season the chicken breast with salt, pepper, and a little bit of garlic powder, then grill or roast. If the meat is cooled, dice or shred it.
Step 2: Make the Dressing
Spoon the red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic and some salt and pepper together into a small bowl. Make an emulsion by whisking in the olive oil drizzle by drizzle.
Step 3: Assemble the Salad
Place a large serving bowl or platter and lay a bed of mixed greens in a large serving bowl or platter.
Arrange the toppings in rows over the greens: bacon, egg, avocado, tomatoes, blue cheese. Cobb salad, however, not only makes you taste good but also looks good.
Step 4: Serve and Enjoy
Dressing can either be drizzled over the top just before serving or serve it on the side so everyone can top his own dish. If desired, toss gently, or let guests scoop the toppings by hand, in the way they were presented.
Why Cobb Salad Isn’t Going Away
Cobb salad has a little something for everyone:
Protein-Packed: It’s a meal that will satisfy even the hungriest of appetites with chicken, eggs and bacon.
Rich in Flavor: It has a nice balance which is salty bacon, tangy blue cheese, creamy avocado.
Customizable: Don’t like blue cheese? Swap it out for cheddar. Prefer turkey over chicken? Go for it.
A Personal Touch
In my opinion, the added twist to this is a handful of toasted nuts such as pecans or walnuts for crunch. I’ll sometimes add grilled corn kernels or roasted red peppers for some sweet pop.
Another pleasant one was making Cobb salad for a summer picnic. We put the toppings in rows in a large, flat container and when we got it at the park people gasped at how beautiful it was. I just got it and there’s no leaves left by the end.
The cobb salad recipe Experience
The trick is Cobb salad can take basic ingredients and turn them into something special. That’s not just a salad, that’s a dish that’s indulgent not in a bad way, but fresh and wholesome.
The Cobb Salad is always a winner, no matter if you’re having brunch, bringing a picnic, or just need a good meal. So why not give it a try? I promise this will become a family favorite in your kitchen, as it’s been in mine!
IF YOU WANT , YOU CAN VISIT MY Recipe
