A Cobb salad is a main-dish American garden salad typically made with chopped salad greens, tomato, crisp bacon, boiled, chopped chicken breast, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, chives, Roquefort cheese, and red-wine vinaigrette. While there are some variations on the traditional recipe, a salad can only authentically be called a Cobb salad if it contains most or all of these ingredients.
History of the Cobb Salad
The Cobb salad was invented in 1937 by Robert Cobb, the owner of The Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood. The salad was created as a midnight snack for Sid Grauman, the founder of Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Grauman was friends with Robert Cobb and frequented The Brown Derby often.
The original Cobb salad recipe was made using ingredients that Cobb found in the restaurant’s kitchen at the time. It contained chopped greens, tomato, chicken breast, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, Roquefort cheese and old-fashioned French dressing. Cobb improvised the salad by chopping the ingredients and arranging them in rows on a salad platter.
After Cobb served his new salad creation to Grauman, it became an instant hit at The Brown Derby. It was added to the menu under the name “Cobb Salad” and variations of the recipe began appearing at restaurants across the country. The Cobb salad remains a classic American salad recipe to this day.
Required Ingredients
While chefs may riff on the traditional recipe, there are certain ingredients that define a true Cobb salad:
Chopped Salad Greens
The base of a Cobb salad is made up of chopped salad greens. This usually includes a mixture of lettuces such as romaine, iceberg and leaf lettuces. The greens provide a foundation and light flavor for the other ingredients.
Tomato
Chopped tomato adds a juicy, sweet flavor. Both beefsteak and cherry tomatoes work well and provide color contrast to the greens.
Bacon
Crispy, crumbled bacon is a key ingredient. The smoky, salty bacon pairs well with the rich blue cheese and adds crunch.
Chicken Breast
Diced, cooked chicken breast provides protein. Grilled or roasted chicken seasoned with herbs or spices is often used.
Hard-Boiled Eggs
Sliced hard-boiled eggs contribute protein and sulfur. The eggs add rich flavor and color to the salad.
Avocado
Cubes of creamy, green avocado provide healthy fats. Avocado’s smooth, nutty flavor balances the sharper flavors.
Chives
Fresh chives mix throughout the salad giving bursts of onion flavor. They provide flavor without overpowering the salad.
Roquefort or Blue Cheese
Crumbs of tangy, pungent blue cheese like Roquefort are essential. The blue cheese’s pungent, salty flavor pairs perfectly with the other ingredients.
Vinaigrette Dressing
An oil and vinegar-based dressing brings all the ingredients together. Red wine vinegar is often used to make the vinaigrette for a Cobb salad.
Traditional Assembly Method
In addition to the signature ingredients, the composition of a Cobb salad is also important. The salad is meant to be artfully arranged in horizontal rows, with each ingredient displaying nicely.
Here is the traditional assembly order from bottom to top:
- Chopped greens
- Tomatoes
- Avocado
- Bacon
- Chicken breast
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Roquefort cheese
- Chives
The rows of ingredients are visible when served, making for an aesthetically pleasing presentation. The vinaigrette dressing is then drizzled over the top just before eating.
Suggested Variations
While chefs can get creative with Cobb salads, there are some ingredient swaps that work well:
Greens
– Baby kale or spinach for lighter flavor
– Endive or radicchio for bitter notes
– Shredded napa cabbage for crunch
Cheese
– Gorgonzola for sharper flavor
– Feta for salty bursts
– Goat cheese for tangy creaminess
Protein
– Grilled steak tips or flank steak
– Seared tuna or salmon
– Fried or roasted tofu
Crunch
– Crumbled tortilla or pita chips
– Toasted nuts like almonds or walnuts
– Croutons
Dressings
The dressing is key to tying everything together. Some dressing alternatives include:
- Lemon vinaigrette
- Balsamic vinaigrette
- Green goddess dressing
- Buttermilk ranch dressing
- Blue cheese dressing
No matter what dressing is used, it should be acidic and creamy enough to coat and cling to the ingredients.
Plating Options
While the traditional rowed arrangement is classic, Cobb salads can also be plated in other fun, creative ways while keeping the ingredients visible:
- Arranged in concentric circles
- Presented in sections like a pie chart
- Skewered on sticks as salad pops
- Layered in a jar, parfait-style
- Rolled into pinwheels
Nutrition
The Cobb salad is one of the more nutritious salad options, providing plenty of protein and fiber. Here is the approximate nutritional breakdown for a standard Cobb salad:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 300 |
| Total Fat | 18 g |
| Cholesterol | 155 mg |
| Sodium | 500 mg |
| Carbohydrates | 12 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugars | 4 g |
| Protein | 17 g |
The ingredients provide protein from the chicken, eggs, bacon and cheese as well as fiber from the greens and vegetables. It has a moderate amount of carbohydrates and sugars compared to other main dish salads. The higher fat content comes from the bacon, avocado and cheese.
Price
Given the many ingredients, a Cobb salad is typically one of the more expensive salad options at restaurants. Due to the preparation required, it costs more than a basic green salad or Caesar salad on most menus. The average price for a Cobb salad is between $12-$15 at most full-service casual dining restaurants in the United States. At upscale steakhouses or fine dining establishments, Cobbs salads may cost $18-$25.
When making a Cobb salad at home, expect to spend about $10-$15 on ingredients if purchasing higher quality and fresh items from a grocer. Using pre-cooked chicken, bacon bits and pre-chopped greens reduces time and cost. Buying whole heads of lettuce, tomatoes, fresh chicken breast and bacon ends up being more expensive but results in maximum flavor and texture.
Popularity and Status as a Classic Dish
The Cobb salad remains one of the most recognizable and enduring American salad recipes. Its popularity stems from its inventive use of ingredients, crisp flavors and striking visual presentation. While new salad recipes come and go, the Cobb salad has remained a menu staple across the United States.
Surveys of the most popular main dish salads at U.S. restaurants consistently place the Cobb salad high on the list along with the Caesar and chef salads. Trendy salad bars and health-conscious eateries may offer more modern grain bowls and veggie-centric salads, but traditional steakhouses and老牌牛排餐厅 family restaurants still feature the Cobb.
The Cobb salad qualifies as a “salad classic” based on its long history, recognizable combination of ingredients and lasting presence on menus nationwide. It remains embedded in the American culinary consciousness as one of the quintessential salad inventions.
Conclusion
The quintessential Cobb salad contains chopped greens, tomato, bacon, chicken, hard-boiled egg, avocado, blue cheese, chives and vinaigrette. The way the ingredients are artfully arranged in rows distinguishes a Cobb salad from other salads. While the original recipe can be tweaked and modified, a Cobb salad must include most of the signature ingredients to authentically bear the name. Over 80 years after its invention at the Brown Derby restaurant, the Cobb salad remains a cherished American salad tradition.