A Cobb salad is a main-dish American garden salad typically made with chopped salad greens, tomato, crisp bacon, boiled, grilled or roasted chicken breast, hard-boiled eggs, avocado and crumbled blue cheese. It is popularly served with a vinaigrette dressing.
Origin
The Cobb salad was created by Robert H. Cobb, owner of The Brown Derby restaurant in Los Angeles, California. The salad was invented by Cobb in 1937 when he was in his restaurant’s kitchen around midnight. He put together some avocado, tomato, bacon, chicken breast, iceberg lettuce and blue cheese for himself. The salad became so popular with customers that it was added to the menu in 1939.
Ingredients
The original Cobb salad consists of the following primary ingredients:
- Chopped salad greens – usually a combination of lettuces like iceberg, romaine, endive, watercress, etc.
- Diced chicken breast – grilled or roasted
- Bacon – cooked until crisp
- Hard boiled eggs – chopped
- Diced avocados
- Diced tomatoes
- Crumbled blue cheese
The dressing is usually a vinaigrette made with vinegar or lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, salt and pepper. Buttermilk ranch or blue cheese dressing are also popular.
Preparation
To prepare a Cobb salad like they make in restaurants:
- Wash, dry and chop enough salad greens for 4 servings. Use a mix of lettuces for variety.
- Cook 6 slices of bacon until crisp. Let cool and crumble into bits.
- Boil 3 eggs for 10 minutes, cool in ice bath, peel and chop into bite-size pieces.
- Grill, sauté or bake 2 chicken breasts until cooked through. Let cool and cut into bite-size cubes.
- Dice 1 avocado and 1 tomato into 1/2 inch pieces.
- Make the dressing by combining 1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice, 1 tsp mustard, 1 clove garlic minced, salt, pepper and 3/4 cup olive oil. Whisk until well blended.
- Assemble the salads by dividing the lettuce onto 4 plates. Arrange rows of each ingredient – chicken, bacon, egg, cheese, tomato, avocado. Drizzle with dressing.
The key is to keep the ingredients in separate rows or sections on the plate or toss together lightly rather than mixing everything together into one big salad.
Variations
There are many variations on the classic Cobb salad with additional ingredients added such as:
- Diced bell peppers
- Sliced green onions
- Diced cucumbers
- Sliced mushrooms
- Croutons
- Crumbled feta or goat cheese
- Sliced black olives
- Artichoke hearts
- Diced ham
The salad ingredients can also be varied by using different types of greens like spinach, arugula or kale. Different proteins can be used instead of chicken like turkey, steak, salmon, shrimp or tofu. Some versions add a chopped hard-boiled egg on top as garnish.
Nutrition
The Cobb salad is a satisfying main dish salad that provides a variety of nutrients from its unique mix of ingredients. Here is the nutrition breakdown for a standard Cobb salad with grilled chicken:
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 418 | 21% |
| Fat | 30g | 46% |
| Saturated fat | 8g | 40% |
| Cholesterol | 187mg | 62% |
| Sodium | 726mg | 31% |
| Carbohydrates | 12g | 4% |
| Fiber | 6g | 24% |
| Protein | 27g | 54% |
As you can see, the Cobb salad provides substantial protein and many important vitamins and minerals from the colorful variety of vegetables and greens. However, it is also relatively high in saturated fat and sodium from the bacon, cheese and dressing. Choosing lower fat proteins and dressings can help make the salad more diet-friendly.
Why the Cobb Salad Became Popular
The Cobb salad gained popularity over the years and became a common menu item at restaurants all over America and internationally for several reasons:
- The contrast of flavors and textures – crunchy lettuce, crisp bacon, creamy avocado, tender chicken, tangy cheese, etc.
- Nutritious and filling – provides fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.
- Allows for creative combinations of top-quality ingredients.
- Eye-catching presentation with ingredients arranged in rows.
- Reputation as a “Hollywood salad” invented in Southern California.
- Many celebrities were fans including Sid Caesar, Spencer Tracy, and Cary Grant.
The Cobb salad has become a classic because it brings together favorite salad ingredients in a tasty, satisfying and visually appealing way.
Conclusion
Cobb salad gets its name from restaurateur Robert Cobb who first came up with the signature salad in 1937. Its defining ingredients are chopped greens, chicken, bacon, hard-boiled egg, avocado, tomato and blue cheese. But the options for variations are endless. What really makes a Cobb salad is the chopped arrangement keeping ingredients in their own sections on the plate. The Cobb became popular in the mid-1900s, especially with Hollywood stars, and remains a restaurant staple today. With its delicious contrast of flavors and textures and nutritional balance of protein, fiber and vitamins, the customizability and great taste of a Cobb salad will keep fans coming back for more!