We had this Cobb Salad for dinner tonight, and it was absolutely delicious. I was actually surprised at how delicious it was because as I’ve said before…I am not much of a “salad” person. You will almost never catch me ordering a salad as my meal at any restaurant, but if I knew they served this recipe I would definitely think again.
And, to top things off, my two daughters (ages 3 and 6) ate it for dinner too! Well…for the most part. They don’t like tomatoes that much, and they certainly wouldn’t touch “stinky” cheese with a 10-foot pole. But we worked around those issues by making the tomatoes easy-to-avoid and putting the dressing on the side, and they ate just about everything else. I really hate that I never even thought to offer my girls a salad until recently. I just assumed that because they were kids they would not eat a salad…that’s “adult” food after all! I guess I can just blame the same influences that at one time made me believe kids could only really enjoy kid food like chicken nuggets, macaroni, and pizza. Don’t get me wrong, my kids absolutely love those foods too (and some kids truly won’t eat anything else), but with a little patience and persistence my girls have slowly started to accept a surprising variety of other foods as well. And since I am such a foodie…nothing could make me happier!!
Also, this is definitely one of those recipes where you can easily get creative. If you have everything on hand except for the pear, then just skip it. If you aren’t a fan of bacon you can add some ham or leftover chicken or forget the meat all together and make it a vegetarian dish. If you don’t like blue cheese then don’t be afraid to make a substitution. One of the greatest lessons I learned during our “100 Days of Real Food on Budget” pledge was to get creative with the ingredients you have on hand (or skip over required ingredients in a recipe) rather than running out to spend even more money on food. So have fun with it and enjoy!
Cobb Salad
Ingredients
- 1 head lettuce, any variety
- 8 slices bacon
- 3 eggs, hardboiled and peeled
- 2 avocados
- 2 tomatoes, or equivalent amount of cherry tomatoes
- 1 pear, ripe
Instructions
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Set a frying pan over medium heat and fry the bacon until crisp (3 - 5 minutes on each side).
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While the bacon is cooking, dice the boiled egg, avocados, tomatoes, and pear.
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Chop and arrange the lettuce on a large platter.
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Drain the bacon on paper towels. When it is cool enough to handle, dice into small pieces.
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Arrange the toppings in rows over the lettuce.
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Serve with a side of homemade blue cheese dressing.
Recipe Notes
* For a dairy-free salad choose a different dressing.
We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
Click here for the blue cheese dressing recipe.
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The Table of Promise
March 15, 2011 at 1:34 pmSalads are totally how I get extra veggies in the day. I usually eat one for lunch every day. They are so easy to make before work and with a proper lean protein and maybe a little cheese or an avacado and a salad will keep me full all day long. I just leave olive oil at my desk, and there you go–my dressing.
And don’t feel bad. I have regularly made salads, but I too have only just started giving them to my kids. My 3 year old will eat the salad when he is helping me in the kitchen, but not when I serve it to him on his plate. And my 18 month old acts like I am trying to poison him.
100 Days of Real Food
March 21, 2011 at 2:01 amDon’t worry you are not alone…my youngest has her gag reflex down pat as well!
Melissa
February 6, 2013 at 3:30 pmWhen my oldest son was little he watched The Land Before Time… the animated movie about the kid dinosaurs who get separated from their families & have to travel together to the “Great Valley” where they will meet up with their herds/families/parents. The dinosaur’s are herbivorous and only eat leaves, so through out the movie, they where eating leaves… well, we sit down for dinner & he asked for some leaves to eat (he meant salad) It was so cute & to this day, he’s 14, he sill loves salad, but he’s never liked any dressing and still doesn’t. That was a long story, sorry.
LauraJayne
March 15, 2011 at 11:29 pmI used to be a vegetarian who scoffed at salads – mainly, I think, because people assumed they were what I ate all of the time! Slowly but surely I’ve come around! I love a good Cobb salad now – and this looks delicious!
Karl
March 16, 2011 at 3:05 amCobb salad is a go to meal in my opinion. As a parent who cooks this one is great because the eggs and bacon can be cooked ahead of time, then the remainder can be quickly chopped and served. Great photo by the way…thanks for sharing your family’s inner secrets with the world, keep doing what you do because you have made a significant difference in many lives.
Jennifer
March 16, 2011 at 12:52 pmThis looks delish! Thanks for the idea. I know it will be a big hit at our house.
Hotels in Brugge
March 18, 2011 at 10:06 amGood Sounds!! Yummy Its food very testy and best posting. i just try make this food at my home . Cool ideas for food i like it . interesting details shared in the post
Lakesidemama
March 23, 2011 at 10:31 pmJust made the blue cheese dressing…It’s a hit! First time I’ve ever bought blue cheese and it was delicious! Thanks so much for all the recipes that you post.
100 Days of Real Food
March 28, 2011 at 1:02 amSo glad you liked it and that I could help you venture out to try blue cheese! :)
Lakesidemama
March 27, 2011 at 1:44 amMade the salad tonight….it was delicious! Even sourced some local eggs and local blue cheese. Keep those recipes coming!
Erica
March 29, 2011 at 8:31 pmThis was fantastic! My 3 year old loved picking the items to put on her plate (egg, bacon, apple, avocado). So simple yet SO GOOD!!!
100 Days of Real Food
April 5, 2011 at 8:02 pmso glad to hear that! thanks for coming back to leave a review :)
Maggie
May 7, 2011 at 9:31 pmWhen my son was four he took the center of an ice berg and bit into it like an apple, shocked my sister-in-law. My husband and I have always tried to have salad before each dinner and we always give our boys a few pieces. My 9 year old (same kid) loves salad, honey mustard is his favorite dressing, and other than mandrin oranges, if that is a side option, that is what he will order at a restarount. Goes back to what you have been saying, just keep offering it to them and they may just surprise you…
Wendy
May 24, 2011 at 5:07 pmI’ve been surprised at you saying that your kids didn’t like salads. I’ve taken my daughter to “family style” restaurants all her life. From the time she was about 15 months old, the way to keep her quiet and happy there was to order a side salad and dump it out on her high chair tray! When she was old enough to handle it, I’d add a small dish of dressing and let her “dip-dip” her veggies!
100 Days of Real Food
May 26, 2011 at 2:17 amWell it’s because I was not always this way…I am finally seeing the light!!
Jackie
August 19, 2011 at 2:29 pmI must be super lucky. My kiddo (now 5) has been eating salad forever. She loves it and will even ask for salad. :) This cobb salad looks delicious. I’m going to have to give it a try! I don’t think my husband will consider this a meal lol… but maybe it will work for my lunch. :)
sondra
August 25, 2011 at 2:24 pmJust came across your blog….LOVE IT….I too have been lucky in that my daughter has always loved salads & fresh veggies. She usually always gets the salad bar at school instead of the hot meals (she says that the hot meals are usually gross):)
Danelle
August 25, 2011 at 3:23 pmI love seeing this. My kids (girls 8 and 11) have pretty diverse tastes in food, but yet both are very different in what they like. So I have always found salads hard to do, but I had never ever thought of presenting it this way. In the past I would make a base and then have certain things in little dishes on the side to be added, but really no where near as cool of a presentation as this. I present fruit in this way and we use toothpicks on the side. All my kids friends tell their mom’s about the cool fruit at our house and I can even get my “not so in to fruit” kid to eat it all when presented like your salad. I’m so glad I found this and you shared it. I saw your taco salad presentation first and then came to this one. It surprises me each time when I present a food in a pretty manner how much better my kids will take to it. Then it’s easily forgotten and I’m reminded again when I try to think out of the quick and easy mode. Right now I am working harder on “dinner together every night for my busy family” than I ever has. With a busy hormonal teenager, I find it harder than ever, but more important than ever. Love your site and just found it through a link from someone on facebook.
Jennifer
September 11, 2011 at 9:26 pmWe helped my son acquire the taste for salads when he was wee by mincing the lettuce and mixing it in smashed avocado. Initially if we put too much lettuce his gag reflex took over. Over time, we were able to gradually change the lettuce:avocado ratio and eventually tore the lettuce instead of mincing. Before long we had a happy salad eating toddler. :-)
stopzilla-scam
November 23, 2011 at 7:38 pmLife is a gift. Never forget to enjoy and bask in every moment you are in.
Monica
May 25, 2012 at 9:13 pmI made this tonight for my family and loved it. My kids (15 mos and 21 mos) just ate the toppings and my husband and I ate the full salad. We loved the dressing! I love the tang of real blue cheese but have always been disgusted by bottles blue cheese dressing…blehhh. I can’t wait to make it again.
Erin Crowe
July 17, 2012 at 11:13 amWhat could I substitute for the blue cheese?
Lisa
July 20, 2012 at 4:28 pmYou could try another crumbly cheese like Roquefort (similar to blue), goat cheese, or feta.
Susan
September 5, 2012 at 11:55 amJust found your blog this morning. . .really enjoying it! Our four children are nearly grown (youngest is 15) but we have always loved food and trying new things.
A salad recipe idea similar to the Cobb but in a southwestern direction: mound greens of your choice in the center of a platter, surround with avocado, roasted corn, roasted red pepper, black beans, chicken or tuna, etc. Make a dressing with a base of BBQ sauce, plus lime juice, olive oil, and cumin. Always a favorite at our house, but I’d love to see your take on it, with some suggestions for added fruit and/or cheese.
Alison Egnoski
December 31, 2012 at 12:20 pmJust made this salad and it was excellent. I love your recipes.
Chantal
January 17, 2013 at 8:24 pmThe Blue Cheese dressing sounds great! How long can you keep it in the fridge? I love to dip veggies into blue cheese dips :) I have tried many of your recipes and just love them, thanks for your hard work and I’m looking forward to your cookbook!
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill)
February 4, 2013 at 11:38 amHi Chantal. The only thing in the dressing that could “go bad” would be the blue cheese…so, I might look to the date on your cheese to determine the shelf life. Jill
Rebecca
May 16, 2013 at 9:09 pmTry preparing your bacon by chopping it before you fry it up. Nice and easy!
Kristin
July 3, 2014 at 2:00 amWhy fry bacon on the stove top when you can oven fry it? Per “Cooks Illustrated”, simply roast bacon on a jelly roll pan in the middle oven rack at 400 degrees for 5-6 minutes(till fat begins to render) then rotate the pan and roast for 5 to six minutes longer (8-10 minutes for thick-cut). Perfect bacon every time and no grease spattered stove-top to clean afterward.
Elizabeth G.
May 20, 2013 at 10:01 pmWe made this salad and dressing tonight! It was AMAZING!!! We really liked the dressing, thank you!!!! (Quick Tip: We didn’t have pears, so I peeled an apple and cut it into small chunks. It worked really well with the dressing!)
Susan Artz
June 10, 2013 at 8:21 amWhat can you replace the honey with for a no sugar diet?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy)
June 13, 2013 at 1:53 pmHi Susan. If you are are a no sugar diet due to a medical condition, like diabetes, you need to choose whatever sweetener works for your condition. If it is not due to a medical condition, you could choose a lower glycemic sugar such as coconut palm. ~Amy
Jenny
July 17, 2013 at 11:11 pmThis dressing was delicious! I increased the chives, garlic and blue cheese a little and then blended it all together. This is the best dressing I’ve had in a long time!
Tara K
January 14, 2014 at 8:00 pmMade this dressing today! I have to admit I wasn’t sure about this since the Bleu Cheese dressing I am accustomed to is rich and creamy; but your recipes have never let me down. This was absolutely delicious. Made a Cobb like salad with chicken, tomatoes, avocado and will have another tomorrow it was so awesome! Thank you again for all these awesome recipes!
Emily
January 18, 2014 at 8:38 pmI loved this! And the dish is so visually stunning with all those colors and textures. Thanks for a great recipe. There’s enough left over for lunch tomorrow–that’s my favorite kind of dinner! (BTW, the hubs wasn’t a fan, but he’s a meat and taters kind of guy, so I didn’t expect much. At least he tried it, right?)
Colleen
February 8, 2014 at 5:49 amI have posted before that my daughter has a severe allergy to honey. What could I substitute with? She really love blue cheese dressing….I would love to try making our own. Also how long will the dressing last if not all used for this meal? Thanks!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy)
February 22, 2014 at 11:57 pmHello Colleen. We’ve not substituted for the honey in this recipe but typically substitute maple syrup for honey. I don’t know that that would work here. You might just try organic sugar. My sugar choice is coconut palm sugar. ~Amy
Cortney
March 31, 2014 at 3:31 pmCorn syrup
Sherry
April 21, 2014 at 11:14 amI would definitely use pure maple syrup or organic sugar over corn syrup. Corn syrup is typically a processed GMO product and not a wholesome real food product.
Toni
August 28, 2014 at 3:15 pmCan’t wait for your book to arrive! I want to make a version of cobb salad for the Labor Day weekend. A few months back you posted one that was a little different than this one, using lime-garlic dressing. I tried looking through your site and FB page, but can’t seem to locate it. Would you happen to remember? Thanks so much for sharing all of your great recipes and tips.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy)
September 2, 2014 at 5:01 pmHi Toni. Shawn thinks this is what you were thinking of: http://www.aspicyperspective.com/2014/05/cobb-salad-recipe.html. :)
Toni
September 18, 2014 at 3:51 pmYes, thank you I have it bookmarked now!
Brandy B
May 28, 2015 at 8:59 amThis salad was delicious, but the dressing…oh my goodness! It is my absolute favorite! Thanks again.
By the way…will there ever be a 2nd cookbook? My kids love picking out recipes from the book, but we’ve made almost everything in there!!
Amy Taylor (comment moderator)
June 2, 2015 at 7:44 amHi Brandy. I do think you can count on a second cookbook! :)