I’ve been on a salad kick lately—blame it on the endless summer vibes (or maybe just a new year’s resolution I forgot to start). There’s something oddly satisfying about tossing a bunch of vibrant veggies and calling it a meal, especially when it involves a Cobb salad that’s all about colors and textures. Imagine biting into crunchy greens, creamy avocados, and tangy blue cheese—all without the usual suspects of bacon or chicken. It’s like a garden party on a plate!
Steps
- Prepare the Components: Roast the mushroom bacon and boil the eggs if you haven’t done so already. In a mason jar or bowl, mix red wine vinegar, olive oil, mustard, maple syrup, salt, pepper, and oregano. Shake or whisk thoroughly and set aside.
- Assemble the Salad: Place a base layer of your chosen lettuce in a bowl. Add hard-boiled eggs, mushroom bacon, tomatoes, avocado, blue cheese, and chickpeas on top.
- Serve and Enjoy: Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and enjoy immediately. For meal prep, store ingredients separately in the fridge for up to five days.
Ingredients
- Lettuce (spring mix or chopped romaine)
- Hard boiled eggs
- Mushroom bacon
- Tomatoes
- Avocado
- Blue cheese (optional)
- Roasted chickpeas
- Red wine vinegar
- Olive oil
- Mustard
- Maple syrup
- Salt
- Pepper
- Oregano
FAQ
- What makes a Cobb Salad unique?
- A Cobb Salad is a classic American garden-style salad often served as a main dish. Traditionally, it features ingredients like tomatoes, avocado, hard boiled eggs, bacon, and chicken, usually paired with a red wine vinaigrette.
- Can this Vegetarian Cobb Salad be made in advance?
- Yes, this salad is perfect for meal prepping. You can prepare the components in advance and store them separately in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to eat, it takes just a few minutes to assemble.
- How can I make this Cobb Salad vegan?
- To make this salad vegan, simply omit the hard boiled eggs and cheese. You can still enjoy plenty of protein by adding chickpeas, and the red wine vinaigrette is already vegan-friendly.
- What are some variations for dietary preferences?
- For a dairy-free option, leave out the cheese.
- For a properly combined meal, omit either the chickpeas and avocado or the eggs and cheese, depending on whether you prefer a protein or starch meal.
- What type of lettuce should I use?
- You can use any type of lettuce you prefer as the base for this salad. Common choices include spring mix or chopped romaine for added crunch.
Tips
- Prep Ingredients in Advance: Prepare the hard boiled eggs and mushroom bacon ahead of time and store them in the fridge to quickly assemble the salad when needed.
- Customize the Dressing: While a red wine vinaigrette is traditional, consider trying a Honey Dijon Dressing for a different flavor profile.
- Choose Your Lettuce Wisely: Use either spring mix or chopped romaine for extra crunch as the base of your salad.
- Avoid Roasting Chickpeas for Meal Prep: If you’re planning to make this salad in advance, it’s best to avoid roasting the chickpeas as they can become less palatable when stored.
Equipment
- Instant Pot (for making hard-boiled eggs quickly)
- Mason Jars (for storing the vinaigrette)
- Salad Spinner (to wash and dry lettuce)
- Whisk (for mixing the vinaigrette)
- Baking Sheet (for roasting mushroom bacon)
- Mandoline Slicer (optional, for slicing vegetables uniformly)
