The Classic Cobb Salad

 

Ingredients:

Protein:

4 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast, cooked and chopped

2 hard-boiled eggs, quartered

4 slices crisp cooked bacon, crumbled

Greens:

6 cups mixed greens (combination of romaine, green leaf lettuce, or baby spinach)

Veggies:

• 1 avocado, halved, pitted, and sliced
• 1 ripe tomato, chopped
• ½ cup crumbled blue cheese (Roquefort or Gorgonzola)
• ½ red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
• Dressing:
• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon honey
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Optional Additions:
• Chopped chives for garnish
• Diced cucumber

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Protein: If not already cooked, grill, bake, or poach the chicken breast. Once cool, chop it into bite-sized pieces. Hard-boil the eggs and quarter them. Cook the bacon slices until crisp, then crumble them.
2. Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, layer the mixed greens. Arrange the chopped chicken, quartered eggs, and crumbled bacon in separate sections across the top of the greens.
3. Add the Veggies: Scatter the sliced avocado, chopped tomato, and crumbled blue cheese over the salad. If using, add the thinly sliced red onion.
4. Make the Dressing: In a small jar or bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, and honey. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Dress and Serve: Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving. Garnish with chopped chives, if desired.

Nutrition Tips:

• Lean Protein: Use skinless chicken breast for a good source of protein without excess fat.
• Healthy Fats: Opt for olive oil in the dressing and limit the amount of blue cheese, which is high in saturated fat.
• Creamy Alternative: If you find avocado too high in fat, consider using a dollop of low-fat Greek yogurt for a touch of creaminess.
• Veggie Power: Incorporate a variety of colourful vegetables like cucumbers or bell peppers for extra nutrients and fibre.
• Dressing Control: The dressing can be high in calories due to the oil and honey. Consider making a smaller batch or using a light hand when drizzling.
• Portion Awareness: Cobb salad can be filling, so be mindful of portion sizes, especially with richer ingredients like bacon and blue cheese.
• Whole-Wheat Boost: Serve the salad on a bed of whole-wheat bread crumbs for added fibre and texture.

Enjoy this delicious and satisfying Cobb salad - a perfect balance of protein, healthy fats, and fresh flavours!