California Cobb Salad

I’m back!

A few days ago I was sipping mocktails at Mundaka and gazing at The Lone Cyprus on the iconic 17 Mile Drive along the Pacific coastline.

Today I was stopping to smell the lilacs on a walk around the neighborhood. As always, modern travel never ceases to amaze me!

BTW – I nearly shrieked out loud when I saw these babies blooming on my favorite lilac bush near my house. When I left for California they were just baby buds but today they were full-fledged, aromatic blooms. I could smell them from a block away – SWOON! I can’t wait for the peony bushes in the neighborhood to start flowering next!

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California Cobb Salad

At any rate, you can take the girl out of California, but you can’t take the California out of the girl and despite the fact that I’m home sweet home, I seemed to have left my taste buds out west. The first thing I did today was walk to the grocery store to get the ingredients for a California Cobb Salad with Tarragon Vinaigrette to make for lunch.

After three days of eating salads with the Dole folks, you’d think I’d had enough for one week, but it actually inspired me to get even more creative with my greens and give them a California spin. I thought about this combination the entire way home yesterday.

A Cobb Salad normally contains a mixture of meats, cheeses, and vegetables layered over crisp salad greens. To give it a west coast spin I also added cool and breezy ingredients like crisp cucumber, sweet strawberries, and creamy avocado.

Drizzled with a homemade Tarragon Vinaigrette, this was the best combo of crispy, creamy, sweet, savory – not to mention super filling. This isn’t a boring side salad – this is a MEAL!

How to Make a California Cobb Salad

Start by preparing 4 hard boiled eggs. Want to know how to get perfect hard boiled eggs every time? Add eggs to a saucepan then fill with cool water 1″ above the tops.

Bring the water to a boil, remove the pan from the heat, then place a lid on top and let them sit for 12 minutes for large eggs (9 for medium, 15 for XL.)

Drain then submerge in cold water and use right away, or peel then stash in the fridge.

Perfect every time!

Next, get to chopping the fresh ingredients for the salad including 1 cup each tomatoes, cucumbers, and strawberries and 1 avocado. There was a strawberry farm right down the road from Carmel Valley Ranch, where I stayed this week, and I pressed my nose against the glass every time we passed by. The strawberries I had each morning for breakfast, and in several desserts, were indescribably sweet. Fresh from the earth. Mmm!

When the eggs have cooled, chop them up, then also cook/chop 1/2lb chicken breasts and 1/2lb bacon.

Finally, zee greens. I like Cobb Salads made with hearty lettuces that stand up to the weight of the toppings, so I use Dole’s Italian Blend which combines crispy romaine lettuce with hearty radicchio to act as the bed for the flavorful ingredients on top.

Ready? Set. Assemble!

You could drizzle the salad with your favorite dressing or make an easy Tarragon Vinaigrette like I did. I’ve been seeing tarragon this, and tarragon that for weeks, and have never tried the herb, so I thought I’d give it a go in this vinaigrette. It was wonderful!

Between the California avocados and sweet strawberries, salty bacon and juicy tomatoes, each bite of this salad was a new experience. Enjoy!

California Cobb Salad

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dairy freegluten free20 minute meal

Description

California Cobb Salad gives the classic combo a west coast spin with the addition of crisp cucumber, sweet strawberries, and creamy avocado. This entree salad is fresh and filling!

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 10oz mixed greens
• 1/2lb chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
• 1/2lb bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 4 hard boiled eggs, chopped
• 1 cup chopped tomatoes
• 1 cup chopped cucumber
• 1 cup chopped strawberries
• 1 avocado, chopped
• For the Tarragon Vinaigrette:
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 Tablespoon raspberry blush vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
  • 10-12 tarragon leaves, torn
  • 1 small shallot, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • salt & pepper
  • 6 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Directions

1. For the Tarragon Vinaigrette: combine all ingredients except olive oil in a food processor or blender. Slowly stream in olive while processing until smooth. Taste and adjust salt & pepper if necessary then place into the refrigerator.
2. Divide lettuce between four plates then divide toppings between plates. Drizzle with Tarragon Vinaigrette then serve.

This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.