How to Make Cobb Salad

Bob Cobb used some leftovers to create this now-classic salad at Hollywood's legendary Brown Derby restaurant. He actually threw it together for his own meal, but it soon became a part of the menu - and an instant hit. A very hearty salad, it makes a great lunch. This recipe serves about six.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 c. olive (not virgin) oil
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 c. vegetable oil
• 7-8 strips crisp cooked bacon - chopped
• 1-2 avocados - diced
• 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 head each romaine and bibb lettuce
• 2 tbsp. chopped chives
• 1/2 c. red wine vinegar
• 2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 c. diced tomato
• 1 1/2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 c. crumbled blue cheese
• 1 c. cooked and cubed chicken breast
• 1 tsp. cracked black pepper
• Groceries
• Chef's Knives
• Cutting Boards
• Food Processors
• Mixing Bowls
• Wire Whisks
• Mixing bowls

1. Make the dressing by placing the vinegar, mustard, garlic powder, salt, black pepper and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl, or in a blender or food processor.

2. Blend or whisk together well, then drizzle in the oils in a thin, steady stream while whisking vigorously or with the machine running. Chill until needed.

3. Wash, dry and core the lettuces.

4. Tear or chop the lettuces into medium-sized pieces and arrange them in a bowl.

5. Press down on the greens with your hands to flatten them out. The Cobb is an attractive salad whose toppings are laid on in stripes. Pressing helps to make the top uniform and ready for presentation.

6. 

   Arrange the diced tomato in a tight red stripe right down the center.

7. Arrange the chicken down one side of the tomatoes, and the blue cheese down the other side.

8. 

   Arrange the crumbled bacon and the diced avocado in stripes along the outside.

9. Sprinkle the chives all over the top.

10. 

    To serve, bring the salad to the table, pour three-quarters of the dressing over it, and toss it all together well.

11. Use the reserved dressing as extra, if needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Since the original Cobb was thrown together as a meal from leftovers, anything you have in the house is within the original salad's spirit. Many Cobbs use tuna instead of or in addition to chicken, for example. You can also add any salad-ready vegetable you wish.

• Most Cobb salads use a mixture of romaine and bibb lettuce. Bibb is also called butter lettuce, and there's a variety of it called limestone lettuce. Watercress, chicory and frisee are also commonly added for extra diversity of flavor and texture.

• Use the best blue cheese you can; Gorgonzola and Roquefort are good choices.