A Cobb Salad is full of flavor so it never need be boring. This one with ham and turkey gets dressed up with bacon and leeks.
This is a casual approach to Easter Dinner or Mother’s Day luncheon.
I didn’t plan to post another leftover ham recipe but while I was scrolling through food photos, this one jumped out at me and said, “Pick me!” So, if you’ve got leftover ham and hard cooked eggs from Easter, you are in luck. This salad will come together super easily.
Be sure to freeze ham you have leftover all chopped and ready to go so you can make this yummy salad.
Since I love blue cheese, avocado, and bacon this here’s one of my very favorite salads in the whole world: the Cobb. Supposedly, it was invented in the 20’s as a way to use up leftovers. Another reason why I like it!
There’s a clever way to remember what goes on this classic salad: EAT COBB. The saying stands for “egg, avocado, tomato, chicken, onion, blue cheese, and bacon.” I’ve tweaked it just a bit, letting ham and turkey cold cuts (C!) stand in for chicken while leeks play for their close relative, the onion.
(You will love how the bacon and the leeks go so well together!)
This salad really is a meal in itself. Everything is just packed with flavor. Tradition says to line up the toppings across the salad greens. That’s kinda what makes folks recognize that it’s a Cobb Salad.
It also comes together really quickly. I’ve clocked myself at preparing it in less than 30 minutes, egg cook time included. But, if you like, you can pre-chop everything and have it ready to assemble in advance. It’s an ideal entree salad for the coming warm weather.
I like buying pre-cooked bacon in big bags at Costco. I was skeptical that it would be tasty — it is — or that it would pencil out pricewise — it does — but it proved me wrong. It is so convenient to pull out just a few slices to add bacon flavor to dishes. Trader Joe’s sells an uncured, precooked variety as well. I love easy. Sigh.
I also buy the blue cheese at Costco or Trader Joe’s, usually choosing Maytag Blue or Gorgonzola. Both are yummy on this salad. A little goes a long way, so freeze it in small portions so that you can stretch your purchase over a few months and not worry about it going bad.
Not everyone loves blue cheese, so you could definitely substitute a different variety if you like. I’d try pepper jack or cheddar. It won’t be a Cobb, technically, but it will still be yummy.
This salad is naturally gluten-free, but be sure to read all the labels to make sure the deli and bacon people didn’t pull a fast one. If you omit the cheese, it’s also Whole 30 compliant.
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Place the eggs in a large saucepan and cover with water. Add a pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Cover and turn off the heat. Allow the eggs to sit in the hot water until cooked, about 12 minutes. Plunge them immediately into a bowl of ice water.
In a nonstick skillet, cook the bacon and leeks until both have crisped slightly. Drain on paper toweling.
In a small jar, place the vinegar, mustard, and spice mix. Place the lid and shake. Add the olive oil, replace the cap and shake again.
Place the lettuce in a large salad bowl. Toss with enough dressing to coat. Divide the dressed salad among four plates.
Peel the eggs and chop. Divide the turkey, ham, avocados, tomatoes, bacon-leek mixture, eggs, and blue cheese among each plate, placing each component in its own section of the lettuce bed. Serve with remaining dressing.
Notes
Make-ahead: The eggs, leeks, and dressing can be prepared in advance and stored separately in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
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One of my all time favorite salads – yours is so pretty in the pictures! I am using up some of my holiday leftovers with ham (from the Easter ham), shrimp (from the relish tray) all in fried rice tonight. Tomorrow I think a cobb salad is in order! 🙂
Tried this Recipe? Tell us what you think!Your reviews help us develop better recipes and give newcomers the confidence to try your favorites. Scroll down to leave a starred comment.
Maureen
This salad is amazing! EAT COBB is something to look forward for. This is really a meal. And it’s full of flavors!
deborah
One of my all time favorite salads – yours is so pretty in the pictures! I am using up some of my holiday leftovers with ham (from the Easter ham), shrimp (from the relish tray) all in fried rice tonight. Tomorrow I think a cobb salad is in order! 🙂