The Cobb salad is a much-adored American classic created in 1937 at the Brown Derby restaurant in Los Angeles, owned by Robert Cobb. Using ingredients from the Spanish culinary canon gives this classic a Spanish twist while staying true to the spirit of the original. Manchego cheese and serrano ham stand in for blue cheese and bacon, eggs get a dusting of smoked paprika, and avocados are replaced with olives, while chicken is given the Spanish treatment with rubbed garlic and rosemary prior to roasting. Our salad is finished with a light and sunny orange-based vinaigrette.
Foolproof eggs
For perfect hard-boiled eggs every time, use this method. Place eggs in saucepan and cover with cold water and a lid. Turn heat up to high. The minute water begins to boil, remove saucepan from heat, keep lid closed, and set timer for 15 minutes. At the end of the elapsed time, plunge eggs into ice bath to chill. Peel. Perfect.
- 3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp sherry vinegar
- 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 1/2 tsp honey
- 1/4 tsp sweet smoked paprika
- 1 garlic clove peeled
- Pinch of salt
- 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 tsp sweet smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp fresh chopped rosemary
- 2 oz chicken breasts about 14total
- 2 oz serrano ham cut in 1 semi-thick slice
- 3 hard-boiled organic eggs recently prepared
- 1/4 tsp hot smoked paprika
- 1/2 pint drygrape tomatoes
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of pepper
- 3 oz romaine hearts about 18in total, washed and finely chopped
- 2 oz manchego cheese cubed
- 18 to 20 manzanilla stuffed olives about 2 oz
- For dressing, in Mason jar fitted with lid, combine olive oil, sherry vinegar, orange juice, orange zest, honey, and sweet smoked paprika. Shake well and set aside.
- For chicken marinade, finely chop garlic; work salt into chopped garlic on cutting board and continue to mince with knife. Add to glass container with lid, along with olive oil, sweet smoked paprika, black pepper, and rosemary. Add chicken breasts to container and work mixture into both sides. Seal container and refrigerate for about 2 hours.
- Chop ham into a fine dice and cook on low to medium heat until fat begins to render and ham becomes crispy. Drain and set aside.
- Peel hard-boiled eggs and slice in quarters. Dust with hot smoked paprika.
- Quarter grape tomatoes, season with pinch of salt and pepper, and in small bowl, combine with about 1 Tbsp dressing.
- To assemble salad, in large bowl or platter, toss romaine with remaining dressing. Arrange cheese, ham, eggs, dressed tomatoes, and olives in rows over salad. Bring to the table and allow guests to pick their own or toss once more to combine.
Per serving: 262 calories; 16 g protein; 14 g total fat (4 g sat. fat); 19 g total carbohydrates (8 g sugars, 4 g fiber); 361 mg sodium
