| | | | |

Clean Cobb Salad

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, please visit my disclosure page.

For the next 4 weeks, myself and 14 other bloggers are joining together for a Clean Eating Challenge. I will be here each Saturday with delicious, healthy meals, desserts, and snack recipes that your family will love. My first recipe for this challenge, is a Clean Cobb Salad. This salad still maintains all of the delicious flavors found in the original classic, but is much healthier.

Clean Cobb Salad cookingwithcurls.com #cleaneatingchallenge2014

So what exactly is Clean Eating? Clean Eating  according to Clean Eating Magazine is ” food in its most natural state, or as close to it as possible. It is not a diet; it’s a lifestyle approach to food and its preparation, leading to an improved life”. Any food with crazy, chemical sounding names, is not clean and therefore not healthy.

Well that’s great Lisa, but I see bacon on that salad! Yes, you do see un-cured, nitrate-free bacon on my salad. I always use beeler’s hickory smoked uncured bacon. Ingredients:  Pork** water, sea salt, turbinado sugar, celery powder. The Pork** is “from hogs raised without antibiotics or growth promotants and are vegetarian fed”. Everyone of those ingredients is all-natural and can be pronounced by a kindergartener. 😉

I am severely allergic to mold, so there is no Roquefort cheese on my salad. I have included it in the recipe as an option, or eliminate it for a paleo/whole30 salad…..I am all about the options!

How to make a Clean Cobb Salad:

The first thing you want to do, is make the Lemon Vinaigrette. Place all of the ingredients in a jar with a lid and shake vigorously to combine, or you can whisk them together in a bowl…..

Clean Cobb Salad Lemon Vinaigrette cookingwithcurls.com

Set the dressing aside to mingle and get happy. Place chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound until even…..

Clean Cobb Salad pound cookingwithcurls.com

I always do this before cooking chicken. It helps the chicken cook more evenly. Season chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, and Herbs de Provence. Heat oil in a large skillet, and cook chicken until no longer pink…..

Clean Cobb Salad cook cookingwithcurls.com

You could also grill the chicken during good weather! 🙂  Allow chicken to rest, then cut into bite sized pieces.

In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, parsley, and mint. Toss with 2 Tablespoons of the vinaigrette…..

Clean Cobb Salad toss cookinwithcurls.com

Season with salt and pepper, and toss again. I used red and green Boston lettuces in case you were wondering why they are different colors. Divide the salad, and place on 4 plates…..

Clean Cobb Salad plate cookingwithcurls.com

Dice the avocados and place them in a medium sized bowl. Toss with 1 Tablespoon of vinaigrette…..

Clean Cobb Salad avocado cookingwithcurls.com

Add the chicken, tomatoes, pine nuts, and cheese (if using), additional Tablespoon or two of vinaigrette, and toss to combine. Divide mixture and place on plated salad. Sprinkle with bacon and chives and serve…..

Clean Cobb Salad with Lemon-Vinaigrette is a delicious alternative to the original! cookingwithcurls.com

More healthy salad recipes

Enjoy!!

Clean Cobb Salad cookingwithcurls.com #cleaneatingchallenge2014

Clean Cobb Salad

This Clean Cobb Salad is a healthier version of an old classic!
5 from 1 vote
Print Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: clean, paleo, salad, main course, chicken, recipe, healthy
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 1135kcal
Author: Lisa Johnson

Ingredients

For the Salad

  • 1 pound all-natural chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
  • 1 Tablespoon Herbs de Provence
  • 1 Tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 12 ounces Boston lettuce (cleaned and torn into bite-sized pieces)
  • 1 cup Italian parsley leaves
  • cup mint leaves
  • 2 large avocados (pitted and diced)
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes (halved)
  • ½ cup pine nuts (toasted)
  • 8 slices uncured, nitrate-free bacon (cooked, cooled, and cut into chunks)
  • ½ cup sliced chives (about 3/4-inch long)
  • ¾ cup crumbled Roquefort cheese (optional)

For the Lemon Vinaigrette

  • ¾ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup white wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel
  • 1 teaspoon honey (omit for whole30)
  • 1 large clove garlic (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard powder
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

For the Lemon Vinaigrette:

  • Mix all ingredients together with a whisk, or shake vigorously to combine. Set aside.

For the Salad:

  • Place chicken between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound until even.
  • Sprinkle with Herbs de Provence, garlic powder, and onion powder.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Cook chicken until no longer pink, and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, mix together lettuce, parsley, and mint. Toss with 4 Tablespoons of Lemon Vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper, and toss again.
  • Divide salad mixture and arrange on four large plates.
  • In a medium sized bowl, toss diced avocado with 1 Tablespoon of lemon vinaigrette.
  • Add the chicken, tomatoes, and pine nuts and toss with an additional Tablespoon of Vinaigrette.
  • Divide mixture and arrange in the center of the lettuce mixture.
  • Sprinkle each salad with bacon and chives, and serve.

Notes

You will not use all of the Lemon Vinaigrette. Store leftover dressing in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Paleo Substitutions:
Eliminate Roquefort Cheese
Substitute unpasteurized apple cider vinegar
Whole 30 Substitutions:
Eliminate Roquefort Cheese
Substitute unpasteurized apple cider vinegar
Eliminate honey
Recipe adapted from The Best of Fine Cooking Magazine - CookFresh Spring 2014

Nutrition

Calories: 1135kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 99g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 1034mg | Potassium: 1752mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 5845IU | Vitamin C: 57.3mg | Calcium: 228mg | Iron: 6.5mg

Similar Posts

16 Comments

  1. This series comes at a great time for me! My doctor tells me I am “this close” to being considered diabetic, but that I can forestall that by making some changes in the way I eat. I will be following with interest.

  2. I love this clean eating challenge, Lisa! And I look forward to seeing what recipes you come up with ;). This one looks fabulous! You doesn’t like a healthy cobb salad?

  3. Ooo this is a fun challenge, Lisa. I love it! This salad looks great. I need to eat this for every meal this week after the way I ate this weekend. Ha, I feel like I am going to explode right now. Sugar overdrive and I have been really cutting way back on sugar. Guess I gotta pay for it now!

    Pinned to one of my group boards. Have a great week, Lisa!

    1. Aww, you are so sweet Krista, thank you!! I am inspired by your healthy recipes…so I guess we inspire each other to continue the healthy eating quest. 🙂

  4. This looks great! I have been “eating clean” again since January. Well I do 80% of the time. I do allow a cheat day a week. 🙂 It makes you feel SO much better!!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating