Classic California Cobb Food

CLASSIC COBB SALAD

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat, stirring, until crisp, 15 to 20 minutes; transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Meanwhile, place the eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water by about 1 inch. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then cover, remove from the heat and let stand, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain, then run under cold water to cool. Peel under cold running water. Chop the hard-cooked eggs and season with salt.
• Combine the chicken, lemon zest and juice, bay leaves, thyme, peppercorns and a large pinch of salt in a medium saucepan; add enough cold water to cover the chicken by 1/2 inch. Bring to a bare simmer over medium heat (do not boil) and cook until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken registers 160 degrees F, about 7 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the dressing: Whisk the vinegar, shallot, mustard and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a serving bowl. Whisk in the olive oil in a slow, steady stream until emulsified; season with pepper. Dice the chicken and toss with 1 tablespoon of the dressing in a separate bowl.
• Halve, pit and dice the avocados. Season the tomatoes with salt. Add the Bibb and romaine lettuce to the serving bowl on top of the dressing. Arrange the bacon, hard-cooked eggs, chicken, avocados, tomatoes and blue cheese in rows on top of the lettuce. When ready to serve, toss the salad and season with salt and pepper.

CALIFORNIA COBB SALAD

Steps:

• For the blue cheese dressing: Combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon, honey, Worcestershire, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 cup of the crumbled blue cheese in the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Stir in the chives and the remaining 1/2 cup blue cheese. Adjust the seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. Hold in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• For the salad: Toss the romaine and quinoa with 2 tablespoons of the dressing in a serving bowl. Arrange the bacon, eggs, tomatoes, avocados and radishes in even sections over the top of the lettuce. Drizzle with more dressing and serve immediately.

CALIFORNIA COBB SALAD

Steps:

• Spread the lettuce out on the bottom of a large rectangle platter. Working from one narrow side of the platter to the other, place the remaining ingredients over the lettuce in rows of stripes. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• Make the vinaigrette: In a medium bowl, whisk together the mustard, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Mince the garlic with salt and mash with the side of a knife until it becomes a paste. Add it to the bowl, whisking constantly. Slowly pour in the olive oil in a thin stream until thick and creamy. Whisk in the pepper and pour over the salad.

CLASSIC CALIFORNIA COBB

Steps:

• Toss avocados with lemon juice; place in large bowl.
• Add all remaining ingredients except dressing; mix lightly.
• Spoon onto salad plates; drizzle with dressing.

CLASSIC COBB SALAD

Steps:

• Place lettuce on a platter or in a large serving bowl. Arrange remaining ingredients in rows or sections as desired. Serve with dressing of choice; if desired, serve with sliced ripe olives and lemon wedges.

LOBSTER COBB SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the celery, onion, thyme, vinegar, and black pepper and boil for 10 minutes. Add the lobsters, cover, and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, until shells are bright red and lobster is cooked through. Remove the lobsters from the water and immediately shock in ice water to stop the cooking. Shell the tail and the claws and cut the meat into 1/2-inch chunks. Reserve.
• Cook the bacon until crisp. Drain on a paper towel lined plate and set aside.
• Separate the egg whites from the yolks. Pass each separately through a medium strainer or food mill. Reserve.
• Blanch the haricots verts in a small saucepan of salted boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and shock in ice water. Drain well and set aside.
• Peel avocados, discard seeds, and cut into 1/2-inch chunks. Place in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Reserve.
• In a mixing bowl, add the romaine and season with salt and pepper. Add 1/3 cup of the dressing and toss. Divide into 4 serving plates. Arrange the toppings in strips on top of the salad mix, starting on 1 end with the bacon, haricots verts, egg yolk, lobster, egg white, tomato, and avocado. Sprinkle the cheese all over the top. Serve the remaining dressing on the side.
• Combine shallot, Dijon, and vinegars in a large bowl and whisk well. While whisking, slowly drizzle in the oils until it is incorporated into the dressing. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

THE ORIGINAL COBB SALAD

Steps:

• Place greens in bowl. Arrange all other ingredients attractively across greens. Add dressing when ready to serve.
• Whip eggs vigorously until yolks turn pale yellow. Slowly incorporate oil to form an emulsion. Add remaining ingredients and season with salt and pepper.