Have you ever been at a loss for dressings to put on your Cobb salad?
This article will provide you everything you need to know about the perfect dressing for Cobb salads, as well as some uncommon yet tasty combinations to try.
We’ve compiled a list of 10 dressings that goes great with Cobb salad and explain why each one of them is such a great choice.
Our recommendations include classic options like ranch and Thousand Island as well as interesting ones like balsamic vinaigrette, herb mayo, and honey-mustard.
So if you’re perplexed by all the different choices out there, let us show you how to make your cob salad complete.
Criteria for Choosing Dressings for Cobb Salad
Choosing the right dressing for a Cobb salad can be challenging, as there are many factors to think about that will determine the perfect pairing.
It’s important to keep in mind both the flavor profile of the salad ingredients and your own taste preferences.
Consider not only what you like, but also what will go well with the other flavors in the salad – this is key to creating a dish that will be an enjoyable combination of all its elements.
When selecting dressings for a Cobb salad, consider the following criteria:
- Acidity: look for dressings with enough acidity to balance out the richness of some components of a Cobb such as bacon, chicken, and blue cheese.
- Flavor: pick dressings that complement or contrast the other flavors in your Cobb Salad – a sweet dressing may pair well with tart or bitter veggies while a savory option may be more appropriate when paired with protein-dense ingredients like boiled eggs and shredded cheddar cheese.
- Texture: determine which type of texture you prefer; creamy or vinaigrette dressing can provide wonderful texture contrast to crunchy components such as croutons or nuts.
- Oil content: take into account any dietary restrictions regarding oil – if you are looking for something lighter opt for low-fat vinaigrettes; heavier options such as ranch or blue cheese are great when paired judiciously with heavier ingredients like bacon and hard-boiled eggs.
10 Dressings that Go Well on Cobb Salad
Cobb salad is a sandwich and salad combination that is made using a combination of cooked chicken, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, tomatoes and lettuce.
While there are several variations you can try when making this popular dish, one thing remains constant – the dressing.
Choosing the right dressing for your Cobb salad can elevate it to gourmet standard.
Here are 10 dressings that you may want to try on your next delicious Cobb salad:
1. Ranch Dressing
Ranch dressing is a classic dressing to top a Cobb salad with.
It’s rich and creamy, and can be used as a dip or as a dressing.
It also pairs nicely with bacon, which is one of the main ingredients of a Cobb salad.
To make ranch dressing from scratch, you need mayonnaise, buttermilk, sour cream, garlic powder and dried herbs such as dill weed or parsley.
For an even richer flavor, use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for the base of your dressing.
There are also many store-bought ranch dressings available in most supermarkets if you don’t want to make your own.
2. Blue Cheese Dressing
Blue cheese dressing is a creamy and tart sauce, which is the perfect combination of salty and tangy.
It’s made with buttermilk, yogurt, sour cream and blue cheese for a rich flavor.
The addition of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce can add an additional layer of flavor.
This dressing pairs ideally with the strong flavors found in a Cobb salad like bacon, hard-boiled eggs, blue cheese crumbles and avocado.
Toss your salad ingredients with the dressing until all are well-coated.
Serve it chilled or at room temperature.
3. Balsamic Vinaigrette
Balsamic Vinaigrette is a classic dressing made with a base of good-quality balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Italian herbs such as basil and oregano and garlic powder and sometimes a little honey.
It is the perfect choice for Cobb salad because it has the right flavor balance of tartness, sweetness and savory herbs all in one.
This dressing pairs well with the bacon, egg and blue cheese in this famous salad.
It also goes great with other salads that contain greens or vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers or bell peppers.
To make your own balsamic dressing you’ll need:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil.
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar.
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard.
- 1 teaspoon honey.
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Combine all ingredients in a jar and shake vigorously for 30 seconds until everything is combined.
4. Honey Mustard Dressing
Honey mustard dressing adds a tangy, sweet flavor to a cobb salad.
Made with mayonnaise, Dijon or spicy brown mustard and honey, this combination of ingredients compliments the other flavors of lettuce, bacon, avocado and blue cheese in this classic salad.
Honey mustard dressing also pairs well with grilled chicken tossed with the salad.
Toppings like pine nuts or slivered almonds add flavor and crunch.
Consider adding fresh herbs like oregano or parsley to give your cobb salad even more flavor and interest.
5. Caesar Dressing
Caesar Dressing is often made with a base of olive oil, garlic, anchovy, parmesan cheese, egg, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce.
It has a thick consistency due to the addition of an emulsifier such as mustard or egg yolks.
The salty flavor of Caesar dressing pairs nicely with the flavor profile of Cobb Salad while also serving to tame its richness.
Its creamy texture adds delightful contrast against the crunchy veggies in the salad.
Additionally, the use of cured anchovies gives the dressing a slightly fishy taste that is both savory and robust to balance out all the flavors in the salad bowl.
6. Lemon Dijon Dressing
Lemon Dijon dressing is a vibrant combination of tart lemon, creamy Dijon mustard and a hint of sweetness.
This dressing is delicious over a Cobb salad as the zesty ingredients really bring out the flavor of the bacon, eggs and chicken.
To make this dressing, mix together ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon agave nectar and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl until combined.
Whisk until creamy.
Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
Serve over a Cobb salad and enjoy.
7. Thousand Island Dressing
Thousand Island Dressing is the perfect accompaniment to bring flavor and texture to a cobb salad.
This classic dressing is sweet and tangy, with a crunch from the diced vegetables mixed in.
It is typically made with mayonnaise, chili sauce, diced vegetables like celery and pickles, hard boiled eggs, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and seasonings like garlic powder and onion powder.
This creamy condiment will add undeniable flavor to an otherwise ordinary salad.
When served over Cobb Salad, it is sure to be a crowd pleasing dish.
8. Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Chipotle Ranch is a flavor-packed spin on a classic ranch dressing that features the addition of smoky, zesty chipotle peppers.
The blend of tart ranch dressing with the sweet and spicy kick of adobo-seasoned peppers makes an excellent topping for a Cobb salad.
If you like your dressings creamy but with a little more punch than a light vinaigrette, prepare Chipotle Ranch by combining equal parts mayonnaise, buttermilk and sour cream with garlic powder, onion powder, cumin powder and cayenne pepper.
Once well blended, add canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce until desired heat is reached.
This ranch dressing is also delicious over grilled corn on the cob or as a dip for root vegetable fries.
9. Italian Dressing
Italian dressing is a classic dressing that goes well on a variety of salads.
For cobb salads, this type of dressing complements all the other flavors in the dish — tomato, bacon, egg, and so on — while adding a touch of acidity.
Made out of oil and vinegar with several herbs and spices, Italian dressing can add an extra hit of flavor to your Cobb salad.
10. Green Goddess Dressing
Green Goddess dressing has a creamy texture and packs a punch of flavor.
It has a bright green color that is perfect for serving on Cobb salads.
The classic recipe consists of anchovy, tarragon, scallion, mayonnaise, sour cream and lemon juice.
This dressing pairs nicely with the egg, bacon and veggies found in Cobb salad.
To add more flavor to your meal, try adding some fresh herbs like chives or dill to the dressing.
You can also add different spices such as cumin or garlic powder to make it extra flavorful.
For a lighter version of this dressing, you can substitute Greek yogurt for mayonnaise or sour cream – either way you’re sure to love the flavour.
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