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Harvest Cobb Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Harvest Cobb Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
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The Harvest Cobb Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing is a fresh, crisp, and vibrant twist on the classic Cobb salad. Featuring seasonal ingredients like crisp apples, creamy avocado, smoky bacon, and tangy blue cheese, all tied together with a sweet and tangy homemade poppy seed dressing, this salad offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures. Ideal for lunches, dinners, potlucks, or special occasions, it’s nutritious, customizable, and visually stunning.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

  • 4 cups mixed greens, washed and dried
  • 2 cooked chicken breasts, diced
  • 1 medium apple (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), thinly sliced
  • 1 ripe avocado, diced
  • 6 slices crispy bacon, crumbled
  • 4 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
  • 1/2 cup gorgonzola or blue cheese crumbles
  • 1/3 cup toasted pecans or walnuts
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

Poppy Seed Dressing

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Ingredients: Start by boiling the eggs until hard-boiled, about 9–12 minutes. While the eggs cook, wash and dry the mixed greens thoroughly. Thinly slice the apples, dice the avocado, and halve the cherry tomatoes. Toast the pecans or walnuts gently in a skillet to enhance their flavor, and chop the cooked chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.
  2. Cook the Bacon: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon strips until crisp. Remove and transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat. Once cooled, crumble the bacon into small pieces for easy distribution in the salad.
  3. Make the Poppy Seed Dressing: In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and pepper until smooth. Taste and adjust sweetness or tanginess according to preference.
  4. Assemble the Salad: On a large platter or individual serving bowls, layer the mixed greens as the base. Arrange rows or sections of chicken, bacon, sliced hard-boiled eggs, apple slices, avocado chunks, cherry tomatoes, toasted nuts, and blue cheese crumbles on top.
  5. Add the Dressing and Garnish: Drizzle the poppy seed dressing over the salad just before serving. Garnish with extra cracked black pepper or sprinkle additional poppy seeds for visual appeal and added texture. Serve immediately for optimal freshness and flavor.

Notes

  • Use fresh, tender mixed greens without wilting to enhance salad crispness.
  • Balance textures by combining creamy, crunchy, juicy, and savory ingredients in each bite.
  • Do not overdress; toss lightly or serve the dressing on the side to maintain the vegetables’ crispness.
  • Keep salad ingredients chilled until serving for maximum freshness.
  • The poppy seed dressing tastes better after resting for a few hours; prepare it a day ahead if possible.

Nutrition

Keywords: Harvest Cobb Salad, Poppy Seed Dressing, Autumn Salad, Chicken Salad, Blue Cheese Salad, Healthy Salad

Find it online: https://homemademealz.com/harvest-cobb-salad-with-poppy-seed-dressing/