Vegan Cobb Salad (a classic platter made plant-based)

This vegan Cobb salad recipe swaps in plant-based proteins for the traditional chicken and bacon, and replaces the customary hard-boiled eggs with chickpeas. This salad platter is eminently flexible, so you can make it a little differently each time.

A classic American main-dish salad, the traditional Cobb consists of rows of uncooked vegetables, meats, and eggs arranged in rows on salad greens, served with a mustardy vinaigrette. It’s so easy to swap in plant proteins for a completely veganized version.

Stories differ as to when this salad was invented (and how), but it’s been around since at least the 1930s. It’s a classic with staying power, and a fitting one to veganize with plant proteins.

Tips for a delicious vegan cobb salad

• Add more rows of tasty veggies: If you have a larger platter, you can definitely expand the rows of vegetables. Add rows of peppers, cooked beets, and/or cucumbers if you’d like.
• Flexible proteins: Replace one of the types of plant protein (here I suggest baked tofu, tempeh, or your favorite packaged vegan chick’n product, plus vegan bacon) with seitan or deli slices, or eliminate one of them and use a second variety of bean, or the rest of the can of chickpeas (this uses about half a can).
• What to serve with vegan cobb salad: With all these various components of this salad, all you really need is a crusty bread. For a bigger meal you can serve with grilled vegetables or corn on the cob in the summer, and in cooler months, a simple soup.

Explore more …

• Vegan avocado recipes
• Tasty, Easy Bean Salad Recipes
• Easy and tasty chickpea recipes
• Hearty vegan main dish salads
• Gorgeous winter salads
• Vegan “Chicken”-Style Recipes
• Vegan Teriyaki Chick’n Salad

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Yield: 4 to 6

Vegan Cobb Salad

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This vegan Cobb salad swaps in plant-based proteins for the traditional chicken and bacon, and replaces the customary hard-boiled eggs with chickpeas or beans.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

Dressing

• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice, optional
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

The salad

• 1 tablespoon olive oil or other vegetable oil
• 8 ounces baked tofu, tempeh, or plant-based chick’n, in shreds or dice
• 6 slices plant-based bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• Spring mix or other torn or shredded lettuce, as needed (see variation)
• 3/4 cup canned chickpeas or white beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 medium avocado, diced
• 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• Thinly sliced scallion or minced chives for garnish

Instructions

1. Combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together.
2. Heat about half of the oil in a medium skillet. Add the plant-based chick’n and sauté over medium heat until touched with golden spots here and there. Transfer to a plate.
3. Heat the remaining oil in the skillet and sauté the bacon until lightly browned and crisp.
4. Line a serving platter with spring mix or lettuce. Make two rows of tofu, tempeh, or chick’n over it, a row of bacon, and then a row each of the chickpeas, avocado, and tomatoes. 
5. You can either drizzle a little dressing over the top or just pass it around. Either way, sprinkle the salad with scallion or chives and serve at once.

Notes

Variations: 

Mix some baby spinach or several leaves of stemmed, sliced, and massaged kale in with the spring greens or lettuce for extra color and vitamins.

As mentioned in the headnote, feel free to vary the proteins and vegetables according to your preference and what you have on hand. Just make it look good!

See lots more vegan salads & sides and fun ways to veganize classic recipes.