This vegetarian Cobb salad is a fresh, satisfying twist on the American classic. With pan-fried tofu, plant-based rashers, and tangy blue cheese, it’s full of bold flavours and contrasting textures. Perfect for warm days, it’s a colourful main-course salad that feels both nostalgic and new.
Vegetarian Cobb Salad: A Taste of California, Reimagined
This vegetarian Cobb salad is a meat-free take on the iconic American classic. I’ve swapped out the chicken for tofu and replaced the bacon with plant-based rashers.
Fresh, filling, and full of contrast, it’s one of my go-to summer salads, and it always brings back memories of my years living in the US.
Instead of chicken, I use golden, pan-fried tofu. For extra texture, I prefer using frozen tofu that has been thawed, then fried in oil with garlic, onion, and herbs. That said, pressed extra-firm tofu straight from the packet works just as well. For the smoky, savoury bite that bacon usually brings, good-quality plant-based rashers are a great substitute.
And of course, no Cobb salad is complete without blue cheese. I like to use Gorgonzola, but Roquefort, Saint Agur, Stilton, or your favourite blue cheese will work as well.
The rest of this recipe stays true to tradition: avocado, tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, chives, red onion, and a base of crisp salad.
The dressing is a lemony vinaigrette served on the side so that everyone can drizzle it over their own plate to taste.
🌱 MAKE IT VEGAN : To make this vegetarian Cobb salad vegan, skip the eggs and swap the blue cheese for a vegan alternative.
What is a Cobb Salad?
A Cobb salad is a classic American garden salad that originated in California in the 1930s. It is named after Brown Derby restaurant’s owner Robert Howard Cobb, who is said to have created it as a late-night meal using leftovers while others attribute it to the restaurant’s executive chef, Paul J. Posti.
The Art of Presenting a Cobb Salad
The signature feature of a Cobb salad is its presentation as the ingredients are laid out in separate, neat rows on top of a bed of shredded lettuce. I like to serve the vinaigrette dressing on the side.
Other Salad Recipes To Try
Watch How To Make This Vegetarian Cobb Salad Recipe
How To Make This Vegetarian Cobb Salad Recipe
Ingredients:
To make this vegetarian Cobb salad recipe, you will need:
- frozen extra-firm tofu, thawed
- vegetable oil
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- Italian herbs
- plant-based bacon rashers
- gem lettuce or romaine hearts
- cherry tomatoes
- blue cheese
- 2 hard boiled eggs
- avocado
- red onion
- chives
- salt
FOR THE VINAIGRETTE
- Dijon mustard
- fresh lemon juice
- extra-virgin olive oil
- garlic
- maple syrup
Step 1: Fry The Tofu
Drain the thawed tofu to extract as much water as possible. Cut the tofu block into 2cm (3/4-inch) dice. Set aside.
Heat 2 Tbsp of vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a large frying pan. Add the tofu dice to the pan alongside the garlic powder, onion powder, Italian herbs. Fry until the tofu is golden all over. Season to taste with salt and set aside.
Step 2: Make The Vinaigrette
In the meantime, make the vinaigrette: Whisk together the mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and salt. Sweeten to taste with maple syrup and set aside.
Step 3: Fry The Bacon
Grill the bacon in the same frying pan, adding oil as necessary. Once the bacon is cooked cut each rasher into small pieces and set aside.
Step 4 : Assemble The Cobb Salad and Serve
Spread the lettuce evenly over a large serving dish. Arrange the tofu, bacon, tomatoes, blue cheese, avocado, eggs, and onion in neat, individual rows on top of the lettuce. Sprinkle the chives on top.
Serve the Cobb salad with the dressing on the side.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
This vegetarian salad is best made and eaten on the day. If you are not eating it straight away, drizzle some lemon juice on top of the avocado dice to prevent them from browning.
Any leftovers will keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to a day.
I hope you enjoy this vegetarian Cobb salad recipe as much as I do. If you do make it, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!
Vegetarian Cobb Salad
Equipment
Disclaimer: the equipment list above includes affiliate links to products I use and like.
Ingredients
- 400 g frozen extra-firm tofu thawed
- 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 ½ tsp Italian herbs
- 6 plant-based bacon rashers
- 250 g gem lettuce or romaine hearts finely shredded
- 200 g cherry tomatoes halved
- 100 g blue cheese crumbled
- 2 hard boiled eggs quartered
- 1 medium avocado diced
- 1 small red onion cut into thin wedges
- 3 Tbsp chopped chives
- salt
FOR THE VINAIGRETTE
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 80 ml extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic grated
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 to 2 tsp maple syrup according to taste
Instructions
- Drain the thawed tofu to extract as much water as possible. Cut the tofu block into 2cm (3/4-inch) dice. Set aside.400 g frozen extra-firm tofu
- Heat 2 Tbsp of vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a large frying pan.2 Tbsp vegetable oil
- Add the tofu dice to the pan alongside the garlic powder, onion powder, Italian herbs. Fry until the tofu is golden all over. Season to taste with salt and set aside.1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 ½ tsp Italian herbs, salt
- In the meantime, make the vinaigrette: Whisk together the mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and salt. Sweeten to taste with maple syrup and set aside.1 tsp Dijon mustard, 3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, 80 ml extra-virgin olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, ¼ tsp salt, 1 to 2 tsp maple syrup
- Fry the bacon in the same frying pan, adding oil as necessary. Once the bacon is cooked cut each rasher into small pieces and set aside.6 plant-based bacon rashers
- To assemble the salad, spread the lettuce evenly over a large serving dish. Arrange the tofu, bacon, tomatoes, blue cheese, avocado, eggs, and onion in neat, individual rows on top of the lettuce. Sprinkle the chives on top.250 g gem lettuce or romaine hearts, 200 g cherry tomatoes, 100 g blue cheese, 2 hard boiled eggs, 1 medium avocado, 1 small red onion, 3 Tbsp chopped chives
- Serve the Cobb salad with the dressing on the side.
Video
Nutrition
Find this recipe online:
https://theflexitarian.co.uk/recipe-items/vegetarian-cobb-salad/
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