Salads are a staple of modern diets. They’re naturally low in calories and can be a healthy addition to any meal. And while we all love a good taco salad, classic cobb salad or BBQ chicken salad, there’s something about the chef salad that takes the cake (or at least, a huge bowl of it). The Chef Salad is a combination of everything but the kitchen sink and, as a result, is a very filling meal in itself.
The exact ingredients of a chef salad vary, but most versions include lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese and one or more types of cold meat (ham, turkey or tuna) for added protein. The salad can be dressed with a variety of dressings including ranch, thousand island and blue cheese.
To make a simple chef salad, start with a large bowl of romaine or your favorite type of green lettuce. Add the sliced or chopped cucumbers and tomatoes. Chop the ham or turkey into bite sized pieces and crumble the bacon. Toss all of the ingredients and drizzle with a delicious homemade salad dressing.
To keep the salad fresh, store the chef salad in the refrigerator separate from the dressing. This will help it last longer (3-5 days) than if the salad is already dressed as it can quickly wilt. You can also add the dressing at the time of serving, although it may not last as long because the salad will quickly become soggy.