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10 Minute Ham Cobb Salad

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A quick and satisfying Cobb salad with ham, gorgonzola, avocado, and hard-boiled eggs, dressed with a homemade white balsamic vinaigrette. All the classic textures—crisp greens, creamy avocado, tangy cheese, and rich eggs—come together in just 10 minutes without any lengthy cooking.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Lunch, Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

For the Salad
  • 6 cups baby greens
  • 1 1/4 cups ham cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes halved lengthwise
  • 1/2 cup gorgonzola crumbles
  • 1 avocado diced into 3/4-inch pieces
  • 3 eggs hard-boiled and quartered
  • 2 tablespoons scallions thinly sliced
For the White Balsamic Vinaigrette
  • 1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Equipment

  • Small saucepan
  • Medium bowl
  • Large bowl or serving platter
  • Whisk
  • Chef's knife
  • Cutting board

Method
 

  1. If the eggs are not already hard-boiled, place them in a pot of cold water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, cover, and let them sit for 10 minutes. Transfer to cold water to cool, then peel and quarter. While the eggs cook, prepare the ham by cutting it into 1/2-inch cubes, halve the cherry tomatoes lengthwise, mince the garlic, and thinly slice the scallions. Wait to dice the avocado until just before final assembly to keep it from browning.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the white balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, kosher salt, Dijon mustard, and black pepper. Let the mixture rest for 30 seconds to allow the garlic flavor to infuse into the vinegar.
  3. While whisking steadily, slowly pour in the extra-virgin olive oil in a thin stream until the dressing emulsifies into a smooth, creamy vinaigrette. Taste and add more salt if the acidity is too strong.
  4. Arrange the baby greens on a large bowl or serving platter. Top with the ham cubes, halved cherry tomatoes, gorgonzola crumbles, diced avocado, and quartered eggs in an organized Cobb-style pattern for a classic presentation.
  5. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently but thoroughly so all the greens and toppings are evenly coated. Finish by sprinkling the sliced scallions on top as a fresh garnish, then serve right away.

Notes

Dice the avocado at the very last moment before assembly, or toss it with a small squeeze of lemon or lime juice to slow browning. The vinaigrette can be made up to 3 days ahead—store it in a sealed jar in the refrigerator and whisk or shake again before using, as the oil and vinegar may separate during storage. For cheese swaps, crumbled feta, goat cheese, or blue cheese all work well in place of gorgonzola. You can substitute diced rotisserie chicken or leftover roasted turkey for the ham; just keep the pieces a similar size for consistent texture throughout. Store undressed salad components in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 2 days, keeping the avocado and dressing separate, and only dress what you plan to eat immediately.

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