COBB SALAD WITH BALSAMIC SHALLOT VINAIGRETTE

Cobb Salad with Balsamic Shallot Vinaigrette image

Provided by Julie Loria

Yield Makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

Balsamic shallot vinaigrette
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons minced shallots
Salad
2 8-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 8-ounce romaine hearts, washed, dried, and torn into bite-sized pieces
2 large ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced
2 ripe avocados, pitted, peeled, and diced
8 strips turkey bacon, cooked and coarsely chopped
2 hard-boiled eggs, coarsely chopped
1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled reduced-fat blue cheese

Steps:

1 To make the vinaigrette, combine the vinegar, salt, and pepper in a blender. With the machine running, gradually add the oil. Add the shallots and pulse briefly to combine. Pour into a serving bowl and set aside.
2 Pound each chicken breast half between 2 heavy duty plastic bags with a flat meat pounder to an even 1/2-inch thickness. Season with the salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning halfway through cooking, until golden brown on both sides, about 6 minutes. Add ¼ cup water, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cover. Simmer until the chicken feels firm when pressed in the center, about 8 minutes. Uncover, increase the heat to high, and cook until the liquid is evaporated and the chicken is sizzling, about 1 minute. Transfer chicken to a carving board and let cool. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
3 Spread the lettuce on a large platter. Top with the chicken, tomatoes, avocados, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and blue cheese arranged in rows. Serve immediately, with the vinaigrette passed on the side.