Have you ever thrown together some of the leftovers you had in your fridge late at night and unintentionally discovered an amazing new dish? As it turns out, that’s exactly how the story of the Cobb salad goes. According to the story, Robert Howard Cobb, a restaurant owner, hadn’t eaten until around midnight, when he threw together a bunch of leftover ingredients from the night’s cooking, added some bacon, and tossed it in a French dressing. The result: the Cobb salad. Since then, the Cobb salad has become a popular salad with a few star ingredients.

The Veg

Traditionally, Cobb salad veg includes mixed greens and tomatoes. This is one salad that isn’t very heavy on the vegetables, but what’s included is there for good reason. Lettuce is a traditional salad ingredient, and mixed greens can be a great way to get a variety of lettuces. This offers a wider variety of vitamins and minerals than you’d get from a single type, not to mention all the fiber that it naturally provides. Tomatoes are a good source of the antioxidant lycopene, vitamins K and C, potassium, and folate.

The Protein

Protein is arguably the star of the show in the Cobb salad. The Cobb salad at The Nauvoo features egg, bacon, turkey, and bleu cheese crumbles. The relatively high quantities of protein in this salad are part of why it’s generally considered a keto-friendly salad. In addition to protein, these ingredients serve as a source of multiple B vitamins and other important minerals. The flavors and textures that they add to the salad also work to make them great additions to the Cobb salad.

The Avocado

There’s more to being keto-friendly than just protein – you need fats too, and healthy ones at that. Enter the avocado. Avocado is a smooth, creamy addition in the Cobb salad that acts as a great source of healthy fats, including omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, it provides multiple vitamins and minerals that are essential to health, including vitamins C, K, E, and B6, riboflavin, niacin, folate, potassium, and magnesium.

In the nearly 100 years since the Cobb salad’s humble beginnings, it’s become a favorite salad for many. It’s also generally considered to be keto friendly, making it a good choice for those eating a keto diet. With a delicious blend of ingredients that lean heavily on the protein, you can count on this salad to be so much more than rabbit food.

The Cobb salad is just one of the delicious dishes served at The Nauvoo. Click here to check out the rest of our menu today!