My Vegan Cobb Salad will make you never think of the meat version again!
Hi guys!
I'm so blessed to live in a town with so many locally owned and unique restaurants. Asheville has some seriously good food and because of that, I don't eat at chain restaurants very often. However, If I'm in a bigger city I'll sometimes be lured in by a few of my old favorites. Earlier this year I was in Charlotte visiting my brother and we decided to go to the Cheesecake Factory. I'm a sucker for their huge salads and of course the cheesecake. <--- yes, I'm the girl who orders a salad and a cheesecake!
This salad is inspired by their killer Vegan Cobb Salad. It is the stuff salad-y dreams are made of.
Here's why you want to try my Hearty Vegan Cobb Salad...
When I see Cobb salad on a menu, I often turn away because it's packed with processed meat. It's not something I'm a fan of. My version gets a complete makeover. The protein in this Vegan Cobb Salad comes from cooked quinoa, garbanzo beans, and pumpkin seeds making it pretty darn hearty for a vegan salad. The bed of lettuce is actually kale and the veggies are filling, plentiful and fresh. The Cheesecake Factory's version of this salad has a lot more ingredients, but I decided to keep mine a bit simpler for the sake of creating a recipe y'all would actually like to make. Their version is also on regular mixed greens, but I always request kale on mine... so that's what I used for this yummy dish.
You can add avocado as the "cheese" or add some sharp cheddar if you are just vegetarian and not vegan.
The dressing is a light lemon vinaigrette with plenty of flavors. You whisk it in a bowl quickly before serving.
This Vegan Cobb Salad would also be great with my Homemade Greek Vinaigrette, Healthy & Creamy Avocado Lime Dressing, or even my Homemade Greek Yogurt Ranch if you like creamy dressing. Those are all homemade, healthy, and delicious. The Greek Vinaigrette Dressing is vegan and the other two are vegetarian.
This Vegan Cobb Salad is perfect for this time of year as the weather warms and we start enjoying lighter meals. Enjoy!
Love summer vegan salads? Also try...
Vegan Cobb Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped kale
- 1 small cucumber, sliced
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 10 asparagus springs, blanched and cut in 2" pieces
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- ½ cup garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds
- Optional: avocado, cubed
- Dressing:
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 tablespoon good olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Whisk together dressing and massage it into the kale.
- Put a bed of kale on your plate.
- Assemble the rest of the ingredients in rows.
- Sprinkle additional salt and pepper on the top!
Notes
Nutrition
Like this Vegan Cobb Salad recipe? Pin this to your favorite Pinterest Board!
Your turn?
Chain or local restaurants?
What are your favorite salad toppings?
Emily @ Pizza & Pull-Ups says
This is my kind of summer dinner, looks awesome!
Ann Gardner says
We lived in Asheville for 11 years Black Mountain. I agree Julie great places to eat at. I miss the mountains. Will try this salad. Thanks.
Mary Jean Henson says
Looks yummy! I’m making this.
Maureen @ Maureen Gets Real says
This looks delicious Julie! Perfect for the warmer temps that we've been having.
Lisa Ballantyne says
Looks delightful Julie!
Miz Helen says
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week! Hope you enjoy your new Red Plate and have a great weekend.
Come Back Soon,
Miz Helen
JulieWunder says
How exciting! Thank you so very much!!!
Sabina @Oceanblue Style at Manderley says
Julie your yummy looking salad made me come running over to let you know how much you inspired my culinary choice of the day today! I love Ceasar salad just plain. Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier. Sabina
JulieWunder says
So glad it inspired you! yay! Great to see you here today!
Mary Ellen @ VNutrition says
I heard Asheville is a great place to live with lots of veggie food options. I always mean to take a road trip there when we visit my husband's family in Charlotte but it hasn't happened yet. Maybe this year! This salad looks yummy!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
This salad looks incredible.It goes to show that vegan salads can be really filling too and I love the asparagus too. You don't see enough asparagus in salads I think.
JulieWunder says
I totally agree! It doesn't take much to add that extra protein to something vegan!
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes says
I love a good salad for lunch, this looks delicious. And loving the lemony vinagarette!
JulieWunder says
Me too! So much GOOD energy.
Miz Helen says
I just pinned your awesome salad, it looks awesome! Thank you so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and have a great day!
Come Back Soon,
Miz Helen
JulieWunder says
Thank you so much for the pin! I really appreciate it!
Farrah says
Yum! :] I feel like I wouldn't miss the meat at all with this one! It looks so good!
JulieWunder says
Not at all! Thanks Farrah!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors says
I eat a mostly vegetarian diet and love all of these ingredients. i'm so digging simple homemade salad dressing right now and this sounds amazing!!
JulieWunder says
Thanks Sam! It's a good one!
nicole @life after heels says
that looks so yummy. i need to revamp my diet. It's been a lot better since December but I still need to improve. Thanks for posting
JulieWunder says
Always room to do better! Great to see you today!
Jess @hellotofit says
I prefer local restaurants, but do love me some Bonefish 😉 everything about this cobb salad seems delicious! I had a warm Buddha bowl yesterday for dinner that had kale as a base. So good.
JulieWunder says
Yummmmmmmm!!! Bonefish!! Love that place too.
Cailee says
YUM!! This looks amazing! What a great recipe! I wouldn't have thought to make a cob salad vegan... but you sold me!! It looks delicious, healthy and nourishing!! 🙂 Thanks for sharing love! Hope that you have a wonderful weekend!
JulieWunder says
Thanks Cailee! This one is so good!
Annmarie says
Oh man this looks amazing!!!! Thanks so much for linking up and sharing! 🙂
JulieWunder says
Thank you!!
Mandi Korn says
Very, very yummy, thanks for sharing:o)
JulieWunder says
Thanks Mandi! Hope you had a good week.
Lauren says
Oh yum, my kind of salad and a perfect Ah the Cheesecake Factory....I love their apps and salads!
JulieWunder says
Me too! Thanks Lauren!
Heather@hungryforbalance says
I've never eaten at The Cheesecake Factory either! But I do have a soft spot in my heart (okay stomach) for cheesecake. I love the ingredients in this salad! Especially the asparagus! Yum!
JulieWunder says
yes, Cheesecake is my jam 🙂 But I eat stuff like this salad more often 🙂
Leigh says
Yum! This looks and sounds amazing!
JulieWunder says
Thanks Leigh!
Deborah @Confessions of a mother runner says
My kind of said for sure! Love all the veggies in there. Thanks for linking up and see you for the new Meatless Mobday next week w Sarah and me
JulieWunder says
Thanks Deborah! Looking forward to it!
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
I've never eaten at a Cheesecake factory. I also don't really like cheesecake. Except for the vegan daiya ones. But I do like cheesecake crust 😀 Loving the flavors here!
JulieWunder says
Thanks Susie! It's a fun salad!
Blane Sherer says
Looks like a tasty salad ( smile )
JulieWunder says
Thanks Blane!