Summer Cobb Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

With the dog days of summer in the near future, I’m starting to cook lighter and fresher meals that don’t require an oven or the stove, are quick and easy, and are light and delicious.  This summer cobb salad that I’m sharing with you today is all of these and more!  Thank you to Smithfield for sponsoring this tasty summer recipe.

Summer Cobb Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

I took the traditional cobb salad and lightened it up a bit.  The tangy and sweet citrus poppy seed vinaigrette finishes off the salad perfectly!  The salad is filling because of the protein in the Smithfield Anytime Favorites Ham Steaks.

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I used Smithfield Anytime Favorites Ham Steak because it tastes delicious and already comes in a ham steak that is the perfect thickness for cubing!  I love how versatile the Ham Steaks are.  They are perfect even when they are not cubed for things like sandwiches.  You get a great tasting ham without having to cook a full spiral ham, and you can use it for any meal or snack throughout the day.

Add some lettuce in a large bowl.

Mix up the delicious lemon poppy seed dressing using the recipe below and place in a small bowl.

Add the cut avocados, strawberries, Smithfield Ham, hard-boiled eggs, and tomatoes to the top of the salad in neat rows.

Serve the dressing and the salad separate so guests can add as much dressing as they like while keeping the salad crisp and fresh.

Summer is a great time to celebrate and take the time to relax and enjoy each others’ company.  What better way to do this than with a girlfriend potluck dinner?

Invite your best friends over for a dinner party and have everyone bring a favorite dish to share.  This Summer Cobb Salad is the perfect choice for those summer get-togethers!

Nautical dishes are a wonderful way to celebrate summer and tie the meal into the summer season.

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Summer Cobb Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

A light and fresh twist on the classic Cobb salad, this Summer Cobb salad is refreshing and delicious! 

Ingredients

• 1 package Smithfield Anytime Favorites Ham Steak
• Spinach or lettuce
• 4 Hard-boiled eggs, chopped
• 6-8 Fresh strawberries, sliced
• 2 Avocados, cubed
• 24 Grape or cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1/3 cup Apple cider or red wine vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. Fresh lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp. Finely chopped onion
• 1/2 tsp. Salt
• 2/3 cup Olive oil
• 2-3 Tbsp. Poppy seeds

Instructions

1. Wash and dry your preferred lettuce, then place in large bowl.

2. Chop the Smithfield Anytime Favorite Ham Steak into cubes, then sprinkle in a row down the middle of the salad. Repeat with the hard-boiled eggs, strawberries, avocados, and tomatoes, so that each ingredient is in a row covering the lettuce.

3. In a blender, combine the sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, chopped onion, and salt until blended.  With the blender running, gradually add the olive oil.  Add the poppy seeds and blend.

4. Pour the lemon poppy seed vinaigrette in a small bowl and serve on the side.

What’s your favorite way to enjoy the summer?

This post is sponsored by Smithfield.  All ideas and opinions are always 100% my own.