Club Salad Deluxe
This Club Salad Deluxe recipe transforms the classic club sandwich into a hearty, deconstructed salad. Featuring crisp bacon, tender roast pork, fresh tomatoes, crunchy croutons, and mixed greens, all generously tossed with a creamy dressing, it offers a satisfying and flavorful meal perfect for lunch or a light dinner.
Equipment
- 1 skillet For cooking bacon
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Chef's knife
- 1 Large Mixing Bowl
- 1 Tongs For handling bacon
Ingredients
Main
- 12 ounces roast pork
- 12 slices bacon
- 2 ripe tomatoes
- 1 cup seasoned croutons
- 12 ounces chopped mixed salad greens
- 1 cup thousand island or ranch dressing
Instructions
- In a skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy. Remove, drain on paper towels, and crumble once cooled.
- While bacon cooks, dice or slice the roast pork into bite-sized pieces.
- Wash and chop the ripe tomatoes into wedges or chunks.
- Ensure the mixed salad greens are thoroughly washed and dried, preferably using a salad spinner, to prevent a watery dressing.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped mixed salad greens, prepared roast pork, and chopped tomatoes.
- Add the seasoned croutons to the bowl.
- Pour the thousand island or ranch dressing over the ingredients in the bowl.
- Gently toss all the ingredients until everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
- Divide the salad into individual serving bowls.
- Garnish each serving with the crumbled crispy bacon just before serving to maintain its crispness.
Notes
For optimal bacon crispness, render it slowly over medium heat until golden brown and shatteringly crisp. Drain thoroughly on paper towels to remove excess fat, which prevents a greasy salad. Ensure the roast pork is thinly sliced or diced for better integration and bite-sized pieces within the salad. If using leftover pork, gently warm it slightly if preferred, or serve chilled. Choose ripe, firm tomatoes for the best flavor and texture contrast. To enhance presentation, consider layering the ingredients rather than fully tossing, especially if serving individual portions. Start with greens, then layer pork, bacon, tomatoes, and croutons, finishing with dressing drizzled over the top. For an elevated touch, consider making homemade croutons from artisanal bread, seasoned with herbs and garlic.