California Dreaming Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing Recipe
I had you at ‘hot bacon dressing’, right? I came across this salad from the famous American restaurant California Dreaming and knew I had to try and recreate it.
California Dreaming Salad sort of reminds me of those kinds of salad you find at salad bars. The sort that you got to and just pile on all the toppings. Salad greens, cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, chicken, bacon.. you name, you’ve put it!
According to the website, California Dreaming opened in 1984. It’s the type of restaurant you can take your family to and enjoy thick-cut steaks and tavern-style sandwiches. It sounds glorious! You can find them at 6 locations in the US: Spanish Fort, Alabama; Augusta, Georgia; Charleston, Columbia, Surfside Beach and Greenville, South Carolina. This is not an ad by the way!
Ingredients needed for your salad
Scroll down to the recipe card for exact quantities.
For the salad –
Romaine lettuce – if you can’t find romaine, feel free to use little gem or iceberg
Cherry tomatoes – or tomatoes, diced
Cheddar cheese – another great cheese, if you can find it, is monterey jack cheeses. It’s not an easy find here in the UK!
Spring onions
Almonds, sliced – feel free to omit these and add in perhaps cashews, peanuts or walnuts. The original uses almonds though
Sliced ham – the original salad contains turkey too but I’m not a fan, so I’m leaving it out
Boiled egg
For the hot bacon dressing (not pictured!) –
Olive oil – vegetable, groundnut and sunflower oil is also good.
Bacon lardons – or sliced bacon, smoked or unsmoked
Dijon mustard
Fresh orange juice
Honey – if you’re out of honey, maple syrup is a good alternative (use less as it’s a lot sweeter!)
Optional extras –
Orange slices
Honey butter croissants – this is what they add on the side at the restaurant! If you want to make your own croissants, you should try my French croissant recipe for the best, flaky pastry!
Balsamic vinaigrette (if you don’t enjoy the hot bacon dressing)
How to Make California Dreaming Salad (Step by step)
Step 1 – Wash all your salad bits. Boil up some water for your egg. Chop your lettuce in shreds and place in the bowl you wish to serve in. Cut your tomatoes in half and slice your spring onions. Add to the bowl too. Pop your egg into the boiling water and boil for 10 minutes on a rolling boil.
Step 2 – Slice your ham and grate your cheddar cheese. Add to the bowl.
Step 3 – Once your egg has boiled, take it out and place in a bowl of cold water. Leave to cool for a minute or two. Carefully peel the egg and cut in halves. Add to the bowl, along with the sliced almonds.
Step 4 – Now to make the dressing. Add the oil to pan and fry off the lardons until crisp. Remove from the pan.
Step 5 – Pour the 3/4 cup orange juice into the pan along with the 1 tbsp dijon mustard – whisk until smooth. Add in 1 tsp honey and whisk.
Step 6 – Sprinkle the bacon lardons over the salad and pour over the honey mustard dressing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a vegan California Dreaming salad?
It is definitely possible to make this salad vegan. You can use vegan cheddar cheese, omit the ham and egg. I would use a Quorn ham alternative to bulk the salad out more. For the dressing, you could make a mustard dressing without the bacon and use sugar instead of honey.
California Dreaming Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Chopping board
- 1 colander or sieve for washing your salad
- 1 Small saucepan
- 1 slotted spoon for scooping out your egg
- 1 salad serving bowl
- 1 Sharp knife
- 1 cheese grater
- 1 Small bowl for cooling down the eggs
- 1 Frying pan
- 1 3/4 measuring cup
- 1 Measuring spoons
- 1 Whisk
- 1 jug for pouring the dressing
Ingredients
- 1 Little Gem lettuce shredded
- 30 g Grated cheddar cheese about a handful
- 6 Cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 Spring onion chopped
- Handful Almonds
- 2 Ham sliced any type of ham is good
- 2 Eggs hard boiled
- 300 g Bacon lardons
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 3/4 cup Orange juice
- 1 tsp Honey
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
Instructions
- Wash all your salad bits. Boil up some water for your egg. Chop your lettuce in shreds and place in the bowl you wish to serve in. Cut your tomatoes in half and slice your spring onions. Add to the bowl too. Pop your egg into the boiling water and boil for 10 minutes on a rolling boil.
- Slice your ham and grate your cheddar cheese. Add to the bowl.
- Once your egg has boiled, take out and place in a bowl of cold water. Leave to cool for a minute or two. Carefully peel the egg and cut in halves. Add to the bowl, along with the sliced almonds.
- Now to make the dressing. Add the oil to pan and fry off the lardons until crisp. Remove from the pan.
- Pour the 3/4 cup orange juice into the pan along with the 1 tbsp dijon mustard – whisk until smooth. Add in 1 tsp honey and whisk.
- Sprinkle the bacon lardons over the salad and pour over the honey mustard dressing.
Nutrition
More Italian recipes –
Roasted Butternut Squash and Sage Risotto
Sardine, Chilli and Lemon Linguine
More Salad Recipes –
Cumin Cauliflower Salad with Halloumi
