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 1Wash 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 2Slice your ham and grate your cheddar cheese. Add to the bowl. 

Step 3Once 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 5Pour 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. 

A small bowl of salad with eggs and bacon bits

California Dreaming Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing Recipe

The sort of salad that has all the toppings: ham, bacon, lettuce, tomato.. you name it, it's here!
No ratings yet
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 2
Calories 860 kcal

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

Calories: 860kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 81gFat: 54gSaturated Fat: 28gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 410mgSodium: 5084mgPotassium: 514mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 2108IUVitamin C: 60mgCalcium: 162mgIron: 2mg
Keyword American, Healthy, Quick, salad
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Italian recipes – 

Roasted Butternut Squash and Sage Risotto

Italian Easter Bread

Sardine, Chilli and Lemon Linguine

More Salad Recipes – 

Cumin Cauliflower Salad with Halloumi

Canned Mackerel Salad Recipe

BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad

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