A chef salad, sometimes known as a chef's salad, is a salad composed of greens and several types of protein, including hard-boiled eggs, cold meats, and one or more cheeses, and served with some type of salad dressing. The chef salad is served as a meal in its own right and not before or after a meal. Culinary historians are unclear as to the precise origins of the salad, though they generally agree that it was popularized after being added to the menu at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in New York. Many restaurants serve their own version of this salad, and some chefs have developed their own variations, such as the cobb salad, which have become quite famous in their own right.
Early recipes for the chef salad that date back to the 1930s differ in a few ways from modern versions. These salads typically incorporate anchovies, but do not include the cold meats that are typically associated with a chef salad. These salads did, however, include both cheese and hard-boiled eggs. Eventually, chef salad recipes almost always included one or more different types of cold meat that, like the cheese, was julienned into thin, long strips. While the salad may have gotten its start at elegant and fashionable hotels, this type of salad is now available at all types of restaurants, including those that sell prepackaged meals, as it can provide a reasonably hearty meal that does not need cooking or a large number of dishes or utensils to prepare.
The greens used in this salad vary according to the preference of the cook. Many have a base of romaine lettuce, while others incorporate a mix of greens. Other items that are typically added to a chef salad are tomatoes and black olives. While some cookbooks include recipes for a salad dressing intended for chef salad, these recipes often vary, and many restaurants permit diners to choose from one of several different types of salad dressing to pour over their salad.
Other famous dinner salads that may be based on the original chef salad include the cobb salad, which includes bacon bits, avocado, and chopped chicken, as well as the Greek salad, which is topped with feta cheese, anchovies, and black olives. The salads are typically served in fairly large portions, as they are often intended to compose an entire meal. In some cases, however, they may also be served as an appetizer by some restaurants, which will put the salad on a large platter that is then brought to a table to be portioned out family-style.