Columbia Restaurant’s 1905 Salad (Copycat)

Name: Columbia Restaurant’s 1905 Salad (Copycat)
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1/2 head Iceberg lettuce; 2 qty Roma tomatoes; 1/2 cup Deli Ham; 1/2 cup Deli Baby swiss cheese; 1/4 cup Romano cheese; 5 qty Olives; 1/4 tsp Salt (or to taste); 1/4 tsp Pepper (or to taste); 1/4 cup Extra virgin olive oil; 1 tbsp White wine vinegar; 1/2 lemon Lemon; 1 lg clove Garlic; 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 1 tsp Oregano

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Every once in a while, you just have to treat yourself. In the heart of Ybor City, FL, Columbia Restaurant offers a fine dining experience with authentic Cuban-style cuisine. If you ever have a chance to visit, you must try this 1905 salad. We've re-created this dish so you can make it at home and we've included another popular favorite to accompany it, this Cuban Ropa Vieja recipe.

A restaurant inspired tossed salad with ham, tomatoes, spanish olives, iceberg lettuce, swiss cheese, romano cheese, and dressing on a black plate

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Ingredients
Instructions
Equipment
Storage
Top Tips
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FAQ
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Iceberg lettuce in half on white background

Ingredients

Lettuce - We use iceberg lettuce in this traditional recipe.
Tomato - Roma tomatoes are the best.
Ham - We like to buy one thick slice of Boars Head deli ham, and then dice it ourselves.
Swiss cheese - We like the flavor of baby swiss. We buy it in deli slices and then cut it into short, thin strips.
Romano cheese - We used a cheese grater, but you can buy it already grated.
Olives - We used Queen olives with pimento in this recipe.
Salt
Pepper - Freshly cracked pepper is best on salads.

Dressing

Extra virgin olive oil - Try to use a good quality olive oil.
White wine vinegar
Lemon - Freshly squeezed lemon is the best!
Worcestershire - I always like to add a few extra drops to the salad right before serving.
Garlic - Fresh minced garlic should be added to this dressing.
Oregano - Dried oregano.

Note: Refer to the recipe card below for exact quantities.

Instructions

Step One: Prepare the Dressing

There are several ways to prepare homemade salad dressings:

1). Use a bowl to whisk or stir the ingredients together.
2). Put all of your ingredients in a mason jar with a lid, then give it a little shake.
3). Use a stick blender to blend the salad dressing ingredients together. This is helpful if the dressing includes a garlic clove or anchovies.
4). Use an oil and vinegar dispenser with your favorite extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar to drizzle on salads as needed.

Homemade salad dressings are easy to make if you keep some essential ingredients on hand. See our Top 10 Favorite Salad Dressing Recipes for the dressings we love the most.

Step Two: Prepare Ingredients

Cut or tear up lettuce into small portions. Wash all lettuce and produce thoroughly, then set it aside to drain in a colander. While lettuce is draining, dice all remaining ingredients into small salad-sized portions.

Step Three: Assemble and Serve

Assemble the salad in layers with lettuce on the bottom, followed by fresh diced tomatoes, ham, cheeses, and olives.

Add a small amount of dressing and give it a good toss. Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary. Serve immediately.

Equipment

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Storage

Store salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator without dressing for 2-3 days. If the salad is moist from being washed, place a paper towel on top of it to draw out the moisture.

Top Tips

Buy pre-washed and ready-to-eat lettuce to save time.

More Recipes

Have leftover ingredients?

Excess olives and other vegetables can be used in this Italian Salad Meal Prep.

Need something to pair this with?

Try these other Cuban cuisine recipes:

Try this delicious Cuban Black Bean Soup
You may also love this Cuban Ropa Vieja

More lunch recipes you will love:

FAQ

Should you cut lettuce or tear it?

It may be an old wives tale that you shouldn't cut lettuce. Supposedly, the lettuce will brown a little quicker around the edges, but many people disagree that this is true.

Should tomatoes be refrigerated?

Refrigerating tomatoes will extend their shelf life, but could also decrease their flavor or change their texture. If you don't want your tomatoes to go bad, wait until they are fully ripe, refrigerate for a few days, then bring them back to room temperature before slicing.

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