Pulled Pork Cobb Salad with Cornbread Croutons

Name: Pulled Pork Cobb Salad with Cornbread Croutons
Yield: s: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 cup cornmeal; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 3 tablespoons sugar; 1 tablespoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted; 1 cup whole buttermilk; 2 eggs, lightly beaten; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 (8 ounce) bags romaine salad mix; 1/2 pound leftover pulled pork; 6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled; 3 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped; 1 large ripe tomato, diced; 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed; 1 cup yellow corn, fresh or frozen; Cornbread croutons (recipe above); Ranch dressing, to serve; Favorite barbecue sauce, to serve; Shredded Monterey jack-cheddar blend, to serve

Getting reviews...

I eat Cobb salads on a regular basis, so it was only natural for me to add pork instead of the usual chicken or turkey, and let's just say it was a bonafide hit. To add a bit more Southern flavor-or Southwest, depending on who you ask-I added corn and black beans. This Cobb salad really gets its flare, though, from the crunchy cornbread croutons, another great way to use up your leftovers.

Yield: s: 4 servings

Yield: s: 4 servings

Ingredients

Cornbread Croutons:

1 cup cornmeal

1 cup all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted

1 cup whole buttermilk

2 eggs, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons olive oil

For the salad:

2 (8 ounce) bags romaine salad mix

1/2 pound leftover pulled pork

6 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

3 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped

1 large ripe tomato, diced

1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup yellow corn, fresh or frozen

Cornbread croutons (recipe above)

Ranch dressing, to serve

Favorite barbecue sauce, to serve

Shredded Monterey jack-cheddar blend, to serve

Directions

For the cornbread croutons: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease an 8 x 11 rectangular baking dish. (If making croutons, the cornbread is best prepared a day in advance.)
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, thoroughly whisk the melted butter, buttermilk, and eggs. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just incorporated.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top. Bake until cornbread is golden yellow, about 17 to 22 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely. Cut the cornbread into 1-inch cubes and allow to dry out overnight (or dry out in a 375 degree oven for 5-10 minutes if not making the recipe in advance).
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Drizzle the olive oil over the cornbread and gently toss to combine, you just want enough to lightly coat. Spread the cubes onto a baking sheet and cook, tossing occasionally, until croutons are crisp and light golden brown, about 15 minutes.
For the salad: Pile romaine mix into an oval serving dish or bowl. Arrange pulled pork, bacon, eggs, beans, corn, tomatoes, and croutons in thin rows over the lettuce. Serve with sides of ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, and shredded cheese. For easier serving (but less visual appeal), you can toss the salad with cheese and an equal amount of ranch and barbecue sauce.