Columbia 1905 Salad Recipe (2024)

By Marjory Pilley Published · Updated

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Make the original Columbia 1905 Salad and dressing recipe at home! You don't have to visit the restaurant to enjoy this hearty chef's salad with a zesty garlic vinaigrette.

Columbia 1905 Salad Recipe (1)

Fresh, crisp iceberg lettuce, julienne baked ham and Swiss cheese, juicy tomatoes, salty green olives, and grated Romano cheese make up this famous salad. Everything is tossed with a tangy olive oil and vinegar dressing.

I'm lucky. I've eaten at every Columbia restaurant, from Ybor City to St. Augustine. And I've enjoyed their iconic 1905 salad made tableside more times than I can count, including on my honeymoon!

The recipe is no secret. In fact, the restaurant shares it in a cookbook and on its website. So, I'm just here to sing its praises and share tips to easily make this copycat recipe at home.

Why you'll love this recipe:

  • It takes about 15 minutes to make.
  • You probably have most ingredients on hand, including the secret ingredient in the dressing!
  • It's budget-friendly.
  • It's low-carb, gluten-free, and pretty healthy!
  • It's perfect for entertaining.
Jump to:
  • History
  • Ingredients
  • 1905 Salad Dressing
  • Salad Dressing Directions
  • 3 Ways to Emulsify Dressing
  • 1905 Salad Directions
  • What to Serve with 1905 Salad
  • Storage, Make Ahead
  • More Salads
  • 📋 Recipe

History

The Columbia Restaurant opened in Ybor City, Tampa in 1905. However, the salad wasn't "invented" until 1940 by waiter Tony Noriega. He threw this salad together, using leftover Spanish and Italian ingredients from the kitchen.

It was renamed the 1905 Salad on the 75th anniversary of the famed restaurant. It was an off-menu item at first, so it was made tableside. And it's still served that way today.

Ingredients

The Columbia restaurant pays attention to detail and only uses the finest ingredients. You'll always get a better result when you do the same. That said, you can still thoroughly enjoy this salad, even if you make a few substitutions.

  • Iceberg lettuce shines in this recipe. It's not usually my first choice for a salad. But, if you're trying to replicate the original, this is what you need to use because it's crispy and crunchy. Romaine lettuce is the next best choice.
  • Tomatoes. The Columbia uses large vine-ripened beefsteak tomatoes. Other types, such as heirloom or cherry tomatoes, would be fine too. The key is to pick juicy ones. Cut them into large wedges, about 8 sections for a large tomato.
  • Swiss cheese. Packaged slices of Swiss cheese are easy to work with and perfect for this recipe. Cut them into matchsticks about 2 inches x ⅛ of an inch.
  • Ham. The Columbia uses baked ham, julienned to be the same size as the cheese. Thicker slices of deli ham are easy to work with and are a good substitution.
    • Note: Cut ham and cheese into cubes or bigger pieces if desired. It will taste the same!
  • Spanish olives stuffed with pimentos that have been pitted. They're also labeled Manzanilla olives and can be found on the food aisle with pickles and relishes. They lend a salty flavor to the salad.
  • Romano cheese is freshly grated over the top. Pecorino Romano cheese is made from sheep's milk and has a bold, salty flavor. Parmesan cheese is the next best cheese to use.

Variation: You can make this with shrimp instead of ham.

Columbia 1905 Salad Recipe (2)

1905 Salad Dressing

The dressing on the 1905 salad brings everything together. Here's what you'll need:

  • Fresh garlic cloves - Use a garlic press to quickly add this to the dressing.
  • Dried oregano
  • Worcestershire sauce - this is the secret ingredient! The Columbia restaurant uses Lea and Perrins.
  • Spanish olive oil - You may already use it and not even know it! It has a bold, fruity flavor. Other extra virgin olive oils work equally well in this recipe.
  • White wine vinegar - This type of vinegar is made from white wine. It has a slightly mellow, fruity flavor compared to other kinds of vinegar. Apple cider vinegar may be the best substitution in a pinch, but it will definitely taste different.
  • Lemon juice - If you're going for a copycat of the original, use fresh lemons.
  • Salt and pepper to taste.

Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients with measurements plus recipe instructions.

Salad Dressing Directions

To make the vinaigrette:

  1. Mix minced garlic, dried oregano, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and white wine vinegar until smooth.
  2. Gradually stream olive oil into the mixture, whisking the entire time.
  3. Season with salt.
Columbia 1905 Salad Recipe (3)

3 Ways to Emulsify Dressing

It's important to emulsify the oil and vinegar when you make it. This combines the ingredients so the dressing is smooth and a little thicker. The process causes droplets of the olive oil to be suspended in the vinegar, at least temporarily.

  1. The most common way is to slowly pour the olive oil into the vinegar, vigorously whisking the entire time.
  2. If you have an immersion blender, place all of the ingredients into a glass and use the blender to do the mixing for you. A food processor can be used as well.
  3. The last option is to combine the ingredients in a tightly-sealed jar and agitate them. Be sure to give it more than just a few shakes!

Regardless of your method, if you prepare the salad dressing in advance, you will need to recombine the ingredients before serving.

1905 Salad Directions

Everything can be mixed together in one bowl before serving. However, the heavier ingredients will fall to the bottom.

The Columbia does a great job of divvying everything up! But, we find it much easier to do it this way:

  1. Add lettuce to a large bowl and toss with salad dressing.
  2. Divide the coated lettuce between serving bowls and top with ham, cheese, tomatoes, and olives.
  3. Sprinkle Romano cheese over the top and enjoy!
Columbia 1905 Salad Recipe (4)

What to Serve with 1905 Salad

Serve this salad as a main dish or side salad depending upon the serving size. It will come with warm Cuban bread wrapped in paper to enjoy with sweet cream butter at the restaurant.

It's commonly paired with a Cuban sandwich and would be fantastic with Shrimp Couscous Paella!

Storage, Make Ahead

  • Refrigerator. Once assembled, the 1905 Salad does not store very well. If you're planning for leftovers, serve the dressing on the side.
  • Make Ahead. The ingredients and salad dressing can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator. The dressing will separate after a while. Simply allow it to warm up a few minutes on the counter and recombine. Assemble everything just before serving.
Columbia 1905 Salad Recipe (5)

More Salads

Turn these salads into a main course meal too!

  • Caribbean Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
  • Spinach Strawberry Walnut Salad with Chicken
  • Napa Cabbage Salad with Ramen Noodle Topping

Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a rating and tell us how you liked it!

📋 Recipe

Columbia 1905 Salad Recipe (10)

Columbia 1905 Salad Recipe

Make the original Columbia 1905 Salad and dressing recipe at home! This hearty chef's salad with a zesty garlic vinaigrette is easy to prepare.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 Servings

Author: Marjory Pilley

Ingredients

Dressing

  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 teaspoon oregano, dried
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil Spanish
  • cup White wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • teaspoon salt or to taste

Salad

  • 6 cups Iceberg lettuce torn into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 tomatoes ripe, cut into large wedges
  • ½ cup Swiss cheese julienned
  • ½ cup baked ham julienned
  • ¼ cup Spanish olives pitted
  • 1 Tablespoon Romano cheese grated; or Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Dressing

  • Mix garlic, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and white wine vinegar in a bowl until smooth. Gradually stream olive oil into the mixture whiles whisking to form an emulsion. Season with salt.

Salad Assembly

  • Add lettuce to a large bowl and toss with salad dressing.

  • Divide the coated lettuce between serving bowls and top with ham, cheese, tomatoes, and olives.

    Note: Everything can be mixed in one bowl before serving. However, the heavy ingredients will fall to the bottom.

  • Sprinkle grated Romano cheese over the top and enjoy!

Notes

Yield: ½ cup of salad dressing.

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Nutrition

Calories: 378kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 654mg | Potassium: 435mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1206IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 171mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional and Food Safety Disclaimer

More Salad Recipes

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  • Warm Orzo Salad with Scallops, Artichokes and Feta

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Comment

  1. Lizzy

    Columbia 1905 Salad Recipe (15)
    Thanks for sharing this recipe. It was easy to make. I'm not at olive fan so left those out and added extra ham and cheese. Just like the 1905 Salad I remembered having a few years ago. Loved it.

    Reply

    • Marjory Pilley

      I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Just give those olives to someone else who will enjoy them!

      Reply

Columbia 1905 Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the composition of salad? ›

The basic parts of a salad are the base, the body, the garnish, and the dressing. The five basic types of salad are green salads (tossed or composed), bound, vegetable, fruit, and combination.

What is composed salad made of? ›

It shows off the intense, irresistible vegetables, herbs and fruits of the season — but can also have rich components like cheese, eggs, toasted nuts and smoked fish or meat. With a loaf of (preferably grilled) bread, it is a meal in itself.

What does a simple salad contain? ›

Easy Green Salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, Parmesan cheese, croutons, and a quick balsamic vinaigrette. This simple salad recipe is the perfect side dish for any meal.

What is the most important ingredient in a salad? ›

Here's a breakdown of the essential ingredients that can contribute to crafting a superb salad: 1. Base Greens: A great salad starts with a foundation of fresh leafy greens. You can opt for classics like romaine lettuce and spinach or get adventurous with arugula or mixed greens.

What are the 5 components of salad? ›

There are five elements to a perfect salad: greens, sweetness, creaminess, crunchiness, and dressing. Let's talk about each one.

Which part of a salad is the main ingredient? ›

Base: usually a layer of salad greens that line the plate or bowl in which the salad will be served. Body: consists of the main ingredients. Garnish: enhances the appearance while also complementing the overall taste; must be edible. Salad dressings: are liquids or semi-liquids used to flavor salads.

What are the four components of a composed salad and give an example for each? ›

There are 4 layers to a composed salad: Base, Body, Garnish, and Dressing. The Base is more often than not salad greens that line or anchors the plate where the salad will be served. The Body is the main ingredient and can consist of other greens, vegetables, another salad made from cooked ingredients such as chicken.

What is a salad that all ingredients are arranged in the plate? ›

In a tossed salad, the ingredients are placed in a bowl and mixed with a salad dressing. In a composed salad, various ingredients are arranged on a serving platter or plates with the salad dressing drizzled on top or served on the side.

What is the healthiest salad you can eat? ›

10 Nutrient-Dense Salad Recipes
  • Low-Carb Asian Chopped Salad.
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  • Tofu and Kale Salad.
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  • Mediterranean Chicken Salad.
  • Blood Orange and Quinoa Kale Salad.
  • Golden Beet and Pomegranate Salad.
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Jul 20, 2021

What is C salad called? ›

A Caesar salad (also spelled Cesar, César and Cesare) is a green salad of romaine lettuce and croutons dressed with lemon juice (or lime juice), olive oil, eggs or egg yolks, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, Dijon mustard, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper.

What can I add to salad to make it better? ›

Add one or more of these protein-rich foods to your salad:
  1. lean meat: chicken or turkey breast, lean steak.
  2. lower-fat cheese: light cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, feta, goat cheese.
  3. legumes: kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, white or black beans.
  4. eggs: hard boiled.
  5. soy products: cubed tofu, edamame.

What are the 4 basic parts of a salad? ›

Basegives the definition to the salads placement on the plat or platter
Bodyis the main ingredient of the salad, this should be the focal point of the presentation as it sets on top of the base
Dressingused to enhance the flavor, toasted with the bogy of the salad or served on the side
Garnishadds texture, color and form
2 more rows

What is the slang toss salad? ›

It is a slang term. To “toss my salad” would mean you're having someone perform anilingus on you. In other words, someone is licking your butthole sexually. Nicki Minaj references the act in her song Anaconda.

What goes good with a salad? ›

Here are seven quick additions from the pantry that always do the trick.
  • Beans or Lentils. ...
  • Leftover Rice or Grains. ...
  • Tuna. ...
  • A Hard- or Soft-Boiled Egg. ...
  • Leftover Pasta. ...
  • Bread. ...
  • Olives.
May 2, 2019

What is the composition of salad dressing? ›

Salad dressings represent one of the typical oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions composed of vegetable oil, vinegar, egg yolk, and starch, which can be categorized into three groups based on the oil content: (1) mayonnaise, (2) spoonable, and (3) French-type dressings.

Is a salad a mixture or a compound? ›

A salad is a mixture of fruits and vegetables, where the fruits and vegetables can be of any desired amount. Hence, a salad is a heterogeneous mixture with an indefinite composition.

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