Chopped Salads are a huge trend right now, and a refreshing way to eat during these excruciating hot summer months. So I decided to pay homage to the chopped salad that has been called “The Most Photographed Dish in the Valley.” The Cowboy Stetson Chopped Salad has become so iconic that some Arizonans refer to this colorful array of greens as the “State Salad of Arizona.” It originated 27 years at Cowboy Ciao in Old Town Scottsdale which closed its doors in 2018.

I love this salad. Frankly, I love just about any salad that has bite-sized pieces that you can eat with a fork instead of a knife and fork. I also appreciate the mixture of ingredients in the Cowboy Stetson, because for me it’s all about color and crunch. The dressing is fantastic especially if you make your own pesto sauce. (In my opinion, there’s nothing worse than a shelf-stable jar of pesto.)

Salads will always be a staple for light and healthful eating, but you’ll certainly be “bucking” the trend with the Cowboy Stetson Chopped Salad!