This Spinach Salad With Warm Bacon Dressing is an utterly healthy and decadent treat! Fresh, crispy leaves of spinach are tossed in with juicy tomatoes, sourish red onions, hard-boiled eggs, and crunchy croutons, and drizzled with warm, savory bacon dressing that is deep in flavor. It is one of the most classic salads for any meal, during the middle of the day, in the evening, or even as a great accompaniment for special events. Let’s learn how to make this delicious and restaurant-tasting salad at your home.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- Fresh baby spinach (6 cups, washed and dried)
- Bacon (6 slices, chopped)
- Red onion (½ small, thinly sliced)
- Cherry tomatoes (1 cup, halved)
- Hard-boiled eggs (2, sliced or quartered)
- Mushrooms (½ cup, sliced, optional)
- Croutons (1 cup, optional)
- Feta or goat cheese (½ cup, crumbled, optional)
For the Warm Bacon Dressing:
- Bacon drippings (reserved from cooked bacon, about ¼ cup)
- Red wine vinegar (3 tbsp)
- Dijon mustard (1 tsp)
- Sugar (1 tbsp)
- Salt (¼ tsp)
- Black pepper (¼ tsp)
- Garlic (1 clove, minced)
- Honey (1 tbsp, optional, for a touch of sweetness)
Instructions
Step 1: Cook the Bacon
In a skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped bacon until it is crispy and browned, about 5-7 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, reserving the bacon drippings in the skillet.
Step 2: Prepare the Warm Bacon Dressing
With the skillet still over medium heat, add the minced garlic to the bacon drippings and sauté for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, salt, and black pepper to the skillet, whisking continuously to combine. If desired, add honey for a touch of sweetness. Continue to cook for 1-2 minutes until the dressing is slightly thickened. Remove from heat.
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Step 3: Assemble the Salad
In a large salad bowl, combine the fresh spinach, sliced red onion, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms (if using), and hard-boiled eggs. Pour the warm bacon dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat the spinach and other ingredients evenly.
Step 4: Serve and Garnish
Top the salad with the crispy bacon pieces, croutons, and crumbled feta or goat cheese, if desired. Serve immediately while the dressing is still warm.
Serving and Storage Tips
Serve this salad immediately after the hot dressing has been poured to give you the best flavor and texture.
If you have leftovers, put them in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consume within 2 days. Keep cold and reheat gently.
Everything can be prepared the day before-the salad here can include all the components and kept apart from the dressing, which you can simply reheat to drizzle over the salad as you serve it.
Helpful Notes
Toast your croutons in the bacon drippings to add flavor and a bit of brown to the croutons–about a minute being enough-and thus flavoring them; serve into the salad.
Besides just the bacon and croutons themselves, there are many different ways to top salads, from sliced avocado to toasted nuts and dried cranberries, for texture and flavor.
Apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar can be a welcome change as per your taste, substituting red wine vinegar.
Tips from Well-Known Chefs
Ina Garten: You need thick-cut bacon as a textural and flavorful ingredient.
Jamie Oliver: Just a pinch of chili flake in the dressing gives you a slight heat.
Gordon Ramsay: Try using half baby spinach and half arugula for a more varied, fuller flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there some green other than spinach that I can use for this salad?
Definitely, yes. Some excellent substitutes you can use are arugula, kale, or mixed baby greens in place of spinach.
How can I make this salad vegetarian?
Using vegetarian bacon or taking out bacon and adding some toasted nuts will give a similar crumbly texture.
Can I trade another kind of vinegar for white wine?
Yes! Apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and even sherry vinegar would be good choices for other vinegars used for this recipe.
What if I run out of Dijon mustard?
Settle with yellow mustard or also whole grain mustard as a substitution.
Can I add some vegetables?
Yes, for an extra crunch and color, add thinly sliced bell peppers, cucumbers, or radishes.
How do you stop the spinach from wilting?
You toss the salad already dressed with the heated dressing just before you eat it, so that the spinach won’t wilt too much.
Can the salad dressing be prepared beforehand and stored?
Yes. And it can be done simply by adding dressing to the salad and storing it in the icebox rather than further cooling the salad. Slowly warm over low heat on the stove or in the microwave before serving.
What sides go with this salad?
You should serve this salad with grilled chicken, steak, or fish for a complete meal.
How can I thicken the dressing even more?
You can leave the dressing to cook for a little longer over medium heat or stir in a small amount of corn syrup or even make a cornstarch slurry from 1 tsp cornstarch and 2 tsp water before whisking until the desired consistency is achieved.
Can I use turkey bacon instead of regular bacon?
Yes, turkey bacon works great as a lighter and lower-fat alternative.
This meal-you’re going to have it’s warm Bacon Dressing Spinach Salad!;which is a wonderful savory every-meal dish.
