The Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon-Mustard Dressing is a delectable and hearty salad that perfectly blends the earthy flavors of fresh spinach with the rich, savory taste of bacon and the tangy kick of mustard. This dish is known for its warm dressing, which beautifully wilts the spinach leaves, creating a unique texture and depth of flavor. It’s a versatile salad that can be served as a standalone meal or as a side dish.
Ingredients and Preparation:
At the core of this salad is fresh baby spinach, chosen for its tender texture and slightly sweet, earthy flavor. Spinach is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, making this salad not only delicious but also nutritious. The leaves are rinsed and dried, ensuring they maintain their texture when dressed.
The highlight of the salad is the warm bacon-mustard dressing. This begins with cooking bacon until it’s crispy. Once cooked, the bacon is removed and set aside, but the rendered fat is kept in the pan. This bacon fat forms the base of the dressing, to which finely chopped shallots or red onions are added and sautéed until softened.
For the dressing, Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, and a touch of honey or brown sugar are whisked into the bacon fat. This combination creates a rich, tangy, and slightly sweet dressing. The dressing is warmed through but not brought to a boil, ensuring it’s the perfect temperature to gently wilt the spinach leaves.
Assembly and Serving:
To assemble the salad, the fresh spinach is placed in a large bowl. The warm bacon-mustard dressing is then poured over the spinach, and the salad is gently tossed to evenly coat the leaves and allow them to wilt slightly. The crispy bacon is crumbled and added to the salad, along with optional ingredients like hard-boiled eggs, sliced mushrooms, or red onion rings for additional flavors and textures.
Variations and Tips:
This salad is quite adaptable. For a vegetarian version, the bacon can be omitted, and a vegetable oil can be used to sauté the shallots or onions. Additional elements like toasted nuts, dried cranberries, or goat cheese can also be included to add different flavors and textures.
The Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon-Mustard Dressing is a delightful combination of warm and cool, crisp and tender, sweet and savory. Its rich dressing and hearty ingredients make it a satisfying choice for a cold day, and it can easily be adapted to suit different dietary needs or flavor preferences. Whether served as a main dish or a side, this salad is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon-Mustard Dressing Recipe | S2Recipes
Details Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon-Mustard Dressing Recipes
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 20 mins
Servings: 4
Ingredients For Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon-Mustard Dressing Recipes
1 (10 ounce) bag baby spinach leaves
10 ounces Swiss cheese, shredded
4 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and sliced
1 cup sliced mushrooms
4 strips crisply cooked bacon, crumbled
½ cup toasted sliced almonds
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large shallot, minced
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
⅓ cup white wine vinegar
⅓ cup Dijon mustard
⅓ cup honey
2 strips crisply cooked bacon, crumbled
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions: Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon-Mustard Dressing Recipes
Step 1: Place spinach into a large serving bowl; top with Swiss cheese, hard-cooked eggs, mushrooms, 4 crumbled strips of bacon, and almonds.
Step 2: Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Stir in shallots and garlic; cook and stir until shallots are softened, about 2 minutes. Whisk in vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, and 2 crumbled strips of bacon until heated through; season to taste with salt and pepper.
Step 3: Pour hot dressing over spinach and toss to coat.
Feedback of Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon-Mustard Dressing Recipes
The warm dressing is full of flavor. We added dried cranberries.
really good
I make this every time I get fresh strawberries. First had it at a chain restaurant just outside of Disney World many years ago!I just don't do the warmed dressing for just me. And I use red wine vinegar and olive oil for the dressing.If you've got the ingredients, go ahead and follow recipe exactly, it's amazing!
We used shredded mozzarella instead of Swiss, and everybody loved it!
Great recipe. I prefer to use Turkey Bacon so I did not add sodium, as it is relatively salty. I only used two strips diced, none on top. Again, pretty salty with the bacon. I discovered I did not have White White Vinegar so I substituted 2 tsp Rice Wine Vinegar, 1/3 cup Sauvignon Blanc, and cut the Honey in half to keep the bite of the Dijon. I made the dressing in the bacon pan! Marvelous!! Thank you for the recipe!
Incredible combination. Made it last night and will make this my go-to spinach salad recipe. DELICIOUS!!!!!
Delicious! I made it without the eggs or almonds and it was still great.
I’ve made a version of this for years. Perfect for any time or occasion. That being said…I advise changes. As already mentioned, quickly cook shallots and garlic in the bacon drippings. save the drippings and use instead of olive oil. Dial way back on the prepared mustard and add some powdered mustard. I also agree that the dressing ingredients should all be heated together before pouring over the spinach. Omit the cheese. Wholly unnecessary and doesn’t contribute to the flavor. Also, you don’t need a whole hard-cooked egg per person unless the salad is a main dish. I would add a sprinkling of chopped pecans or sliced almonds.
First off i did use honey ginger white balsamic vinegar in place of wine vinegar. I really enjoyed this salad. Paired perfect with pork chops.
All Nutrifacts of Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon-Mustard Dressing Recipes
TOP 5+ FAQ Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon-Mustard Dressing Recipes
✅What are the essential ingredients for a Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon-Mustard Dressing?
Essential ingredients for Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon-Mustard Dressing include fresh spinach leaves, crispy cooked bacon, hard-boiled eggs, red onion, and mushrooms. The warm dressing typically consists of bacon grease, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, honey or sugar, and minced garlic, creating a flavorful balance of sweet and tangy.
✅How do you prepare the warm bacon-mustard dressing?
To prepare the warm bacon-mustard dressing, start by cooking bacon in a pan until crisp. Remove the bacon and use the rendered bacon grease as the base. Whisk in Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, honey or sugar, minced garlic, and salt and pepper. Heat the mixture until warm and emulsified. Crumble the cooked bacon and add it back into the dressing or use it as a topping for the salad.
✅What makes the warm bacon-mustard dressing unique?
The uniqueness of the warm bacon-mustard dressing comes from its rich and tangy flavor profile, achieved by combining the savory depth of bacon grease with the sharpness of Dijon mustard and the acidity of apple cider vinegar. The warmth of the dressing not only intensifies its flavors but also gently wilts the spinach leaves, enhancing the salad's texture.
✅Can this spinach salad recipe be modified for vegetarian diets?
Yes, for a vegetarian version of this salad, omit the bacon and use a vegetarian substitute for bacon grease, like olive oil or butter, to make the dressing. You can also add vegetarian bacon bits for a similar smoky flavor. The rest of the ingredients, including the spinach, eggs, onion, and mushrooms, remain the same.
✅What are the health benefits of the Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon-Mustard Dressing?
This salad offers health benefits primarily from the spinach, which is high in vitamins A, C, and K, iron, and antioxidants. The eggs provide protein and healthy fats. However, the bacon and dressing, while flavorful, add saturated fat and calories, so portion control is key for a balanced diet.
✅Is this salad suitable for a keto diet?
Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon-Mustard Dressing can be suitable for a keto diet. The salad is low in carbohydrates, and the bacon and eggs provide protein and fats, which are conducive to a keto dietary plan. However, be mindful of the sugar content in the dressing and adjust the ingredients accordingly.
✅How can one ensure the spinach doesn't become too wilted when adding the warm dressing?
To ensure the spinach doesn't become too wilted, the warm dressing should be added just before serving and tossed gently with the spinach. The dressing should be warm but not too hot. This way, the spinach will be slightly softened but still retain its fresh and crisp texture.
✅What are some variations or additions that can be made to this salad recipe?
Variations or additions to enhance the salad can include adding sliced avocado for creaminess, cherry tomatoes for sweetness, or toasted nuts like almonds for crunch. For more protein, grilled chicken or shrimp can be added. Crumbled cheese like feta or goat cheese also pairs well with the flavors of this salad.
