Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing Recipe

By maxwells4

Ingredients

• ***Dressing:***
• 8 slices bacon, fried crisp, drained and crumbled
• 2 tablespoons reserved bacon drippings
• 1/2 cup vinegar (balsamic or malted add nice flavor)
• 1/4 cup white or brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder or to taste
• black pepper to taste
• paprika for garnish
• ***Salad:***
• 1 bunch fresh spinach leaves
• 4 hard boiled eggs
• Other ingredients to taste: radish slices, mushroom slices, and carrot shavings are what my mom used to use.

Details

Servings 4
Adapted from cdkitchen.com

Preparation

Step 1

Prepare salad first. Wash spinach carefully in cold water, pinch off stems and tear leaves bite size. Cutting causes bruising of the leaves. Hold prepared spinach in ice water till ready to toss with other ingredients.

Chop eggs fine with pastry blender or two knives and sprinkle with paprika. In a large bowl, mix eggs with the other vegetables. For fancy dinners or parties, see note about the carrots. Add the spinach last, after it has crisped a bit.

In the pan used to fry the bacon: drain off all excess grease, reserve your 2 Tbsp, and return pan to low heat. Add reserved drippings, vinegar, sugar, and spices, stirring and heating (do not boil) till sugar dissolves and pan is somewhat deglazed. Remove from heat.

Just before serving, add bacon to dressing in pan, mix briefly. Quickly pour over salad, and toss. The heat should wilt the spinach slightly. This is why quick tossing is important, so you don't have soggy leaves on top and fresh ones on the bottom.

Serve immediately. Makes a great dinner salad.

Note: for presentation, make thick, long carrot shavings, roll into a curl about 1/2" diameter, and skewer with a toothpick. Put the carrot curls in ice water for about 10-15 min. Just before serving but after tossing the dressing on the salad, pull out the toothpicks and lay the curls on top of the salad. You can also reserve one egg and slice it to lay on the top as well, sprinkled with paprika. Oooohs and Aaaahs all around, guaranteed.
This recipe from CDKitchen for Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing