dijon Archives • A Sweet Pea Chef

Pair fresh, crisp spinach with a flavorful bacon dressing and then top with mushrooms and boiled eggs. The result is a quick, good-for-you salad that makes a main course dinner or savory side dish any night of the week! I’m so excited to share this Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing with you. It’s easy to make, absolutely delish, and mouthwatering. It’s a “turn on the tastebuds” kind of salad. I’m not kidding. I really enjoy it because it combines vibrant flavors with different textures which leaves your mouth and tastebuds guessing, but in a very good bacon-y way. There are pieces of irresistible crumbled bacon, crisp spinach, thinly sliced red onions, and a warm bacon dressing made with red wine vinegar, some sugar, and reserved bacon drippings. Think about it – baby spinach leaves drizzled with a warm dressing that is smoky and just a little sweet. You just can’t beat a homemade dressing for taste and I really like knowing what’s going into my food, too. When I make it myself, I feel good about eating it. Combine the spinach and the dressing with crumbled bacon that gives extra tastiness to every bite. And eggs freshly boiled and a touch warm, or pre-cooked and cold out of the fridge. It’s pure salad heaven. So yes, I love Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing. Dustin does, too. Traditionally, this salad includes sliced hard-boiled eggs, but Dustin and I have also enjoyed it with a poached egg. Once you try this Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing, I can pretty well guarantee it will be one of the top salads on your list. It’s also company-worthy because it’s classy and impressive. So, let’s go ahead and make it! EXTRAS TO ADD TO SPINACH SALAD WITH WARM BACON DRESSING If you’ve had a super busy day and are in the mood for a salad for dinner, Spinach Salad With Warm Bacon Dressing is a great choice. You can add a few extra ingredients if you have a huge appetite: Walnut Avocado Cherry tomatoes Cut up cooked chicken Cheese Grated carrot BEST TYPE OF BACON FOR SPINACH SALAD WITH WARM BACON DRESSING We all know that bacon is a food that should be eaten in moderation. It’s super tasty, and when cooked crispy and evenly throughout, it’s amazing in a dressing like this one. How to enjoy bacon: Buy nitrite and nitrate free bacon Choose low sodium brands Choose a brand with no added sugars Thick-cut bacon works best Always eat a veggie alongside bacon, such as the spinach here My personal fave bacon is the Pederson's brand, if you're able to find it. HOW TO STORE AND REHEAT SPINACH SALAD WITH WARM BACON DRESSING If you think you will want to have this salad a second night throughout the week – and it’s so delicious, I have no doubt you will – boil extra eggs and keep them in the fridge for up to one week. When you are ready to make your salad, simply peel them and they are ready. For the warm bacon dressing, store in an airtight mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. When you want to reheat it, take the lid of the jar, put in the microwave and heat at 20-second increments until warm. VEGAN SUBSTITUTES FOR SPINACH SALAD WITH WARM BACON DRESSING You may follow a vegan lifestyle but still want to enjoy this nutrient-rich salad. It’s easily done and then this warm-dressing salad can grace your table, too! Use substitutes that take on the flavor of the spices you choose: Try tempeh, which is a fermented soy product. You can fry in thin or thick slices, just like bacon. Seitan is a vegan product with a texture that is chewy liked bacon when cooked. Shiitake mushrooms are a popular switch, and so is coconut, which can be fried, too. You can also sauté rough breadcrumbs and add smoked paprika. Substitute the eggs: Marinated tofu is the top replacement for eggs. A popular marinade is sriracha, soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil blended together. MORE HEALTHY SALADS Once you get into the habit of eating healthy salads several times a week, you’ll be glad you did. You will feel great and the varieties of salads are almost endless! Take a look at a few of my favorites: Mason Jar Salad Healthy Broccoli Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing Strawberry Salad with Chia Seed Vinaigrette Healthy Taco Salad Recipe Chicken Cobb Mason Jar Salad Steak Cobb Salad with Creamy Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing Summer Corn Edamame Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette Beet and Goat Cheese Salad with White Wine Vinegar Spinach Salad With Warm Bacon Dressing Pair fresh, crisp spinach with a flavorful bacon dressing and then top with mushrooms and boiled eggs. The result is a quick, good-for-you salad that makes a main course dinner or savory side dish any night of the week! 16 ounces fresh baby spinach4 eggs8 slices thick bacon (nitrate-free)3 tbsp red wine vinegar1/2 tsp coconut sugar1/2 tsp Dijon mustard ((can substitute spicy mustard))1/8 tsp ground black pepper4-6 large white mushrooms (sliced)1/2 red onion (very thinly sliced) Add the eggs to a deep pot and completely cover with cold water. Heat the pan over medium-high heat until the water starts to boil. Once the water boils, turn off the heat, cover the pan with a lid and allow to sit for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, carefully drain the hot water and rinse the hard-boiled eggs in cold water to stop them from cooking further. Set the eggs aside to cool. When ready to serve, peel them and slice in half.While the eggs are boiling, fry the bacon in a large fry pan over medium heat until crispy, flipping occasionally. Once crispy, remove from the pan and place on a paper towel to cool and drain, reserving 3 tbsp. of the bacon drippings.When the bacon is cooled, crumble and set aside.Transfer the 3 tbsp. bacon drippings to a small mixing bowl and whisk in the red wine vinegar, coconut sugar, Dijon mustard, and black pepper. Season with any additional salt or pepper, to taste.Place the spinach, mushrooms and sliced red onion in a large mixing bowl and toss to combine. Add the dressing and bacon and toss to combine.Divide the salad between 2-4 plates or bowls and evenly divide the halved eggs among them.Serve while dressing is still warm. This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.