Recipe Talk

Spinach Salad with Bacon Dressing

Here is more about me from an article that appeared in Woman's World ...
April 05

This is a recipe I came up with when spinach was on sale. South Beach doesn't encourage eating bacon due to the saturated fat, but the amount of bacon in a serving of this dressing is very small, and it adds a lot of flavor.

SPINACH SALAD WITH BACON DRESSING

Bacon Dressing:

1/4 cup cooked, diced bacon

1/2 cup Mayo (not lite or fat free)

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

1 tsp. splenda

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp. Vege-sal (or pinch salt)

couple twists fresh ground pepper

In food processor or blender chop bacon until it is in very small bits. Add oil, mayo, vinegar, splenda, garlic powder, onion powder, Dijon, salt and pepper. Pulse a few times until ingredients are well combined. Shake well before using.

Salad:

fresh spinach leaves

fresh diced mushrooms

fresh diced red pepper

Diced cooked egg

feta cheese

You could add any other ingredients you like such as:

diced cooked asparagus

sliced olives

sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans or cashews

chopped red cabbage

artichoke hearts

hearts of palm

Be sure to shake dressing well. You don't need much dressing to get a lot of flavor. I like to drizzle the dressing over the spinach, mix well, and then layer on the other ingredients.

This dressing is fantastic on sliced tomatoes.When the dressing has been in the refrigerator, you need to bring it to room temperature before you use it.

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Spinach Salad with Blue Cheese and Bacon

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

3/4 teaspoon dijon mustard

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 pound fresh spinach (6 c. packed)

washed, stems discarded

1 cup thinly sliced fresh mushrooms

3 slices bacon, cooked, crumbled

1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (or feta)

In a small bowl whisk together the lemon juice, the mustard, and salt and pepper to taste, add the oil in a stream, whisking, and whisk the dressing until it is emulsified. In a bowl combine the spinach, the mushrooms, the bacon, the onion, the blue cheese, and the dressing and toss the salad until it is combined well.

Serves 2.
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Spinach Salad

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 bunches Baby Spinach

1/2 head Radicchio

8 pieces Double-Cut Smoked Bacon

2 Beefsteak Tomatoes

1/2 cup Blue Cheese

1 small Red Onion

1/2 cup Olive Oil

3 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar

Salt and Pepper

Method:

Roughly chop radicchio, dice the tomatoes and thinly slice the red onion.

Add all vegetables to the spinach.

Whisk the olive oil and vinegar together and season to taste.

Gently toss the vegetables with the vinaigrette until the leaves are evenly coated.

Crumble the bacon and blue cheese on top and serve immediately.