Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing and Soft-Boiled Eggs
In short: Baby spinach with crisp bacon, mushrooms and soft-boiled eggs, tossed in a warm bacon and red wine vinegar dressing that wilts the leaves. It takes about 30 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 30 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 285 kcal
A warm bacon dressing turns a bowl of raw spinach into something closer to a light supper. The bacon fat is whisked with shallot, vinegar and mustard right in the pan, then poured over the leaves so they soften slightly while the mushrooms and red onion stay crisp. Soft-boiled eggs finish the plate. It takes about 30 minutes and suits lunch or a quick weeknight dinner.
Instructions
- Lower the eggs into a pan of gently boiling water and cook for 6 1/2 minutes for set whites and jammy yolks. Move them to a bowl of ice water for 2 minutes, then peel and halve.
- Pile the spinach, mushrooms and red onion into a large heatproof bowl.
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring now and then, until browned and crisp. Lift it out with a slotted spoon onto paper towels.
- Leave about 3 tablespoons of fat in the pan and pour off the rest. If the pan looks dry, add the olive oil. Cook the shallot over medium heat for 1 minute until soft.
- Add the vinegar, sugar and mustard and stir for 30 seconds, scraping up the browned bits. Season with pepper and a small pinch of salt, since the bacon is already salty.
- Pour the hot dressing over the spinach and toss with tongs until the leaves just begin to wilt. Scatter on the bacon, top with the eggs and serve right away.
Tips
- Use thick-cut bacon so the pieces stay chewy and crisp. For a meat-free version, swap the bacon for pan-fried smoked tofu cubes and use olive oil for the dressing.
- If the dressing tastes too sharp, whisk in a little more sugar. Dress the salad only when you are ready to eat, because the spinach keeps wilting as it sits.
Questions and answers
Can I make wilted spinach salad ahead of time?
Only in part. Cook the bacon and eggs a few hours ahead, but make the hot dressing and toss the salad just before serving, or the spinach turns limp and watery.
Can I use regular spinach instead of baby spinach?
Yes, but remove the thick stems and tear large leaves. Mature spinach is tougher, so it benefits from a minute or two under the hot dressing.
What goes well with spinach salad and bacon dressing?
Crusty bread, roast potatoes or a bowl of soup turn it into a full meal. It also works as a side for grilled steak or roast chicken.
How long does it take to make Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing and Soft-Boiled Eggs?
About 30 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing and Soft-Boiled Eggs?
About 285 kcal per serving, with 15 g of protein, 6 g of carbohydrates and 23 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 285 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 15 g |
| Carbohydrates | 6 g |
| Fat | 23 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 600 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
