Home ยป Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing

Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing

Bud Light Wheat tastes sooo similar to Blue Moon with about 75 less calories per bottle!

I can’t tell you where this recipe came from. I mean, it’s from Alton Brown. But this craving hit me like a ton of bricks and I just had to have it this week. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve had spinach salad with warm bacon dressing. Even though this isn’t a typical “favorite” of mine (I do love it!), it’s one of my mom’s favorites.

But it can’t be all that healthy, right? Well, right. However, if you use less bacon and less bacon grease, you easily control the calories and fat (which is all saturated). Mr. Prevention accused this recipe (and me!) of not being healthy. Not so fast, sir. Check out those nutrition stats below.

To make the meal, I paired the salad with grilled shrimp–no fat added, with paprika–and grilled zucchini that was lightly tossed in extra-virgin olive oil and a light dusting of salt and pepper. All together, this meal fell right around 300 calories and was very filling! It was also packed with flavor…even a little bacon fat can go a LONG way 😉

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Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing from Alton Brown

6 oz spinach
2 large eggs
5 slices nitrate-free bacon, chopped
3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
8 large white mushrooms, sliced
1/2 small red onion, very thinly sliced

Directions:

Wash and dry the spinach thoroughly. Place into a large mixing bowl and set aside.

Boil eggs in a small pot of water, with at least 1 inch of water above the eggs. Lightly boil for about 10-12 minutes. Run cool water over the eggs and peel off the shells. Slice each egg into wedges and set aside.

While the eggs are cooking, fry the bacon and remove to a paper towel to drain, reserving 2 tablespoons of the rendered fat. Crumble the bacon and set aside.

Transfer the fat to a small saucepan set over low heat and whisk in the red wine vinegar, sugar and Dijon mustard. Season with a small pinch each of kosher salt and black pepper.

Add the mushrooms and the sliced onion to the spinach and toss. Add the dressing and bacon and toss to combine. Divide the spinach between 4 plates or bowls and evenly divide the egg among them. Serve immediately. Serves 4 (about 2 heaping cups of salad).

Nutrition Information (per serving): 123 calories; 6.3 g. fat; 120 mg. cholesterol; 314 mg. sodium; 7 g. carbohydrate; 2.3 g. fiber; 10.3 g. protein

Result: Yum…yum…yum! That’s all there is to say! Lightened up and just as delicious! Mr. Prevention gives a huge thumbs up, too! Enjoy!

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And, finally…TGIF! Friday the 13th!! I don’t know why, but this week has dragged.

Question: Any superstitious people out there with regards to Friday the 13th? 🙂

Happy weekend!

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22 Comments

  1. The Teenage Taste
    May 13, 2011 / 6:41 am

    That salad looks delicious. Actually anything made with bacon looks delicious to me! ๐Ÿ˜‰
    I am WAY superstititious! I try to be as cautious as I can on Friday the 13th!

    • Nicole
      Author
      May 13, 2011 / 7:12 am

      I am, too…hope we make it through the day. Kidding, kidding.. ๐Ÿ™‚ Happy Friday!

  2. Gina (The Candid RD)
    May 13, 2011 / 7:01 am

    I actually tried that Bud Light wheat beer not too long ago, and I agree, YUM! I loved it. Not only is it less calories, but it’s also cheaper than Blue Moon, double winner.

    Great recipe here. I love Alton Brown. He’s awesome. I make spinach salads a lot for Nick and myself, but never with this type of dressing. I’m too lazy. BUT, this sounds easy! Thanks for sharing.

    And…happy Friday!! See you in a week ๐Ÿ™‚

    • Nicole
      Author
      May 13, 2011 / 7:12 am

      Yes, MUCH cheaper!

      I’m excited ๐Ÿ™‚ Enjoy your weekend!

  3. Amy B @ Second City Randomness
    May 13, 2011 / 7:06 am

    I’m glad you made a comment about the Bud Light Wheat- I’ve had it a few times now and it really doesn’t get the recognition it deserves!

  4. Matt @ The Athlete's Plate
    May 13, 2011 / 8:02 am

    I would totally eat this. Bacon is the bomb.

  5. Katie @ Health for the Whole Self
    May 13, 2011 / 9:26 am

    This takes me bad to my childhood; spinach salads with bacon dressing were such a treat! Now I am totally craving one!

  6. Lena
    May 13, 2011 / 10:47 am

    Try a 13th and 30th birthday on Friday the 13th ;). Actually today has been really good. I even found S$2 on the ground this afternoon. Thanks for the birthday wishes!!

  7. Leah @ Why Deprive?
    May 13, 2011 / 11:35 am

    Ok – I want that salad like now.

    Im not too concerned for Friday the 13th, but I did try and leave for work this morning before even getting dressed. So maybe I should re-think things.

  8. Biz
    May 13, 2011 / 12:29 pm

    I love this salad!! I need to put that on my lunch menu next week! ๐Ÿ˜€

    Happy Friday – this week went by fast for me for some reason!

  9. marla
    May 13, 2011 / 12:48 pm

    Nicole this salad looks great!! Amazing how a little bacon can go a long way when it comes to fabulous flavor. Have a great weekend! xo

  10. Kristen (swanky dietitian)
    May 13, 2011 / 1:20 pm

    This salad looks delicious! I love the idea of a warm dressing. Yum!
    Blue moon is my absolute favorite beer but low cal it is not. I am going to have to try the Bud Light variety. Thanks for the suggestion!!

  11. Elena @ GagaForGrapefruit
    May 13, 2011 / 2:57 pm

    bacon dressing?! i’m CONVINCED! and i was actually born on Friday the 13th! so i’m not superstitious ๐Ÿ™‚

  12. Sophiegoose
    May 13, 2011 / 4:15 pm

    Friday the 13th is supposed to be lucky for women! ๐Ÿ™‚

  13. Katie
    May 13, 2011 / 8:33 pm

    That looks delicious! I love spinach salads. Good idea to throw in the shrimp for extra protein!

  14. Andrea@WellnessNotes
    May 14, 2011 / 12:45 am

    Awesome salad! Yum!

    Have a great weekend!

  15. Mo'Betta
    May 14, 2011 / 8:04 am

    I haven’t tried the BL Wheat, but now I have to give it a try! And this is my favorite spinach salad…can’t go wrong with bacon!!

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  17. Rebecca @ How the Cookies Crumble
    May 16, 2011 / 7:02 pm

    That salad looks like perfection for a summer meal! Especially paired with a beer. Although, I’ll take my beer gluten free please. ๐Ÿ™‚

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