Warm Bacon-Dressed Spinach Salad
Warm Bacon-Dressed Spinach Salad layers tender baby spinach with earthy mushrooms, sweet cherry tomatoes, and hearty black-eyed peas, all coated in a tangy-sweet hot bacon vinaigrette. The dressing brings smoky richness balanced by cider vinegar and Dijon, making each bite bright yet savory. Serve as a crowd-pleasing side for holiday spreads, potlucks, or a satisfying weeknight dinner starter.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook20 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Warm Bacon-Dressed Spinach Salad, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 45 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 24 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 92 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 32
- Heart Health
- 71
- Metabolic
- 55
- Digestive
- 30
- Inflammatory
- 49
- Performance
- 51
- General Wellness
- 1
Cook and stir the bacon with 1/4 cup vegetable in a skillet over medium heat until the bacon is browned and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Pour the bacon into a strainer set over a bowl, keeping 1/3 cup of the bacon drippings.
- 2
Return the skillet to medium heat. Stir the onions and salt into the skillet; cook and stir until the onions are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic; cook, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant and golden, 1 minute.
- 3
Stir the cider vinegar, rice vinegar, 1/2 cup water, sugar, and Dijon mustard into the onion mixture. Raise the heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer.
- 4
Whisk 2 teaspoons water and cornstarch in a bowl. Slowly pour the cornstarch mixture into the onion mixture and whisk until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to low.
- 5
Slowly drizzle the reserved 1/3 cup bacon drippings into the onion mixture while whisking constantly. Add the cooked bacon and stir to combine. Season with cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper to taste.
- 6
Combine the spinach, black-eyed peas, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes in a large bowl; toss to mix. Drizzle the hot bacon dressing over the spinach mixture; toss quickly and serve at once.
- Calories 493.6 kcal High 25%
- Protein 26.88 g Good Source 54%
- Carbohydrate 58.51 g 21%
- Total Fat 16.78 g High 22%
- Saturated Fat 4.03 g High 20%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 17.77 mg Moderate 6%
- Sodium 584.29 mg High 25%
- Dietary Fiber 8.56 g Good Source 31%
- Total Sugars 22.47 g --
- Added Sugars 1.16 g Low Source 2%
- Calcium 107.53 mg Low Source 8%
- Iron 5.91 mg Good Source 33%
- Potassium 226.93 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin A 47.91 mcg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin C 23.46 mg Good Source 26%
- Vitamin D 0.44 mcg Low Source 2%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Mustard
- Corn 🌽
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Warm Bacon Dressed Spinach Salad is made with 18 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 35 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Apple Cider Vinegar, Baby Spinach, Bacon, and Bacon Fat. Each serving provides about 493.6 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Warm Bacon-Dressed Spinach Salad made of?
- The main ingredients are Apple Cider Vinegar, Baby Spinach, Bacon, Bacon Fat, Black-Eyed Peas. The full list of 18 is above.
- How long does it take to make Warm Bacon-Dressed Spinach Salad?
- About 35 mins in total: 15 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 493.6 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Warm Bacon-Dressed Spinach Salad easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 18 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Warm Bacon-Dressed Spinach Salad healthy?
- Warm Bacon-Dressed Spinach Salad has an easyChef Pro health score of 50/100. Per serving, it provides 493.6 calories and 26.88 g of protein, or 54% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, iron and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 584.29 mg (25% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 4.03 g (20% of the Daily Value). It contains Mustard, Corn, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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