Warm Spinach Salad with Bacon, Walnuts & Goat Cheese
by Fine Cooking staff
Serves four as a first course.
1/4 small red onion, very thinly sliced
3 Tbs. sherry vinegar
4-1/2 oz. thick-cut bacon (about 4 slices), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 oz. baby spinach (about 8 cups loosely packed), washed
Kosher salt
1-1/2 tsp. chopped fresh mint (optional)
Scant 1/4 cup shelled walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
2 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
Freshly ground black pepper
In a small bowl, soak the onion slices in the sherry vinegar.
In a heavy skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp, about 7 minutes. With tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a plate that’s lined with paper towels. Crumble when cool.
Pour off all but 3 Tbs. fat from the pan. Strain the vinegar from the onions into the pan and stir with a wooden spoon to loosen the browned bits and emulsify the dressing. Put the spinach in a medium bowl and drizzle the warm dressing over it. Toss and season with salt to taste.
Divide the spinach among four plates and garnish with the mint, walnuts, onion, and goat cheese. Sprinkle with the crumbled bacon, season with pepper, and serve.
nutrition information (per serving):
Calories
(kcal):
250;
Fat
(g):
24;
Fat Calories
(kcal):
210;
Saturated Fat
(g):
10;
Protein
(g):
8;
Monounsaturated Fat
(g):
8;
Carbohydrates
(g):
3;
Polyunsaturated Fat
(g):
4;
Sodium
(mg):
440;
Cholesterol
(mg):
30;
Fiber
(g):
1;
photo: Scott Phillips
From Fine Cooking 53
, pp. 94c
October 1, 2002