Description
Alton Brown’s spinach salad showcases crisp greens with bacon, mushrooms, and a tangy warm dressing. Guests will savor each bite of this classic Southern-style salad that balances rich flavors with fresh ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (226 g) young spinach
- 8 pieces bacon, thick-sliced, chopped
- 2 large eggs
- 4 white mushrooms, large, sliced
- 3 oz (85 g) red onion, thinly sliced
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) red wine vinegar
- ½ tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp sugar
- kosher salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Leaf Preparation: Meticulously cleanse spinach leaves, eliminating stems, and delicately dry using paper towels. Transfer pristine greens to a generous mixing vessel.
- Egg Poaching: Submerge eggs completely in boiling water within an electric kettle. Allow eggs to steep for 15 minutes, then delicately extract and peel. Segment each egg into eight symmetrical wedges.
- Bacon Rendering: Sizzle bacon in a skillet until achieving a golden, crisp texture. Extract bacon onto absorbent paper, reserving precisely 3 tablespoons of rendered fat.
- Dressing Composition: Merge red wine vinegar, granulated sugar, and Dijon mustard in a low-heated saucepan. Crush egg yolks and integrate with bacon drippings, whisking until achieving a luxurious, silky emulsion. Season with freshly ground pepper and kosher salt.
- Salad Assembly: Incorporate sliced mushrooms and onions into spinach. Gently fold crumbled bacon and crafted dressing throughout the mixture, ensuring comprehensive coating.
- Plating: Distribute salad across four individual plates, artfully crowning each portion with segmented eggs. Optionally dust with additional black pepper. Serve promptly to maintain optimal freshness and crisp ingredients.
Notes
- Spinach Selection: Choose fresh, vibrant green leaves without wilting or browning to ensure maximum flavor and nutritional quality.
- Egg Precision: Timing is crucial; 15 minutes creates perfectly cooked eggs with creamy, not chalky, yolks for optimal dressing texture.
- Bacon Technique: Use thick-cut bacon and cook slowly to render maximum fat, which becomes the foundation of the rich, flavorful dressing.
- Dressing Balance: Whisk continuously while adding ingredients to create a stable emulsion, preventing separation and ensuring smooth, cohesive flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg