Warm Spinach Salad with Bacon and Pine Nuts
Elevate your salad game with this irresistible Warm Spinach Salad with Bacon and Pine Nuts! Perfectly tender baby spinach is tossed in a tangy, warm balsamic dressing infused with garlic and Dijon mustard, creating the ideal balance of flavors. Crispy bacon crumbles and golden-toasted pine nuts add a delightful crunch and smoky nuttiness that make every bite unforgettable. Featuring simple, wholesome ingredients like red onion and honey, this quick 25-minute recipe is ideal for busy weeknights or impressing guests at dinner parties. Serve it as a hearty appetizer or a satisfying side dish—this warm salad is guaranteed to leave everyone craving more!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 6 cups baby spinach
- 6 slices bacon
- 2 tablespoons pine nuts
- 0.5 medium red onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 0.25 teaspoons salt
- 0.25 teaspoons black pepper
Instructions
Wash the baby spinach thoroughly and pat it dry. Set it aside in a large salad bowl.
Place the bacon slices in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook until crispy, flipping occasionally. Once cooked, transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings in the skillet and discard the rest.
Crumble the bacon into small pieces and set aside.
Return the skillet with the reserved bacon drippings to medium heat. Add the pine nuts and toast them for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until they are golden and fragrant. Remove the pine nuts from the skillet and set them aside.
Thinly slice the red onion and mince the garlic. Add both to the skillet and sauté for 2 minutes until the onions are slightly softened and the garlic is fragrant.
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper. Whisk the mixture gently to combine and warm through. Remove the skillet from heat.
Pour the warm dressing mixture over the baby spinach in the salad bowl and toss gently to coat the leaves evenly.
Sprinkle the crumbled bacon and toasted pine nuts over the salad.
Serve immediately while warm. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
730 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 57.6 g | 74% | |
| Saturated Fat | 10.9 g | 55% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 11.4 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 48 mg | 16% | |
| Sodium | 1661 mg | 72% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 28.7 g | 10% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 6.4 g | 23% | |
| Total Sugars | 14.0 g | ||
| Protein | 24.3 g | 49% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 220 mg | 17% | |
| Iron | 8.1 mg | 45% | |
| Potassium | 543 mg | 12% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
