Spinach Salad with Spinach Salad Dressing

spinach bacon salad with spinach salad dressing in white bowl

4.74 from 15 votes

Spinach Salad with Spinach Salad Dressing

This delicious spinach salad recipe is loaded with texture and flavor and finished with a sweet and tangy dressing. Hearty enough to serve as a main, it's easy and quick to make.

Prep Time15

Total Time15

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Difficulty: Easy

Servings: people

Author: Becky Hardin

Ingredients

For the Spinach Salad:

1 pound thin-sliced bacon cooked crisp and crumbled
8 ounces fresh baby spinach leaves trimmed of stems
1 cup sliced button mushrooms
½ small red onion thinly sliced
4-6 hard boiled eggs peeled & thinly sliced
Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
1-2 cups croutons homemade or store bought (see link for homemade)
1½ cups sliced fresh tomatoes

Optional Ingredients:

Crumbled or shredded cheese
Honey Roasted Pecans
Chopped celery
Frozen baby peas

For the Spinach Salad Dressing:

½ cup canola oil
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
1¼ teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon ground mustard
½ teaspoon granulated toasted onion
4 teaspoons dark brown sugar
4 teaspoons mild molasses
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons dried parsley or 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh

Instructions

For the Spinach Salad:

Add all ingredients (except croutons tomatoes) in a large serving bowl and keep refrigerated.
When ready to serve, add croutons and tomatoes, and toss gently with just enough dressing to very lightly coat the salad ingredients. (If making 1 day ahead, see *Note below.)
Serve immediately and enjoy!

For the Spinach Salad Dressing:

Whisk all ingredients together and refrigerate, in an airtight container, at least 2 hours before serving. (The dressing tastes even better if allowed to refrigerate overnight.)
Whisk well before using.

Notes

Alternate instructions for the dressing: Add all to a blender and mix until fully incorporated, about 1 minute.
To make the salad 1 day ahead: Prepare and refrigerate all salad ingredients and dressing separately. When ready to serve, place ingredients in a large serving bowl and add just enough dressing. Toss gently and serve.
Salad Dressing yield: about ¾ cup dressing

Nutrition