Spinach, Mushroom, and Fennel Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette |
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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes |
Ready In: 0 Minutes Servings: 1 |
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Every hippie menu in the '70s had a spinach and mushroom salad, chef Mark Peel says about this recipe, inspired by a restaurant from his college days in Isla Vista, California. Cut it in half for a smaller group. Ingredients:
3 qts. (7 to 8 oz.) lightly packed baby spinach |
3 large eggs, hard-cooked and cut into wedges |
5 ounces mushrooms, thinly sliced |
5 ounces good-quality thick-cut bacon |
2 tablespoons canola oil |
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil |
1 large head fennel (about 4 in. wide), trimmed and thinly sliced |
2 1/2 tablespoons minced shallot |
1 1/2 teaspoons roughly chopped fresh thyme leaves |
2 1/2 tablespoons sherry vinegar |
2 teaspoons dijon mustard |
about 1/2 tsp. kosher salt |
about 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper |
Directions:
1. Combine spinach, eggs, and mushrooms in a large shallow serving bowl.
2. Cut bacon on the diagonal into strips about 1/4 in. thick and 1 1/2 in. long. Cook bacon with 1/3 cup water in a large frying pan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until water disappears, 8 to 12 minutes. Add oils and cook until bacon is light golden but still supple, 3 to 5 minutes more. Transfer bacon with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
3. Add fennel to pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to more paper towels.
4. Stir shallot and thyme into fat in pan and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat and whisk in vinegar to deglaze pan. Whisk in mustard, 1/2 tsp. each salt and pepper, and 2 tsp. water.
5. Add bacon and fennel to salad, scrape dressing on top, and toss gently to coat. Season to taste with more salt and pepper.
6. Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
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