Crispy Bacon Spinach And Blackberry Salad With A Honey Lavender Vinaigrette

When it comes to creating a salad that excites the palate, the Crispy Bacon Spinach and Blackberry Salad with a Honey Lavender Vinaigrette stands out as a perfect choice.

This dish combines fresh, vibrant ingredients with a delightful mix of textures and flavors, making it a satisfying and elegant option for any occasion.

While spinach is often associated with spring, it is also a versatile fall vegetable. As the weather cools, spinach thrives and develops a sweeter flavor, making it an excellent choice for hearty salads and warm dishes throughout the autumn months.

The balance of savory bacon, sweet blackberries, and creamy queso fresco, enhanced by a unique honey lavender vinaigrette, transforms a simple salad into a culinary experience. Like with this Spinach Mango Blueberry Salad.

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The Honey Lavender Vinaigrette

What sets this salad apart is the honey lavender vinaigrette. This unique dressing is simple to make yet elevates the dish to new heights. Like this Lavender Infused Orange Vinaigrette.

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The combination of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, culinary lavender, crispy savory bacon, and the earthy flavor of spinach creates a harmonious balance of sweet and savory notes. And not to forget the addition of a slight tang from Dijon mustard.

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Serving Suggestions

This Crispy Bacon Spinach and Blackberry Salad makes for a perfect light lunch or a stunning side dish at dinner gatherings. Pair it with chicken, like this Cajun-Style Blackened Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo or fish. Like this Oven-Baked Pecan Crusted Salmon.

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Crispy Bacon Spinach and Blackberry Salad With A Honey Lavender Vinaigrette

6 cups baby spinach

1 cup fresh blackberries

1/2 cup queso fresco, crumbled

1/4 cup sliced almonds

4 thick slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

For the Honey Lavender vinaigrette

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon honey

1/2 teaspoon culinary lavender buds, crushed

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 red onion, thinly sliced

Whisk together the dressing ingredients until combined. Set aside for lavender to infuse.

Combine spinach, blackberries, cheese, and almonds in a large salad bowl. Set aside.

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NOTE: After cooking bacon reserve 2 tablespoons bacon fat.

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Cook the bacon in a medium non-stick skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove from heat, let cool then crumble.

Add thinly sliced red onion, to bacon fat, cook until softened, about 5-8 minutes, then whisk in prepared vinaigrette and let warm, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat.

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Pour the warm vinaigrette with softened red onion over spinach before adding other ingredients to lightly wilt it.

Drizzle the warm vinaigrette with softened red onion over the spinach salad, toss, top with cheese, chopped bacon bites and serve. 

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Try These Spinach Favorites

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