Bacon Mustard Vinaigrette Recipes

SPINACH SALAD WITH WARM BACON-MUSTARD DRESSING

Steps:

• Place spinach into a large serving bowl, top with hard-cooked eggs, mushrooms, 4 crumbled strips of bacon, Swiss cheese, and almonds.
• Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Stir in shallots and garlic, and cook until softened and translucent, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, and 2 crumbled strips of bacon; season to taste with salt and pepper, then cook until hot.
• Pour hot dressing over spinach and toss to coat.

GREEN BEANS WITH WARM BACON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Prepare an outdoor grill for medium-high heat.
• Crimp and fold the edges of a double layer of aluminum foil so it resembles a rimmed baking sheet. Put the beans in the center and toss with 1 tablespoon of the oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add 2 tablespoons water.
• Place the foil on the grill cook, tossing the beans occasionally, until lightly charred and tender, about 15 minutes.
• While the beans grill, cook the bacon in a small skillet over medium heat until crisp; transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings and then stir the mustard, vinegar and remaining 1 tablespoon oil into the skillet until combined.
• Transfer the beans to a servings bowl and pour the warm vinaigrette over top. Toss well, scatter with the cooked bacon and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper.

HOT BACON VINAIGRETTE DRESSING

Steps:

• Place the bacon in a medium saucepan over low heat and stir until some of the fat begins to render from the bacon. Raise the heat to medium and cook the bacon, stirring frequently, until it is crispy. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the crisp bacon to a paper towel lined plate, keeping all of the fat drippings in the pan.
• Return the pan to the burner. Add the garlic, swirl, and immediately add the remaining dressing ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it cook for 1 minute, or until the dressing coats the back of a spoon. It should leave a trail when your finger is drawn through the dressing on the back of the spoon. Stir in the bacon.
• Use immediately or transfer to a heat proof jar with a tight fitting lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, gently reheating and stirring before serving.

WARM ARTICHOKE SALAD WITH BACON AND MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Prepare a blanc: Place the four in a large pot and beat in enough cold water to make a smooth, medium-thick paste. Then beat in 2 quarts of cold water, the lemon juice and the salt. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Remove hearts from artichokes.
• Add the artichoke hearts to the water, bring to boil, the simmer gently until the hearts are just tender when pierced with a knife (about 25-30 minutes). Remove pot from heat and allow the hearts to come to room temperature in the liquid.
• Gently fry the bacon slices. Do not cook until crisp. Remove and reserve on paper towels.
• Place the mustard in a mixing bowl. Using a whisk, beat in the vinegar. Drop by drop at first, then in a thin stream, beat in the olive oil; the mixture should be medium-thick. Add the garlic, and season vinaigrette to taste with salt and pepper.
• Remove warm artichoke hearts from liquid and cut in sixths. Place in large mixing bowl and season with salt and pepper. Cut each bacon slice into 6 pieces and add to bowl. Toss with vinaigrette. Serve on 8 individual plates, sprinkled with chopped parsley.
• As a first course: Serve just as in this recipe-preferably on stark white plates for a real bistro effect. As a buffet item: This quantity will provide small portions for about 15 people.

HOT BACON-MUSTARD DRESSING

Steps:

• In a skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Drain, reserving 3 tablespoons drippings; set bacon aside. To the drippings, add Dijon mustard, sugar, orange juice, vinegar and ground mustard; bring to a boil. Stir in honey and bacon. Serve warm over salad greens or spinach. Refrigerate leftovers; reheat before serving.

WARM BACON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Cook bacon in large skillet until crisp; remove bacon and drain on paper towels. Reserve 2 T drippings in skillet.
• Cook shallots and garlic in hot drippings for 3 minutes, or until tender. Add brown sugar and cook stirring constantly for one minute or until sugar is dissolved.
• Process garlic mixture, orange juice, and remaining ingredients in blender until combined.
• FYI the cooked bacon is not actually used in this recipe, but you can top your salad with it if desired.

BACON-BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels (reserve as garnish for Spinach Salad with Shrimp and Fennel). Remove skillet from heat. Reserve 3 tablespoons drippings in skillet; mix in oil. Whisk vinegar, shallots, garlic and brown sugar in small bowl. Add to drippings in skillet. Stir over medium-low heat just until warm. Season with salt and pepper. Use warm.

BACON AND BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Slice bacon into 1/2 inch pieces and fry until just crispy. Drain on paper towels.
• Remove bacon from pan, and all but 2 Tbsp of the bacon fat.
• Gently saute the onion until just soft, making sure not to brown.
• Add the brown sugar, blend in and then add the vinegar. Reduce for a minute or two.
• Add the olive oil, as much as to your taste and the salt and pepper to taste.
• Cool, but do not refrigerate. Dress your salad just before serving.
• Serve this warm or at room temperature over a salad of hearty greens like romaine. I usually add some very finely sliced red onion rings, mushrooms and homemade croutons, but let your imagination work here. I've thought of trying it in the summer with just onions and fresh sliced strawberries.