Warm spinach salad with bacon and shallot dressing

Ingredients

6 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 medium shallots, halved and thinly sliced lengthwise (3/4 cup)
1/4 cup olive oil
6 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
Scant 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 lb curly spinach (about 20 cups), coarse stems discarded

Preparation

Cook bacon in a 12-inch skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until golden and crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Add shallots and oil to bacon fat in skillet and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and browned, about 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and add vinegar, stirring and scraping up any brown bits.

Stir in salt and pepper and immediately pour dressing over spinach, tossing to coat. Serve sprinkled with bacon.


I modified the recipe by using balsamic vinegar (because it's the only vinegar in my fridge) and dijon mustard. I am so in love with the small potato and thyme foccacia bread that I bought from Borough market. It goes very well with this salad.