Growing up, we were very much the “sit down to dinner as a family and no TV” type of house. My mom cooked dinner nearly every night and we waited for my dad to get home from work, then we would sit at the table and eat together. Dinner usually consisted of a protein (chicken or beef), a starch (rice or baked potato), some type of vegetable (I always put up a fight) and a side salad. Surprisingly, I never fought the salad much, as long as I didn’t get any of the leaves near the inside of the head of lettuce. Outside, leafy lettuce only, please!
For many years, I was only exposed to iceberg lettuce, until one fateful day when we had lunch at my grandparents’. My grandma served this salad as part of dinner. It was the first time I had ever eaten raw spinach and I, amazingly, loved it. Truth be told, it may have had as much, or more, to do with the bacon as it did with the spinach. Afterwards, my mom made it occasionally and I was always eager to eat it. To this day, if I make myself a salad at home or at a salad bar, I always prefer baby spinach to lettuce of any kind.
This recipe was passed down from my great-grandmother and as far as I know the original ingredients were the spinach, bacon, onion and mushrooms. I always seemed to remember this salad with hard-boiled eggs and when I asked my mom, she said that she would often times add them when she made it. I love the inclusion of the eggs, as it adds some extra “oomph” to the salad. The warm dressing has a wonderful sweet and tangy flavor that pairs really well with all of the other ingredients.
This makes a fabulous main course salad for brunch, lunch or a light dinner, as well as an extra-special dinner side salad. I haven’t changed much since I was a kid… I’m still not crazy about vegetables, but if you dress them up with cheese or bacon, I’ll gobble them right up! ;-)
Make the Dressing: Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a medium saucepan and cook over low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Let cool slightly and re-whisk before serving.
Arrange the spinach on plates and top with an equal amount of bacon, mushrooms, onion and sliced eggs. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, drizzle the warm dressing over top and serve. Any leftover dressing can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
I am trying recipe for the spinach dressing right now and wonder if the ketchup you used is American style ketchup? Dressing tastes really sweet and Canadian ketchup is made with way more sugar than American and mlybe I should have reduced sugar to 1/4 cup instead or is this dressing supposed to taste like candy?
Hi Veronica, I used Heinz ketchup sold in the U.S. It sounds like it could definitely be the problem, as this should be a tangy dressing, not super sweet.
Looks delish and can’t wait to try it! Can you make the dressing the night before and just warm it up prior to serving?? An hour is too long on a weeknight!!
Making your own fruit salad is not hard; you just need to prepare its ingredients. And the ingredients used are neither extinct nor hard to find, you can just whip out your wallet and make the march to the nearest grocery store..
Besides the extra “oomph”, those eggs make you feel fuller. And that’s what every single salad should be like, isn’t it? Tasty, healthy(more or less) and satiating. Thanks for this delicious recipe. When I was a kid I hated spinach, but it’s been a couple of years since I started loving its taste and adding it to many dishes, so I’m happy to see that so many people are aware of its unique taste and value.
I have to agree with the other readers, I’ve been eating this salad since I was a kid (with red onions added of course!) and/or cucumbers/tomatoes…it is a salad! But use 1 part bacon grease, 2 parts apple cider vinegar, a teaspoon of sugar and mustard seeds! Shake and serve warm, so good!
This looks delicious. I have all those things in my fridge now. I love baby spinach and thankfully my kids will eat it too. I think I incorporate it at least once a week into some sort of dish— pastina soup, sautéed, creamed, wraps, in a pasta & of course in a salad. My dad used to make a wilted spinach salad similar to this, minus the ketchup, when we were growing up. I will try your dressing recipe but if I had the recipe for the Mellow Mushroom Esperanza dressing and this salad I would be in heaven!
I LOVE this kind of salad, but I’m not going to lie… I would put a warm bacon vinaigrette with it :) I could say something smart about ‘continuity of flavors’ throughout the dish, but we all know it’s just because I’m a bacon hog! Nice crusty baguette, and I’m a happy girl with this as my dinner!
Reminds me of the “Betty Salad” that a lady here in Monroe, Michigan made. I believe her last name was Timko and she worked at the Holiday Inn when they had a restaurant. The salad dressing is available in the grocery store which makes it easy for me to make. This recipe is definitely a keeper, makes a great lunch or a light supper. Thank you!
I love spinach salad with warm bacon dressing. Have you ever tried making the dressing with the bacon and the bacon fat plus a little vinegar and mustard? That’s the only way I knew of to make this salad. Your dressing sounds very interesting. I’ll have to give it a try.
What I want to know is how you got your eggs so pretty. My hard boiled eggs never look that good. I’ve finally learned how to not get the green / gray ring, but your yolks are much yellower than mine!
Hi Kate, I usually put the eggs in a small saucepan and cover with cold water. Put it over high heat, let it come to a boil, then turn it off, wait a minute, then cover and let it sit for 10-12 minutes. Then I drain them and keep rinsing them under cold water until they are cool to the touch. Dry, peel and eat! :)
I haven’t had a warm spinich salad in forever. I seriously can’t remember the last time I had one. Thanks for reminding me how good they are (and look!)
Yes, you can eat raw button mushrooms. I know there are some wild mushrooms that you can’t eat, and can’t eat raw, but I don’t use wild mushrooms very often.
Spinach salad is the best….especially with bacon and hard boiled eggs! This is a favorite at our house. I will have to try your dressing the next time I prepare it.
My boyfriend is not big on vegetables either, but for some reason he loves spinach! This sounds like such a classic salad. The ketchup is an interesting addition to the dressing…I’ll trust you on it though! :)
We never had salads that much growing up, but we always sat down and had meat, starch, and veggie – topped off by a glass of milk. I have lots of spinach in my fridge right now, great salad for lunch!
As a mom of three little kids, I strive to make dinner time a family time when we sit down all together. It’s challenging sometimes but totally worth it! This salad looks so good! I am totally intrigued by the ketchup in your dressing. Will have to try it!
When my dad used to go out of town for work when I was little, I would BEG my mom to make a spinach salad for dinner (dad wasn’t too fond of it). The bacon probably influenced that for me too.
My grandma also fixed this. Her recipe put bacon in the actual dressing part – but she didn’t use Ketchup – that’s an interesting addition. The eggs are a must in my mind as well – I can’t imagine this salad without them
This looks delicious!! I love spinach salads so I’m thinking this will be dinner tonight. My mom lived with me and up till the day she passed she would insist on sit down dinners with me and my daughter! Thanks for the reminder.
Didn’t realize how long it has been since I made this for dinner. Love it exactly the way you have put it together. Never made my own dressing but will now.
My mom (who would be in her mid 80’s now), made this all the time – thanks for bringing back the delicious memories of ladies luncheons and Sunday dinners. The dressing is amazing. She also added bean sprouts to her spinach salad (a handful of rinsed, fresh). Made this recently at a potluck at church – huge hit!
Oh, and so thankful for the bags of baby spinach available now. Back in the 70’s, it was the large leaf that was needed to be rinsed well (sandy) and torn away from the tough stem.
My grandma made this salad too! It was always a hit. She did not heat the dressing rather served it cold and added bean sprouts to the salad. Delicious.
My aunt has a similar recipe-her dressing uses 2T of the bacon grease to be the fat in the vinagrette and chilli sauce instead of ketchup to spice things up-I am forever picking out the eggs though!
My house is still a no tv and everyone sits down to dinner house! Dinner brings families together! I love this salad..reminds me of one I used to get as a kid.
I made a salad not long ago almost identical to this but my dressing is a little different. My oldest son, who will only eat ranch dressing and turns his nose up at all vinaigrette’s actually loved it. But ketchup is his most favorite condiment so I think he might like your way better! I’m gonna try it!
Whenever I make a salad I have to have spinach and boiled egg and bacon too if I have it…so this salad is perfect for me! It looks absolutely delicious!
I am trying recipe for the spinach dressing right now and wonder if the ketchup you used is American style ketchup? Dressing tastes really sweet and Canadian ketchup is made with way more sugar than American and mlybe I should have reduced sugar to 1/4 cup instead or is this dressing supposed to taste like candy?
Hi Veronica, I used Heinz ketchup sold in the U.S. It sounds like it could definitely be the problem, as this should be a tangy dressing, not super sweet.
Original! looks delicious, I can not wait to try it, thank you.
Looks delish and can’t wait to try it! Can you make the dressing the night before and just warm it up prior to serving?? An hour is too long on a weeknight!!
Made this for a dinner party. Everyone delighted by it. The dressing is unique but adds a whole dimension to the salad. Thanks so much for sharing!
Could I eat it also for the breakfast?
Can this dressing be refrigerated for an encore serving?
Absolutely!
Making your own fruit salad is not hard; you just need to prepare its ingredients. And the ingredients used are neither extinct nor hard to find, you can just whip out your wallet and make the march to the nearest grocery store..
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Mmmmmm! Love the eggs with ketchup based dressing!
Besides the extra “oomph”, those eggs make you feel fuller. And that’s what every single salad should be like, isn’t it? Tasty, healthy(more or less) and satiating. Thanks for this delicious recipe. When I was a kid I hated spinach, but it’s been a couple of years since I started loving its taste and adding it to many dishes, so I’m happy to see that so many people are aware of its unique taste and value.
I have to agree with the other readers, I’ve been eating this salad since I was a kid (with red onions added of course!) and/or cucumbers/tomatoes…it is a salad! But use 1 part bacon grease, 2 parts apple cider vinegar, a teaspoon of sugar and mustard seeds! Shake and serve warm, so good!
This looks delicious. I have all those things in my fridge now. I love baby spinach and thankfully my kids will eat it too. I think I incorporate it at least once a week into some sort of dish— pastina soup, sautéed, creamed, wraps, in a pasta & of course in a salad. My dad used to make a wilted spinach salad similar to this, minus the ketchup, when we were growing up. I will try your dressing recipe but if I had the recipe for the Mellow Mushroom Esperanza dressing and this salad I would be in heaven!
Right here is the Mellow Mushroom Salas Dressing!
https://www.google.com/amp/www.geniuskitchen.com/amp/recipe/mellow-mushroom-esperanza-dressing-393765
Spinach salad is one of my favorites and I must try the dressing.
I LOVE this kind of salad, but I’m not going to lie… I would put a warm bacon vinaigrette with it :) I could say something smart about ‘continuity of flavors’ throughout the dish, but we all know it’s just because I’m a bacon hog! Nice crusty baguette, and I’m a happy girl with this as my dinner!
Reminds me of the “Betty Salad” that a lady here in Monroe, Michigan made. I believe her last name was Timko and she worked at the Holiday Inn when they had a restaurant. The salad dressing is available in the grocery store which makes it easy for me to make. This recipe is definitely a keeper, makes a great lunch or a light supper. Thank you!
I love spinach salad with warm bacon dressing. Have you ever tried making the dressing with the bacon and the bacon fat plus a little vinegar and mustard? That’s the only way I knew of to make this salad. Your dressing sounds very interesting. I’ll have to give it a try.
Hi Laura, I haven’t tried the dressing like that, but it sounds fabulous! I will definitely try that on my next salad!
What I want to know is how you got your eggs so pretty. My hard boiled eggs never look that good. I’ve finally learned how to not get the green / gray ring, but your yolks are much yellower than mine!
Hi Kate, I usually put the eggs in a small saucepan and cover with cold water. Put it over high heat, let it come to a boil, then turn it off, wait a minute, then cover and let it sit for 10-12 minutes. Then I drain them and keep rinsing them under cold water until they are cool to the touch. Dry, peel and eat! :)
Beautiful salad, looks so fresh with sliced eggs on top!
I haven’t had a warm spinich salad in forever. I seriously can’t remember the last time I had one. Thanks for reminding me how good they are (and look!)
This looks delicious but, I didn’t know that you can actually eat raw mashrooms?
Yes, you can eat raw button mushrooms. I know there are some wild mushrooms that you can’t eat, and can’t eat raw, but I don’t use wild mushrooms very often.
I really like spinach salads but have never eaten them warm so looking forwarded to trying your recipe
Thanks for sharing
Oh how I need this salad in my life!
Simple pleasures. Love this recipe. Gorgeous photos too. :)
Geez, your site just keeps getting better and better. I want to take the photography class that you took! Delish!
Aw, thank you Lori, you’re too sweet!
YUM! This looks amazing.
Made this for lunch,the dressing is great. Reminds me of summer vacations, at my Aunt’s house.
Thank you
Spinach salad is the best….especially with bacon and hard boiled eggs! This is a favorite at our house. I will have to try your dressing the next time I prepare it.
I think I’d love this dressing…and the hard boiled eggs is a great addition! Protein!!
My boyfriend is not big on vegetables either, but for some reason he loves spinach! This sounds like such a classic salad. The ketchup is an interesting addition to the dressing…I’ll trust you on it though! :)
We never had salads that much growing up, but we always sat down and had meat, starch, and veggie – topped off by a glass of milk.
I have lots of spinach in my fridge right now, great salad for lunch!
This is my kind of salad for sure!! I love the eggs in here, I could definitely do this for lunch and be very very happy :)
As a mom of three little kids, I strive to make dinner time a family time when we sit down all together. It’s challenging sometimes but totally worth it! This salad looks so good! I am totally intrigued by the ketchup in your dressing. Will have to try it!
When my dad used to go out of town for work when I was little, I would BEG my mom to make a spinach salad for dinner (dad wasn’t too fond of it). The bacon probably influenced that for me too.
Sounds delicious! No oil in the dressing? That would be so healthy!
This looks soooo good!! I always make my own dressing. I’ll be making this sometime soon!
The salad sounds wonderful. Not sure about the dressing.
I have made this salad, but again, without the homemade dressing. I’ll add this to our dinner for tonight, I think it will be a hit!
We used to make a salad a lot like this but without homemade dressing! Now I’ll have to add this dressing to it!
I don’t love mushrooms but I think I could handle it on a salad with bacon. I’m in love with hard boiled eggs lately too. This looks so delicious!
My grandma also fixed this. Her recipe put bacon in the actual dressing part – but she didn’t use Ketchup – that’s an interesting addition. The eggs are a must in my mind as well – I can’t imagine this salad without them
I am trying to each more spinach/salads for lunch, and this answers SO MANY prayers!!! You are a life saver with this recipe, so excited to try it!
This looks delicious!! I love spinach salads so I’m thinking this will be dinner tonight. My mom lived with me and up till the day she passed she would insist on sit down dinners with me and my daughter! Thanks for the reminder.
Didn’t realize how long it has been since I made this for dinner. Love it exactly the way you have put it together. Never made my own dressing but will now.
My mom (who would be in her mid 80’s now), made this all the time – thanks for bringing back the delicious memories of ladies luncheons and Sunday dinners. The dressing is amazing. She also added bean sprouts to her spinach salad (a handful of rinsed, fresh). Made this recently at a potluck at church – huge hit!
Oh, and so thankful for the bags of baby spinach available now. Back in the 70’s, it was the large leaf that was needed to be rinsed well (sandy) and torn away from the tough stem.
My grandma made this salad too! It was always a hit. She did not heat the dressing rather served it cold and added bean sprouts to the salad. Delicious.
Definitely the tv has to be off at dinner! I love this salad!
My aunt has a similar recipe-her dressing uses 2T of the bacon grease to be the fat in the vinagrette and chilli sauce instead of ketchup to spice things up-I am forever picking out the eggs though!
My house is still a no tv and everyone sits down to dinner house! Dinner brings families together!
I love this salad..reminds me of one I used to get as a kid.
My mom almost always made her spinach salads with bacon, hard boiled egg and mushrooms…..so this reminds me of home :) I’ll have to make it soon!
I made a salad not long ago almost identical to this but my dressing is a little different. My oldest son, who will only eat ranch dressing and turns his nose up at all vinaigrette’s actually loved it. But ketchup is his most favorite condiment so I think he might like your way better! I’m gonna try it!
That dressing sounds so unique and good! Will have to try it out!
Looks like a great salad! I love spinach salads, especially with all the extras :)
What a wonderful and healthy salad!! I love hard boiled eggs and bacon together! Super Yum!! Love the healthy recipe!!!
Whenever I make a salad I have to have spinach and boiled egg and bacon too if I have it…so this salad is perfect for me! It looks absolutely delicious!
I agree, the eggs gave the salad an added “oomph”! looks yummy and refreshing, Michelle!