This classic spinach salad is made with a traditional bacon dressing. The warm dressing is made with bacon drippings, vinegar, and sugar. The heat of the dressing wilts the spinach leaves and gives the spinach salad a wonderfully delicate sweet and sour flavor. The salad is garnished with sliced hard cooked eggs and crumbled bacon and potato slices. It gets some extra crunch from the red onion and radishes. It’s a simple salad with big flavor. See the variations for some add-in suggestions and ideas.
Southern House Salad
The warm dressing is made with bacon drippings, vinegar, and sugar.
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Adjust Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 663kcal
Ingredients
Salad:
- 10 to 12 ounces fresh spinach washed and torn into bite-size pieces
- 1/4 cup minced red onion
- 5 to 6 radishes thinly sliced
- 2 hard-boiled eggs * 1 chopped, 1 sliced (optional)
- 2 to 4 slices bacon
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 Idaho potaoes peeled and boiled
Dressing:
- 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons bacon drippings
- 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons vinegar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place prepared spinach in a large bowl. Add onions and radishes.
- Refrigerate the salad, tightly covered.
- Fry or microwave bacon until crisp; remove to paper towel and set aside.
- Peel and quarter ptatoes, boil in water until they slide off the fork. (15-20 min)
- In a saucepan, cover 2 large eggs with water. Place the pan over medium-high heat and bring to a full rolling boil. Cover the saucepan and remove the pan from the heat. Let stand for 12 to 15 minutes. Run cold water over the eggs and peel them. Put in fridge until cool.
- In a small jar or measuring cup combine the bacon drippings with sugar, vinegar, water, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate all ingredients until just before serving. When ready to serve, microwave the dressing on HIGH for 30 to 45 seconds, or until mixture boils.
- Toss the chopped egg (if using) and potato with the greens then pour the hot dressing over greens mixture; toss again lightly.
- Arrange the salad on salad plates and top each with a few slices of egg and crumbled bacon.
Notes
Make Ahead: Prepare the spinach, onion, and radishes in a serving bowl; cover and refrigerate. Prepare the eggs and bacon and refrigerate them in separate containers. Prepare the dressing and refrigerate. Just before serving time, toss the chopped egg with the spinach salad mixture. Heat the dressing; drizzle over the salad and toss. Garnish with the sliced eggs and bacon.Variations:Add about 1/4 cup of pine nuts, sunflower seeds, toasted slivered almonds, or toasted pecans to the salad for additional crunch.Add about 1/4 cup of raisins or dried cranberries to the salad.Add sliced fresh mushrooms to the salad.Omit the radishes, if desired.©MARILYN'S TREATS. All images are copyright protected.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 663kcal (33%) | Carbohydrates: 40.1g (13%) | Protein: 36.1g (72%) | Fat: 40.5g (62%) | Saturated Fat: 17.2g (86%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 293mg (98%) | Sodium: 1085mg (45%) | Potassium: 0mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 26g (29%) | Vitamin A: 0IU | Vitamin C: 0mg | Calcium: 0mg | Iron: 0mg
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I am Marilyn Lesniak. Writer, Photographer and Chief Bottle Washer behind the scenes at Marilyn's Treats. Follow me to my kitchen. 
I wish that I had one of these salads sitting in front of me right now. It looks so good and it is definitely salad season!
There are days Amy I feel the same way. I will browse the net and find a recipe that looks great and feel the need to make it. Thanks for sharing with me and enjoy your day!
This Southern House Salad is a classic winner here at the cottage, we love this the year round! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday. Hope you have a great week and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
I am thrilled Miz Helen that you also serve this southern salad. Around here it is unique but everyone that I serve it to loves it! Thank you for sharing with me. Enjoy your week!
That sounds like a great combination of flavors. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Encouraging Hearts and Home. Pinned.
Thank you Joanne. And thanks for the pin od this Southern House Salad. Enjoy your weekend!
I love spinach salads sans the bacon, this is a great recipe.
#trafficjamweekend
I add bacon on my own salad depending on how I feel at the moment. My daughter-in-law and granddaughter are vegetarian so for sure they enjoy this salad bacon free. I hope you get to enjoy it! Enjoy your weekend!
Summer means salad around here, Marilyn and this one sounds great. Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ’s!
I love it Ann. This southern house salad is so unique with th addition of potato. Thanks for hosting the party each week. Enjoy your weekend!
Great sounding salad and wonderful for summer when we don’t want to turn on ovens. Thanks for sharing.
I totally agree Chas. I will soon be putting away the BBQ and pulling out the crock pot. That is my second best alternative to the stove. Enjoy your evening!
My husband would like this salad. Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner Party. Have a great week!
The addition of the potatoes in this salad give a specual texture and flavor. I hope you get to serve it to your husband. Have a great week!
Love spinach any way it’s prepared or fresh like this. Wonderful salad recipe. TFS
Thank you Clearissa. The bacon dressing takes this salad up a notch! Enjoy your evening.
Potatoes are a great addition to this southern classic. Hope you are having a fantastic week and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday. We will look forward to seeing you again real soon!
Miz Helen
I had never thought to add potatoes on my own but they were delicious! Have a great week!
This looks like an everyday salad that my hubs would like. Pinning, and thanks for sharing.
Thank you Leanna for the pin. I am glad you found my blog and enjoy sharing with you! Have a great week! (Here is the Bronners link. I forgot to include it in the other comment. https://www.bronners.com)
You had me at spinach and Bacon Marilyn as I love both in a salad
This one is a favorite in our home. Have a great week!
That dressing sounds to die for! I have to try this. Thank you for sharing at Ravenwould.
I hope you do. I am going to try that dressing again!! Have a great week.
Good morning! I just wanted to let you know that your salad is being featured today at My Busy Beehives #BEEPARTY! Thanks for sharing! http://www.mybusybeehives.com/2017/05/bee-party-13.html
Thank you so much for the feature!! I will be at the next party of course!! Have a great week.
YUM! The perfect, good ole southern salad 🙂 Thank you Marilyn for attending the #WednesdayAIMLinkParty. I shared your post.
I was wondering if you ever (or how often) you have potato in your salad? I saw this one in South Carolina. I need to get out and try more foods! I loved this. Happy Mother’s Day!
I love spinach salad with warm bacon dressing. Your recipe sounds wonderful and it is making my mouth water. Thank you for sharing at the Snickerdoodle Create~Bake~Make link party!
Thank you Sharon. That dressing mademe nervous but was well worth trying to make it. It took that salad over the top! Happy Mother’s Day!
Thanks for sharing your post on southern House Salad at the blogger’s Pit Stop. It looks super delicious. Keep em coming!
Thank you for the vote of confidence Julie! Happy Mother’s Day!
I need to try that dressing recipe! Having a bacon flavor might even persuade my non-salad-eating kids to try it. Thanks for linking up at the Home Matters Link Party! We hope to see you again next week:) #HomeMattersParty
I have always shyed away from making it being afraid it wouldn’t turn out. But it was delicious! Thanks Sara. Happy Mother’s Day!
This salad is just perfect for a Mother’s Day brunch! Thanks for linking up at Tasty Tuesdays this week 🙂
Thank you Gina. I love attending your party! Happy Mother’s Day!
I need more of this to balance out all of the desserts that I make.
I have been trying really hard since January to make my recipes healthier. Now to work on the sweets. ???? Happy Mother’s Day!
Mmm, the salad sounds delicious! 🙂 A while ago, I made a similar salad with dandelion leaves and bacon dressing. Thanks for sharing your recipe at Sew It Cook It Craft It.
Bacon Dressing? I have been wanting to make it but was afraid I wouldn’t be able to do it. There are only 2-3 dressings I make that come out well. Sounds delicious! Have a great weekend!
Perfect for those warm days coming! Thanks for sharing at Dishing It & Digging It! 🙂
Thank you Lori! I wouldn’t miss #DIDI!
This looks so fresh and yummy!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thanks Jess. Have a great day.
Mmmm… such a good looking salad… and perfect for warm summer days. 🙂
Thank you Joy. Salads are one of my favorites, with or without lettuce! Have a great day.
This sounds delicious. Pen x
Thank you. I visited your blog. You have some great subjects for your posts. Have a great week!
Looks mighty good Marilyn! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner link up!
Thank you Helen. I appreciate the kind words. Have a great day!
As always, this sounds delicious!
Thanks Carol. I am glad you enjoy the recipe. Have a great day!
A classic!
Thanks Kristin. I like the spin on this salad. Have a great week.