Best 9 California Wilted Spinach Salad Recipes

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In the vibrant culinary landscape of California, there exists a refreshing and delectable dish that captures the essence of the state's bountiful produce and laid-back lifestyle: the California Wilted Spinach Salad. This vibrant salad showcases the best of California's fresh ingredients, featuring tender baby spinach leaves, juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, creamy avocado, tangy red onion, and crumbled bacon or tofu. Dressed in a light and flavorful vinaigrette made with olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, and a touch of garlic, this salad offers a delightful balance of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds. Served as a refreshing starter or a light main course, the California Wilted Spinach Salad embodies the spirit of California cuisine, emphasizing simplicity, freshness, and a celebration of local ingredients. Additionally, this article provides two variations of the classic recipe: a vegan version that omits the bacon and uses tofu instead and a citrusy version that incorporates grapefruit and orange segments for a refreshing twist.

Here are our top 9 tried and tested recipes!

LIGHTLY WILTED SPINACH SALAD



Lightly Wilted Spinach Salad image

Provided by Alex Guarnaschelli

Time 10m

Yield makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons canola oil
1 small red onion, peeled and grated on a cheese grater
1 clove garlic, peeled and lightly smashed
Kosher salt
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 pound spinach leaves, stemmed, washed and dried
3 eggs, hard boiled, peeled and chopped

Steps:

  • In a small skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of the canola oil. Add the onion and garlic clove and cook, stirring gently, for 2 minutes. Season lightly with salt. Discard the garlic clove. Whisk in the cider vinegar and add 1 teaspoon canola oil. Taste for seasoning. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • Place a large heatproof bowl over low heat and add the remaining 1 tablespoon canola oil. When the bowl is warm remove it from the heat and add the spinach. Season lightly with salt and toss with a spoon so the spinach gets coated with the oil and wilts slightly, 1 minute. The spinach should only be partially wilted and still appear somewhat raw. Pour off any water that might accumulate in the bottom of the bowl from wilting and stir in the onion and dressing from the skillet. Add chopped hard-boiled egg. Serve immediately.

WILTED SPINACH SALAD WITH HOT BACON DRESSING



Wilted Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing image

Warm crispy bacon is the star of this simple spinach salad. We upped the ante with tender mushrooms, fresh red onion and hard-boiled eggs for a hearty salad your whole family can enjoy.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 35m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 10

One 5-ounce package baby spinach
4 large eggs
8 slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces
One 3.5-ounce package cremini mushrooms, sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

Steps:

  • Place the spinach in a large bowl and leave at room temperature. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Use a slotted spoon to gently lower the eggs into the water. Boil until both the whites and yolks are set (hard-boiled), about 10 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl filled with ice water and cool completely. Once cool, peel the eggs and cut each into quarters.
  • Meanwhile, put the bacon in a large skillet and set over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer the bacon with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Remove half of the bacon fat to a small bowl and reserve.
  • Return the skillet and remaining bacon fat to medium heat. Add the mushrooms, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and a few grinds of black pepper to the same skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in the reserved bacon fat, vinegar, mustard and honey and whisk until smooth and emulsified. Taste and season with more salt and pepper.
  • Pour the hot bacon dressing over the spinach and toss until evenly coated and slightly wilted. Transfer to a platter and top with the eggs, red onion and reserved bacon.

WILTED SPINACH SALAD WITH WARM FETA DRESSING



Wilted Spinach Salad with Warm Feta Dressing image

Provided by Bon Appétit Test Kitchen

Categories     Salad     Onion     Appetizer     Christmas     Thanksgiving     Vegetarian     Quick & Easy     High Fiber     Feta     Spinach     Fall     Winter     Healthy     Christmas Eve     Bon Appétit     Sugar Conscious     Pescatarian     Wheat/Gluten-Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     Kosher

Yield Makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 9-ounce bag fresh spinach leaves
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 medium red onion, halved, cut into 1/3-inch-thick wedges with some core attached
1 7-ounce package feta cheese, coarsely crumbled
2 tablespoons Sherry wine vinegar

Steps:

  • Place spinach in large bowl. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add onion; sauté until brown and softened, about 7 minutes. Transfer to bowl with spinach; remove skillet from heat. Add remaining 3 tablespoons oil and cheese to skillet. Stir to melt cheese slightly, about 1 minute. Stir in vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour over spinach; toss to coat and wilt slightly.

WILTED SPINACH SALAD



Wilted spinach salad image

I served this terrific salad to guests and it was a hit! Pour the hot dressing over the salad right before serving time. I found this recipe in an old Farm Journal cookbook. Cook time is for the time it takes to boil the eggs and fry the bacon.

Provided by Hey Jude

Categories     Spinach

Time 30m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

6 cups spinach, washed,drained very well and torn into bite-size pieces
1/4 cup sliced green onion
3 hardboiled egg, coarsely chopped
5 slices bacon, chopped
1/4 cup vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • Combine spinach, onions and eggs in a large salad bowl.
  • Cook bacon in skillet until crispy; remove bacon and drain on paper towels.
  • Pour off all but 3 tablespoons of bacon drippings.
  • Add vinegar, water, sugar, salt and pepper to bacon drippings, heat to boiling, stirring to blend.
  • Pour over spinach mixture; toss gently.
  • Sprinkle with bacon.

CALIFORNIA WILTED SPINACH SALAD



California Wilted Spinach Salad image

Make and share this California Wilted Spinach Salad recipe from Food.com.

Provided by SharleneW

Categories     < 15 Mins

Time 13m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (12 ounce) package Baby Spinach
1/4 cup orange juice
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
fresh ground black pepper
1 tablespoon bacon bits
1 orange, peeled and sectioned

Steps:

  • Thoroughly rinse spinach on cold water, remove stems.
  • Dry with paper toweling or spin dry.
  • To prepare dressing: Combine orange juice, vinegar, oil, zest, Worcestershire, salt and pepper.
  • Heat dressing just until it starts to boil.
  • Toss spinach with hot dressings and bacon bits.
  • Garnish with orange sections.

WILTED SPINACH SALAD WITH CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS



Wilted Spinach Salad with Caramelized Shallots image

Serve this spinach salad with steak, burgers, or goat cheese and crusty bread.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Salad Recipes

Number Of Ingredients 8

4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 large shallots, minced
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon whole-grain mustard
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
2 bags (10 ounces each) baby spinach
1 teaspoon vinegar

Steps:

  • In a large skillet, heat extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high. Add minced shallots, and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes. Season with coarse salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring, until shallots are sticky and browned, about 8 minutes. Add water and cook, stirring and scraping up browned bits from skillet, until shallots are dark brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove skillet from heat; add whole-grain mustard and red wine vinegar and stir to combine. In a large bowl, place 2 bags (10 ounces each) baby spinach and pour warm dressing over top. Add 1 teaspoon vinegar, toss, and season with salt and pepper.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 139 g

WILTED SPINACH & BACON SALAD



Wilted Spinach & Bacon Salad image

This recipe comes for a BHG small CB with favorite recipes from 1930 until 2001. This particular recipe comes from 1941. This recipe interests me because when I was in my early teens, our family went back to Oklahoma to visit all our relatives. This was the salad that my aunt made every day we were there. I have never had it since then.

Provided by Lavender Lynn

Categories     Salad Dressings

Time 25m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

6 cups spinach or 6 cups romaine lettuce, torn fresh
1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup green onion, thinly sliced
3 slices bacon
3 tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1 egg, hardboiled, chopped up

Steps:

  • In a large bowl combine spinach, mushrooms, and green onions. Set Aside.
  • For Dressing, in a 12" skillet cook bacon until crisp.
  • Remove bacon; reserving 2 T drippings in skillet.
  • Crumble bacon; set aside.
  • Stir vinegar, sugar, and dry mustard into drippings.
  • Bring to boiling: remove from heat.
  • Add the spinach mixture.
  • Toss mixture in skillet for 30 to 60 seconds or until mixture is just wilted.
  • Transfer to serving dish and top with egg and bacon.

WILTED SPINACH SALAD



Wilted Spinach Salad image

Pretty, fresh and sized just for two, this delicious salad sent in by Diana Grier of St. Joseph, Missouri may have you wishing for leftovers!

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch     Side Dishes

Time 25m

Yield 2 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

2-1/2 cups torn fresh spinach
1 green onion, chopped
1 radish, chopped
Dash salt
Dash pepper
2 bacon strips, diced
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1-1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
1 hard-boiled large egg, chopped

Steps:

  • In a salad bowl, combine the spinach, onion, radish, salt and pepper; set aside. , In a small skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels. Drain, reserving 1 tablespoon drippings. Combine the sugar, vinegar and lemon juice; stir into drippings. Cook and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; add to skillet. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. , Pour over spinach mixture and toss to coat. Top with bacon and egg.

Nutrition Facts :

WILTED SPINACH SALAD WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH



Wilted Spinach Salad with Butternut Squash image

Make quick work of peeling butternut squash. First, prick it with a fork and give it 45 seconds in the microwave. Then, trim an inch from the base of the squash, making it stand up straight and tall while you run the peeler from top to bottom. -Margee Berry, White Salmon, Washington

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 cup cubed peeled butternut squash
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons dry red wine or chicken broth
2 tablespoons whole-berry cranberry sauce
5 cups fresh baby spinach
4 slices red onion
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese
Coarsely ground pepper, optional

Steps:

  • In a small skillet, saute the squash, chili powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt in 2 teaspoons oil until tender, 11-13 minutes. Set aside; keep warm., In a small saucepan, bring vinegar to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 4-6 minutes or until reduced to 1/4 cup. Stir in the wine, cranberry sauce, remaining oil and remaining salt. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute longer. , Place spinach on a serving platter; top with onion, cranberries and squash mixture. Drizzle with warm dressing. Sprinkle with almonds, goat cheese and, if desired, pepper. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 228 calories, Fat 12g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 12mg cholesterol, Sodium 382mg sodium, Carbohydrate 28g carbohydrate (17g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 5g protein. Diabetic exchanges

Tips:

  • For the best flavor, use fresh, young spinach leaves. Avoid using wilted or bruised leaves.
  • To wilt the spinach, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the spinach and cook, stirring constantly, until it is just wilted, about 2 minutes.
  • Do not overcook the spinach, as it will become tough and bitter.
  • For a more flavorful salad, use a variety of toppings, such as bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, or tomatoes.
  • You can also add a variety of dressings to the salad, such as a vinaigrette, ranch dressing, or Caesar dressing.

Conclusion:

California Wilted Spinach Salad is a delicious and healthy salad that is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. It is easy to make and can be customized to your liking. With its fresh, vibrant flavors, this salad is sure to please everyone at your table.

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