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Warm Spinach and Bacon Bistro Salad

Warm Spinach and Bacon Bistro Salad

25 min

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Warm Spinach and Bacon Bistro Salad
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Warm Spinach and Bacon Bistro Salad

Crisp smoked bacon, tender green beans, and fresh baby spinach mingle in this warm bistro-style bowl. Sizzling the bacon creates a rich, savory base that coats the lightly cooked mushrooms. You'll love how the creamy avocado and sharp mustard vinaigrette balance the smoky, salty crunch. It's a satisfying meal that feels like dining at a cozy French cafe right in your own kitchen.

Prep
15 min
Cook
10 min
Total
25 min
Servings
4
Course
Lunch

Ingredients

  • 140g/5oz fine green beans
  • 4 tbsp olive oil, plus an extra dash
  • 6 rashers smoked streaky bacon, chopped
  • 200g/8oz mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 avocado, halved and sliced
  • 250g/9oz baby leaf spinach
  • 1 small garlic clove, crushed
  • 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. 1Boil the green beans for 3 minutes until tender. Drain them under cold water to stop the cooking process and keep them crisp.
  2. 2Heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the chopped smoked bacon and cook until crisp. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a large salad bowl, leaving the flavorful fat in the pan. You'll use this to cook the mushrooms for extra savory depth.
  3. 3Add a splash of extra olive oil to the pan with the bacon fat. Briefly fry the sliced mushrooms just until they lose their raw texture, then remove the pan from the heat.
  4. 4Let the mushrooms cool slightly, then add them to the salad bowl along with the cooked green beans and sliced avocado.
  5. 5Whisk the crushed garlic, wholegrain mustard, red wine vinegar, and 3 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil with 1 tablespoon of water. Season well with salt and pepper.
  6. 6Add the baby spinach and the dressing to the bowl, tossing thoroughly to coat all the ingredients.

Nutrition

10g
Protein
34g
Fat
3g
Sugar
1.51mg
Sodium

Notes

  • Make ahead: You can boil the green beans and whisk the dressing up to a day in advance. Store them separately in the fridge.
  • Swap: If you don't have smoked bacon, pancetta or thick-cut regular bacon works beautifully.
  • Tip: Make sure the mushrooms are slightly cooled before adding them to the bowl so they don't wilt the spinach too quickly.