Description
A comforting and quick salad featuring romaine lettuce gently wilted in a warm, smoky bacon dressing. Perfect for cozy dinners and busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 heads romaine lettuce, roughly chopped
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon
- 1 small shallot, finely minced
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup (optional)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Place 6 slices of thick-cut bacon in a cold skillet. Turn the heat to medium and cook, turning occasionally, until the bacon is crisp and browned, about 8–10 minutes. Remove the bacon and drain on paper towels, reserving 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the pan.
- Reduce heat to low. Add the minced shallot to the bacon fat and sauté gently for about 2 minutes until softened but not browned. Stir in 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, and 1 teaspoon maple syrup. Whisk to combine and cook for another 30 seconds to meld the flavors.
- While the dressing is coming together, roughly chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces and place them in a large heatproof bowl.
- Pour the warm bacon dressing immediately over the lettuce. Using tongs, gently toss the leaves to coat evenly. The heat will soften the lettuce slightly, turning it tender but still fresh—this should take about 1–2 minutes.
- Crumble the cooked bacon over the salad, sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper and salt to taste. Toss lightly once more to distribute the bacon pieces.
- Serve immediately while the salad is still warm for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
Use thick-cut bacon for best texture. Keep heat low when cooking shallots to avoid bitterness. Wilt lettuce just enough to keep a soft crunch. Save bacon fat for dressing base. Serve immediately for best texture. For vegetarian version, omit bacon and use smoked paprika with olive oil.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 8
Keywords: wilted lettuce salad, warm bacon dressing, cozy salad, quick salad, easy dinner, bacon salad, romaine lettuce salad