Spicy Oriental Spinach Salad π₯
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Description:
This Spicy Oriental Spinach Salad is a potluck favorite, garnering requests for the recipe every time I bring it along! It’s a delightful blend of fresh spinach, crunchy water chestnuts, savory bacon, and more, all tossed in a zesty dressing that adds a punch of flavor to every bite. Perfect for a quick and easy meal or as a refreshing side dish to complement any spread.
Ingredients:
| Ingredients | Quantities |
|---|---|
| Soy sauce | 1/4 cup |
| Canola oil | 1/2 cup |
| Lemon juice | 2 tbsp |
| Onions | 1 1/2, finely chopped |
| Sugar | 1/2 tsp |
| Black pepper | 1/2 tsp |
| Fresh spinach | 1 bunch |
| Fresh bean sprouts | 1 cup |
| Bean sprouts | 1 cup |
| Water chestnuts | 1 can, sliced |
| Fresh mushrooms | 1/2 cup, sliced |
| Bacon | 4 slices, cooked and crumbled |
| Sesame seeds | 1 tbsp |
| Tomatoes | 1, diced |
Dressing Instructions:
-
Make the Dressing: Combine soy sauce, canola oil, lemon juice, finely chopped onions, sugar, and black pepper in a mixing bowl.
-
Mix Well: Stir the ingredients until well combined, ensuring the sugar dissolves completely.
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Refrigerate: Cover the dressing and refrigerate for at least a few hours to allow the flavors to meld together beautifully.
Salad Instructions:
-
Prepare Bean Sprouts: Pour boiling water over the bean sprouts in a bowl and let them stand for a few minutes. Drain the water and set aside.
-
Mix Salad Ingredients: In a large salad bowl, combine fresh spinach, bean sprouts, sliced water chestnuts, sliced mushrooms, crumbled bacon, sesame seeds, and diced tomatoes.
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Chill: Refrigerate the salad mixture until you’re ready to serve, allowing the flavors to mingle and the salad to chill.
-
Toss with Dressing: Just before serving, pour the chilled dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat each ingredient evenly.
Nutrition Information (per serving):
- Calories: 325.9
- Total Fat: 29.7g
- Saturated Fat: 6.5g
- Cholesterol: 19.3mg
- Sodium: 788mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 9.5g
- Dietary Fiber: 2.9g
- Sugar: 2.2g
- Protein: 7.8g
Recipe Notes:
- This salad tastes best when the dressing has had time to marinate the ingredients, so prepare it a few hours ahead if possible.
- Feel free to adjust the spiciness of the dressing by adding more or less black pepper according to your taste preferences.
- For a vegetarian option, omit the bacon and add your favorite protein source, such as grilled tofu or chickpeas.
- Customize the salad by adding other crunchy vegetables like bell peppers or shredded carrots for extra color and texture.
Enjoy this Spicy Oriental Spinach Salad as a flavorful and nutritious addition to any meal or gathering! π
