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Spinach and radish are the first things planted in the spring. While it’s all in good fun, Mom and I will often compete to see who gets theirs planted first in the garden. Since I know you’re wondering: I often win.
The nostalgia of growing spinach and radish may get me as excited as actually picking them. And maybe that’s because Mom would always be super excited to make her first spinach salad of the year. It was a staple growing up, especially in May and June, and I’m not actually sure where Mom came up with the idea. Since this is a take on a church cookbook recipe, I’m guessing she was inspired at some point.
My recipe now is slightly updated, but with the same flavors. It’s a simple recipe, but the result is a flavor combination that’s surprisingly unique.
What is spinach?
Scientifically, spinach is in the Amaranth family and related to quinoa and beets. Spinach is a dark, leafy green that prefers to grow in a slightly cool, moist environment. The leaves are packed with nutrients and antioxidants, making them a superfood.
I love to grow spinach because it’s easy and takes relatively no care. The seeds are planted and within a few weeks, there are leaves to pick! The plants continue to produce leaves for a few weeks, giving plenty of greens to make salads!
What makes a good homemade salad dressing?
Once you start making dressings or vinaigrettes at home, the store-bought ones will seem too thick. The ingredients in this dressing are simple, which makes sense since classic vinaigrettes are often three parts oil to one part acid.
This dressing uses a similar ratio, but the ingredients are slightly different. Along with the oil and apple cider vinegar, ketchup is used. I prefer to use sugar-free ketchup as there’s plenty of sweetness from the honey. The ketchup gives a sweet, salty, and tangy balance to the dressing, similar to a store-bought French dressing.
For a depth of flavor, a little Worcestershire sauce goes a long way. This creates a deep and complex dressing that complements the bright radish and bacon.
Once you start making this salad, it will become a staple at your house as it has in mine! Enjoy!
Other salad recipes to make
Panzanella
Watermelon Salad
Spring Orzo Salad with Snap Peas
Chicken Caesar Salad
Watch how to make this spinach salad
Spring Spinach Salad
Ingredients
For the dressing
- 1 cup neutral oil (safflower, grapeseed, vegetable)
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ⅓ cup honey
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
For the salad
- 5 slices bacon (optional)
- 2 large hardboiled eggs
- 5 oz spinach
- 3 scallion finely diced
- ¾ cup sliced radish
Instructions
For the dressing
- In a large measuring cup combine the oil, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, Worcestershire sauce, and pepper. Whisk until combined and emulsified. Set aside.1 cup neutral oil (safflower, grapeseed, vegetable), ⅓ cup ketchup, ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, ⅓ cup honey, ½ tsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
For the salad
- Add spinach to the serving bowl. Add half of the bacon, eggs, radish, and scallion. Add about ¼ cup of the prepared salad dressing. Toss to combine and top with the remaining bacon, eggs, radish, and scallion. Drizzle with more dressing as desired and serve immediately.5 slices bacon (optional), 2 large hardboiled eggs, 5 oz spinach, ¾ cup sliced radish, 3 scallion
I just made the Spring Spinach Salad – omg amazing. I didn’t have any bacon so I did without. I also can’t have Ketchup so I omitted that as well. Truly delicious! Highly recommend.
Super yummy. I omit the bacon and still yummy. The dressing, at 16 Kcal per tablespoon, is destined to be a favorite. Looking for sugar free ketchup was worth the hunt.
Made this for a get together, huge hit. Easy to make and delicious!!
I gave this five stars even though I’m just now making it today for the first time for my family. I am celebrating memorial day today with them As I’ve been invited out for tomorrow. I just started watching your videos on Facebook several weeks ago and I really enjoy them. It’s hard not to want to try your recipes because you always talk About your family, especially your mother and grandmother. Your recipes are easy and don’t call for a lot of ingredients that we don’t usually have in our cupboards. Can’t wait to try your peanut brittle during the holidays. What the heck I might make it before the holidays! Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm with us, Kaleb. I haven’t heard about Kip, but just read so I hope he’s doing OK. I understand being a dog lover with three weenie dogs myself!
We had this for dinner tonight and it was fantastic! I made it just like Kaleb did and I wouldn’t change a thing. The dressing was perfect!
Thank you!
Love all your recipes.
This is the most delicious salad I have had in a long time. It’s simple to make and that dressing is so good!
Quick and easy salad with so much flavor. Dressing easy and leftovers kept in refrigerator. A staple in my weekly meals for sure!
I am addicted to this salad! It is so flavorful and easy to make. The homemade dressing is perfect and taste delicious! I gave it 5.0!
Really good salad especially with the radishes which I love. The first time I made the dressing I thought there was too much salad oil. Seemed bland as well. I made it again with half the amount of oil and thought it was much better. I didn’t have sugar free ketchup so used half as much honey–great!
I made this dressing and it is GREAT! Thanks.