Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing & Blue Cheese

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Ingredients

4 strips thick-cut bacon
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon diced shallot
2 teaspoons stone-ground mustard
1½ teaspoons brown sugar
Salt, to taste
1 container fresh spinach, for serving
2 ounces blue cheese crumbles, for serving
Thinly sliced red onion, for serving
Halved cherry tomatoes, for serving

Method

In a large skillet, cook bacon slices over medium heat until crispy. Remove to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. In a mason jar, combine 3 tablespoons of the rendered bacon fat, sherry vinegar, shallot, mustard and brown sugar. Taste, and add more salt, if necessary. Toss the fresh spinach in the bacon dressing, and divide among two large serving bowls. Top with crumbled bacon strips, blue cheese, red onion and tomatoes before serving.

Notes: Dressing can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, heat the dressing in the microwave for 30 seconds, or until the bacon fat is liquid and the dressing is warmed through. Shake vigorously before using.