Deliciously Loaded Spinach Salad with Creamy Roasted Garlic Dressing: Your Go-To Satisfying Meal
Imagine a vibrant bed of tender baby spinach leaves, generously topped with the robust flavor of Paisley Farm Four Bean Salad, savory thick-cut bacon, crisp Brussels sprouts, juicy ripe tomatoes, perfectly hard-boiled eggs, briny olives, and sharp red onion. All of these incredible components are brought together with the creamiest, most flavorful homemade roasted garlic dressing. This isn’t just a salad; it’s a complete, satisfying meal designed to delight your taste buds and keep you feeling full and energized.
As the chill of winter slowly fades and the first whispers of spring emerge, our thoughts naturally turn to lighter, fresher meals. The impending swimsuit season often inspires a shift towards more salads and vibrant produce. However, “lighter fare” doesn’t have to mean sacrificing flavor or satisfaction. This incredible loaded spinach salad strikes the perfect balance. It’s packed with hearty vegetables, protein, and a homemade dressing that elevates it from a simple side dish to a truly satisfying main course. You’ll find yourself craving this delightful combination of textures and flavors long after the season changes.
What makes a salad truly satisfying? It’s the thoughtful combination of ingredients that offer both nutrition and a delightful eating experience. We believe a great salad should be more than just greens; it should be an adventure for your palate, offering a symphony of tastes and textures in every bite. This loaded spinach salad delivers exactly that, ensuring you feel nourished and content without feeling weighed down.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Paisley Farm, but the opinions are all my own. Thank you for supporting the companies and products that make An Affair from the Heart possible.
Why This Loaded Spinach Salad Will Be Your New Favorite
For those who love salads but easily get bored, variety is key. Eating the same old combination day after day can quickly diminish the joy of a healthy meal. That’s why innovative toppings, diverse types of greens, and, most importantly, clever and flavorful dressings are absolutely instrumental in keeping a salad lover happy and engaged. This particular recipe tackles salad boredom head-on by layering an array of exciting ingredients with a truly exceptional homemade dressing.
Our Loaded Spinach Salad offers a dynamic interplay of flavors and textures. The tender spinach base provides a gentle foundation, while the robust Paisley Farm Four Bean Salad adds a delightful chewiness and a burst of savory-sweet notes. Crispy bacon introduces a salty crunch, perfectly complemented by the slightly bitter, tender-crisp Brussels sprouts. The juicy burst of ripe tomatoes, the creamy richness of hard-boiled eggs, the earthy depth of olives, and the subtle bite of red onion all contribute to a perfectly balanced and incredibly appealing dish. Each component is chosen not just for taste, but for how it enhances the overall experience.
The Versatility of Paisley Farm Four Bean Salad
One of the star ingredients in this loaded spinach salad is Paisley Farm Four Bean Salad. I always make sure to keep a couple of jars of Paisley Farm Bean Salad readily available in my pantry. It’s an incredibly versatile product that simplifies meal preparation. You can effortlessly open a jar to use as a quick and delicious side dish alongside almost any meal, incorporate it as a flavorful ingredient within your recipes, or, as we’re doing today, use it as a fantastic and healthy topping on a fresh salad. Its blend of kidney, garbanzo, green, and wax beans, accented with freshly diced onions and red peppers, provides a delightful mix of textures and a subtly sweet flavor that enhances many dishes.
Beyond this salad, Paisley Farm Four Bean Salad shines in numerous applications. Consider tossing it into grain bowls for added protein and fiber, or mixing it with chopped fresh herbs and a light vinaigrette for a simple, vibrant side. It can even be a convenient, healthy snack straight out of the jar when you need something quick and wholesome. Its natural ingredients and balanced flavors make it a pantry staple for any home cook looking to add convenience and quality to their meals.
The Secret to an Unforgettable Salad: Homemade Roasted Garlic Dressing
If you’ve never ventured into making your own homemade salad dressing, I wholeheartedly urge you to change that. There’s truly nothing on a grocery store shelf that can compare to the depth of flavor and freshness you can achieve with just a few simple ingredients and a little extra time. In the case of this particular dressing, one additional step—roasting the garlic—transforms the flavor profile, taking it right over the top. While you *could* make it without roasting, trust me, the roasting process is incredibly easy and undeniably worth every bit of effort for that rich, mellow, and slightly sweet garlic essence it imparts.
This Creamy Roasted Garlic Dressing comes together surprisingly fast, especially considering the gourmet taste it delivers. Once your garlic is beautifully roasted in the oven, it will be combined with pungent Pecorino Romano cheese, a bright squeeze of fresh lemon juice, creamy mayonnaise, a touch of heavy cream for luxurious texture, and a simple seasoning of salt and freshly ground black pepper. The roasted garlic provides a deep, complex sweetness that marries perfectly with the tangy and savory elements, creating a dressing that is truly addictive and complements every ingredient in the salad.
How to Roast Garlic in the Oven: A Simple Guide
Roasting garlic is a simple culinary technique that transforms raw, pungent garlic into sweet, mellow, and spreadable cloves. To roast garlic, simply cut off the top quarter-inch of a whole head of garlic to expose the cloves. Drizzle with a little olive oil, season lightly with salt and pepper, wrap it in foil, and roast in a preheated oven (around 400°F or 200°C) for 30-45 minutes, or until the cloves are soft and golden brown. Once cooled, you can easily squeeze out the tender roasted garlic pulp, ready to be mashed and incorporated into your dressing. This step adds an unparalleled depth of flavor that is well worth the minimal effort.
Crafting Your Perfect Loaded Spinach Salad
Now, let’s talk about the incredible components of the salad itself. We start with a generous base of fresh, tender baby spinach leaves. Then, we layer on the fantastic Paisley Farm Four Bean Salad, adding both substance and a unique flavor. Crisp, prepared thick-sliced bacon provides that irresistible savory crunch. Hard-boiled eggs offer a creamy protein boost, while thinly sliced red onion adds a subtle sharpness. Sweet grape tomatoes, halved for easy eating, contribute juicy freshness, and sliced black olives provide a briny counterpoint. Finally, thinly sliced Brussels sprouts add a delightful crunch and earthy flavor. For an extra textural element, a handful of crunchy croutons is always a welcome addition. Of course, you have the freedom to customize the veggies to your liking, but if you’re seeking a tried-and-true combination for salad perfection, this recipe is your guide.
The beauty of a loaded salad lies in its ability to be a complete meal. Every ingredient plays a crucial role, contributing not only to the flavor profile but also to the nutritional value and visual appeal. The interplay of soft, crunchy, savory, and tangy elements ensures that every forkful is interesting and enjoyable. This salad is designed to satisfy both your hunger and your craving for something truly delicious and wholesome.
Simple Assembly for Maximum Flavor
Assembling this magnificent salad is wonderfully straightforward. Begin by placing a couple of generous handfuls of fresh baby spinach leaves onto each dinner plate or into a large serving bowl. Next, artfully arrange all of your prepared ingredients over the spinach. Don’t be shy with the toppings – this is a *loaded* salad, after all! Once your salad is piled high with all the goodness, drizzle liberally with your homemade Creamy Roasted Garlic Dressing. For the best flavor and even distribution, gently toss the salad to ensure every leaf and every ingredient is coated in that luscious dressing. We always finish ours with a generous sprinkling of freshly cracked black pepper for an added layer of aroma and subtle spice.
This method ensures that each serving is a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. Presenting the ingredients beautifully before tossing encourages appreciation for the diverse components. The act of tossing then integrates everything, allowing the flavors to meld and the dressing to embrace every bite. It’s a simple process that yields truly spectacular results, making a weeknight meal feel special.
Have you tried Paisley Farm Four Bean Salad yet? It’s an all-natural product that can be served anytime, anywhere. From casual family picnics to elegant dinner parties, or simply enjoyed as a wholesome snack straight out of the jar, you absolutely can’t go wrong with this versatile salad. Paisley Farm Four Bean Salad offers a perfectly balanced sweet blend of kidney, garbanzo, green, and wax beans, thoughtfully accented with freshly diced onions and red peppers to give it even more depth and vibrant flavor. It’s a convenient, flavorful addition to any meal plan.
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Print Recipe
Loaded Spinach Salad with Creamy Roasted Garlic Dressing
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- Four handfuls of baby spinach leaves
- 3/4 cup Paisley Farm Four Bean Salad
- 1/2 cup brussels sprouts chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion sliced thin
- 1/2 cup thick cut bacon prepared and chopped
- 1/2 cup hard boiled eggs chopped
- 1/2 cup grape tomatoes sliced in half
- 1/2 cup black olives sliced
For the Dressing:
- 1 large head garlic *roasted, mashed with the back of a fork
- 1/4 cup Pecorino Romano Cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup real mayonnaise
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
Instructions
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Prepare the Creamy Roasted Garlic Dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients—mashed roasted garlic, shredded Pecorino Romano cheese, real mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, heavy cream, salt, and coarsely ground black pepper—in a large, wide-mouth mason jar. Using a stick blender, thoroughly blend the mixture until it is smooth and creamy. Alternatively, you can use a regular blender or food processor. Once blended, secure the lid on the jar and refrigerate the dressing until you are ready to use it. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
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Assemble the Loaded Spinach Salad: On each of two dinner plates, place two generous handfuls of fresh baby spinach leaves, forming a green bed for your toppings. Evenly distribute the remaining prepared salad ingredients over the spinach, using approximately half of each ingredient for each salad. This includes the Paisley Farm Four Bean Salad, chopped Brussels sprouts, sliced red onion, prepared bacon, chopped hard-boiled eggs, halved grape tomatoes, and sliced black olives. Finally, top each salad with your desired amount of the prepared Creamy Roasted Garlic Dressing, and gently toss to ensure all components are thoroughly coated. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
This delicious homemade dressing will keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, making it perfect for meal prepping!
Nutrition
Connect with Paisley Farm for More Delicious Ideas
For even more fantastic recipes and to explore the full range of quality products from Paisley Farm, we invite you to visit their official website. Stay updated with their latest offerings, culinary inspiration, and engage with their community by following them on FaceBook, Instagram, and Pinterest. You’ll find a wealth of ideas to incorporate their delicious and versatile products into your everyday cooking.
