The blackberries and bacon add a delicious peppery punch to this salad. The blackberries and bacon are perfect for the summer. The fresh arugula will complement the bacon and fresh blackberries. If you have extra bacon, slice it and add to the dressing for an even better flavor. The dressing is optional and can be made by hand, but it will help you get started right away.
So I had a conversation with bacon the other day (just go along with it). Bacon told me it’s tired of being paired with chocolate. Yes, its tasty, but there are only so many ways you can dip bacon in chocolate. And only so many ways to incorporate bacon in a dessert. Bacon told me that it is one of the best ingredients ever (duh) and can add a certain smoky, salty flavor to everything you add it to. However you don’t want to be too generous with the bacon and add it to every single thing you make. Because it’s special. I agree.
As you know, I went blackberry picking this past weekened. I knew I was going to make something savory with some of my berries, but I had no idea that I would be pairing them with bacon.
Bacon and fruit? Does it work?
Well, why wouldn’t it? Blackberries are somewhat sweet and tart while bacon is smokey, salty and crispy. Both the blackberries and bacon added great texture to the salad. Yet when I tried a piece of the lettuce with my blackberry vinaigrette something was off. The salad was still too tart. My vinaigrette needed something to calm down the berry flavor, and add a certain richness that it was lacking. The solution? Bacon grease. Afterall, warm bacon vinaigrette is one of my favorites over a spinach salad.
I added the bacon grease to my blackberry vinaigrette, shook it vigorously like a Mexican maraca, and tasted again. And if you were within 20 feet you would have heard a loud ‘GOOD GOD Y’ALL‘ because the salad was just amazing. Spicy arugula with the sweet candied cashews, crispy bacon and fresh blackberries. Toss in a smooth blackberry bacon vinaigrette and top with creamy, fried goat cheese. You have every texture you could possibly want. Did I mention there’s a blackberry bacon vinaigrette? Holy cow.
Blackberry and Bacon Arugula Salad
Ingredients
- 2 portions Arugula Lettuce around 3 cups
- 4 Bacon strips cooked and chopped (reserve fat drippings)
- Candied Cashews or any kind of candied nut
- 1 cup Blackberries
- 1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 TBS Honey
- 1 TBS Olive Oil
- 2 TBS Bacon Fat Drippings
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
Fried Goat Cheese
- 1 4oz log Goat Cheese, chilled
- Bread Crumbs
- Olive Oil
Instructions
- Puree a half cup of blackberries. Strain the liquid out of the berries until you have around 3 tablespoons worth. Discard seeds.
- Add liquid to a shakable container (for example a jar with a lid). Add vinegar, honey, salt, pepper, oil and bacon grease. Shake at least 10 seconds until emulsified (combined fully).
- In a large bowl combine arugula, cooked bacon pieces, candied nuts and the rest of the whole blackberries. Gently toss with the blackberry bacon vinaigrette. Serve with fried goat cheese.
Fried Goat Cheese
- Cut log of goat cheese into 4 equal sized discs. Coat in the breadcrumbs on all sides.
- Using a non stick skillet turn to medium high heat and coat pan with olive oil. Once the oil is hot, place the goat cheese discs into the oil and cook on each side for 2 minutes until browned. Be very careful when flipping the goat cheese so the breading does not come off. A small offset spatula works best for this.
- Let drain on a paper towel lined plate until ready to eat.
Video
Notes
Tips and Tricks
To create a delicious Blackberry and Bacon Arugula salad, begin by rinsing arugula leaves. Place the arugula leaves in a large bowl and add half of the blackberries. Add the bacon, toasted walnuts, and the remaining 1/2 cup blackberries to the bowl. Toss the arugula and the bacon with the dressing, and top with candied almonds, figs, and Bacon.
To prepare the salad, rinse and dry arugula. Toss it with extra virgin olive oil and sliced green onions. Toss in arugula, blackberries, and bacon. Toss gently to combine. Then, drizzle with the dressing. Serve immediately, or chill until the blackberries are completely ripe. Once chilled, serve immediately. The arugula and bacon will absorb the dressing, allowing the flavors to blend perfectly.
Start by preparing the arugula and spinach salad. Prepare the grilled corn or the roasted corn. Meanwhile, dice the blackberries and the avocado. Then, prepare the arugula. Next, dice the radishes. Slice the blackberries and add them to the bowls. Once everything has been prepped, the vinaigrette can be made.
The pears and bacon are the two ingredients that make this salad so delicious. The grilled chicken is the perfect companion for the blackberry and bacon arugula salad. A simple honey mustard vinaigrette provides the perfect flavor. You can use either dijon or stone-ground mustard. It will taste great with chicken and arugula! Once the dressing has set, you can assemble the salad.
You can make the blackberry and bacon arugula salad with grilled corn. The blackberries and bacon can be chopped into thin strips and sliced to serve as toppings. If you want to add bacon, just shave it into small pieces. Then, add the crumbled bacon to the salad. If you don’t have any bacon, dice the sliced bacon is optional.
Arugula and bacon are two of the most important ingredients for this recipe. The berries, sliced blackberries, and crisp bacon are the key to a delicious and colorful salad. The blackberries and bacon are both a must-have addition to any salad. While the blackberries are high in antioxidants, the other ingredients are low in sugar. Then, mix all the ingredients in the dressing and add them to the salad.
To prepare the Blackberry and bacon arugula salad, prepare the ingredients. Take the baby spinach and chop it into quarter-inch-sized pieces. Then, slice the bacon and add to the salad. You can also add the berries and bacon to the arugula. Pour the dressing over the greens and add the bacon and the blackberries to the arugula.
For the blackberry and bacon arugula salad, use fresh baby spinach and arugula leaves. You may also add sliced blackberries and granny smith apples, as well as chopped bacon. Arugula leaves and bacon are the main ingredients in this salad, so they can be added together or separately. Arugula leaves can be mixed with other greens, and the bacon should be tossed in the dressing to give it a nutty flavor.
The salad should be topped with Desert Sun figs, which are juicy and delicious straight from the tree. You can also drizzle the salad with honey, if desired. Arugula leaves may be placed in individual bowls. The dressing can be drizzled over the arugula, which is the perfect accompaniment to a blackberry and bacon arugula salad. The dressing can be tossed in small bowls or jars, depending on the taste and preferences of the cook.
If you’re making this salad, remember that arugula is a leafy green and is rich in nutrients. The blackberry and bacon adds a sweet and tart contrast to the arugula. In addition to blackberries and bacon, this salad also features radishes, walnuts, and goat cheese. Arugula is a healthy salad.
