Recipe of the Month: Spinach Salad with Maple Bacon Dressing

This salad is so delicious even your kids will love it! Traditional bacon dressings typically boast mega amounts of fat grams because they include mayonnaise or cream. This recipe still offers great flavor, but with a lot less fat. And if you are looking to add a little iron and protein to your diet, the spinach and eggs in this dish do the trick!

Tip: Soak the red onions in ice water for 15 minutes, drain and pat dry. This reduces the aftertaste associated with stronger onions.

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS
12 cups fresh baby spinach
4 eggs, hard-boiled, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup red onion, thinly-sliced
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into chunks
DRESSING
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 tablespoon sweet onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 slices bacon, crisply fried and crumbled
salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

Toss spinach, eggs, red onion and cucumber together in a large serving bowl and set aside. In a small skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until soft and translucent. Pour vinegar and maple syrup into the pan, then bring to a boil while stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper. Pour dressing over spinach mixture, sprinkle with bacon and serve immediately.