Spinach Salad With Hot Bacon Dressing - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 pound sliced bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch strips
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup minced onion
1 pinch salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/3 cup bacon drippings
2 teaspoons water
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 pinch cayenne pepper
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 pound baby spinach leaves
1 (15 ounce) can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
12 white button mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 cup sliced cherry tomatoes

Preparation

Cook and stir bacon with 1/4 cup vegetable in a skillet over medium heat until bacon is browned and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Pour bacon into a strainer set over a bowl, reserving 1/3 cup of bacon drippings.
Return skillet to medium heat. Stir onions and salt into the skillet; cook and stir until onions are golden brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic; cook, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant and golden, 1 minute.
Stir cider vinegar, rice vinegar, 1/2 cup water, sugar, and Dijon mustard into onion mixture. Increase heat to medium-high and simmer.
Whisk 2 teaspoons water and cornstarch in a bowl. Gradually pour cornstarch mixture into onion mixture and whisk until thickened. 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
Drizzle reserved 1/3 cup bacon drippings into onion mixture, whisking constantly. Add cooked bacon and stir to combine. Season with cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper to taste.
Combine spinach, black-eyed peas, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes in a large bowl; toss to combine. Drizzle hot bacon dressing over spinach mixture; toss quickly and serve immediately.