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BelGioioso CreamyGorg Spinach Salad


BelGioioso CreamyGorg Spinach Salad

BelGioioso Cheese Inc.
The combination of crispy bacon and creamy blue cheese is a classic. This recipe brings together those two favorite flavors and turns them into a hearty salad with sweet Vidalia onion, rich pumpernickel croutons, and tender baby spinach.

Ingredients
  

Buttermilk-Herb Dressing

  • 1/3 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons plain whole-milk yogurt
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons tarragon vinegar or white wine vinegar
  • 1 large green onion finely chopped
  • 3/4 teaspoon anchovy paste
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 3/4 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon
  • Salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Spinach Salad

  • 3 strips thick-cut bacon cut into cross-wise slices
  • 6 ounces pumpernickel bread slices cut into pieces for croutons
  • 12 ounces whole peeled Vidalia onions cut into 1/4-inch thick round slices
  • 12 ounces baby spinach salad greens
  • 6 ounces BelGioioso CreamyGorg cheese cut into thin slices

Instructions
 

  • Buttermilk-Herb Dressing: Combine buttermilk with yogurt; blend until smooth. Stir in vinegar, green onion), anchovy paste, parsley, and tarragon. Season dressing with salt and black pepper to taste.
  • Salad: Cook bacon slices in skillet over low heat until browned and crisp. Drain on paper towels; reserve bacon grease. Set aside at room temperature. Sauté pumpernickel bread pieces in skillet with small amount of bacon grease until crisp. Drain croutons on paper towels; set aside. Grill onion slices until browned on each side and softened slightly. Separate into rings and set aside.
  • For each salad, toss 2 ounces baby spinach leaves with 1/2 ounce dressing and plate. Add 1 ounce grilled onion rings; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon bacon. Add 1 ounce croutons to salad and top with 1 ounce BelGioioso CreamyGorg. Drizzle salad with an additional 1/2 ounce dressing before serving.

BelGioioso Cheese

BelGioioso Cheese is a family-owned and operated company specializing in artisan Italian cheesemaking. Using fresh Wisconsin milk, Master Cheesemakers hand-craft a full line of exceptional cheeses guided by a commitment to quality and a respect for tradition. At BelGioioso, every cheese is a specialty. Their award-winning cheeses include American Grana, Mascarpone, and CreamyGorg among many others.

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