Bacon and Date Salad with Tangy Vinaigrette
This recipe ingeniously reimagines the beloved bacon-wrapped date appetizer, presenting it as a dynamic and flavorful salad suitable for a variety of occasions. It artfully blends the crispy texture of bacon, the luxurious sweetness of Medjool dates, and the creamy, piquant notes of goat or blue cheese. These delightful components are harmoniously arranged on a robust base of kale, creating a culinary experience rich in contrasting flavors and satisfying textures. The addition of a subtly sweet vinaigrette, featuring a hint of maple syrup, perfectly rounds out the dish, establishing it as an excellent option for a comforting weeknight dinner or an impressive side that is sure to please.
The Culinary Crafting of a Distinctive Salad
In a recent culinary exploration, Mateja Zvirotić Andrijanić, a discerning chef from Serious Eats, embarked on a mission to translate the beloved appetizer, "devils on horseback"—dates enveloped in bacon and often paired with blue cheese—into a refreshing and substantial salad. This gastronomic endeavor, detailed in a recipe published on January 22, 2026, aimed to encapsulate the appetizer's iconic salty-sweet-chewy-creamy profile within a vibrant, main-course-worthy dish.
The creation of this salad begins with the dressing, a meticulously crafted vinaigrette prepared by whisking together a delicate blend of extra-virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, country Dijon mustard, pure maple syrup, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. This tangy-sweet concoction is set aside, ready to unite the salad's diverse elements.
The heart of the salad's texture and flavor comes from a pound of extra-thick-cut bacon. Cooked on a wire rack over a foil-lined baking sheet in an oven preheated to a cozy 400°F (200°C), the bacon achieves a sublime crispness and deep brown hue, its fat perfectly rendered. After a brief cooling period, it is roughly chopped into delectable, bite-sized morsels. Crucially, a tablespoon of the rendered bacon fat is retained on the baking sheet for the next step, while the remainder is carefully preserved for future culinary adventures.
Following the bacon, twelve ounces of luscious pitted Medjool dates, either halved or quartered if particularly grand, are introduced to the baking sheet, where they are lovingly tossed in the residual bacon fat. A quick bake in the oven transforms them, softening their flesh and caramelizing their natural sugars, intensifying their inherent sweetness.
The foundation of the salad is a verdant mix of Tuscan or curly kale and tender spring mix. The kale, with its tough stems deftly removed and leaves roughly chopped, undergoes a gentle massage with a pinch of salt. This tenderizes the leaves without sacrificing their robust character, preparing them to absorb the rich flavors of the other ingredients. The spring mix is then folded in, and the greens are lightly coated with three tablespoons of the prepared vinaigrette before being artfully arranged on a generous serving platter.
The grand finale involves adorning the dressed greens with the crispy bacon, the warm, caramelized dates, four ounces of crumbled blue or goat cheese—its tanginess providing a perfect counterpoint—and two and a half ounces of toasted, roughly chopped almonds, adding a delightful crunch. A final drizzle of the remaining vinaigrette, if desired, completes this symphony of flavors and textures. The salad is then presented immediately, a testament to the harmonious interplay of its thoughtfully selected components.
This innovative salad concept showcases how classic flavor combinations can be reimagined and elevated into new culinary forms. It demonstrates a thoughtful approach to balancing diverse tastes and textures, proving that even a simple appetizer's essence can inspire a complex and satisfying meal. The attention to detail in preparing each component, from the perfectly crisp bacon to the caramelized dates and tender kale, ensures a memorable dining experience. It's a reminder that familiar flavors, when creatively combined, can yield unexpectedly delightful results, offering both comfort and novelty in every bite.