When you want a substantial salad but don’t want a lot of fuss. This recipe for Bacon & Eggs Frise Salad will fill you up and not break the calorie budget!
I wasn’t even thinking of a Bacon & Eggs Frise Salad when I was at my local whole foods the other day looking for something to make for dinner. It’s summer, so I want to eat light and not use an oven at all.
I love their produce section. It’s colorful and inspiring ……and full of all sorts of inspiration.
I’m browsing all the many choices when a lady right next to me asks what the heck is this? She then points to the Frise’ lettuce. We had a 5-minute conversation on Frise’. I felt like I was working for the Frise’ lettuce company. I went on and on about it.
It’s a peppery lettuce, though much milder than Arugula. It holds its crunch up with any dressing for a long time. Actually, warm dressings work really well with it for this reason. It’s a great lettuce for entertaining because of this too; you can make it ahead and have it be completely tossed ahead of time. You absolutely eat all the way to the middle, even the white part(just don’t eat the woody core exactly like iceberg lettuce.)
Aha, there it is….I know what I’m going to make….. Bacon & Eggs Frise Salad: crispy bacon, poached eggs, homemade croutons with a salad with that beautiful Frise’ that lady pointed out.
I serve the Frise’ salad tossed with a tangy vinaigrette dressing, crunchy crumbled bacon and smoky croutons. The ice-cold lettuce with the salty bacon pair nicely with the smoky crouton. Then over the top of the salad is a couple of poached eggs. The warm egg gives a contrast that is just mouth-watering. Then when you cut into the poached egg and the yolk oozes out onto everything it makes for one satisfying salad.
Looking for other salads? Try my Watermelon Salad or this Potato Salad!
Bacon & Eggs Frise Salad
Crunchy, Crisp lettuce with bacon, croutons topped with poached eggs for a hearty but healthy breakfast!
Ingredients
Salad
- 3 Heads of Frise' Lettuce, Rinsed well
- 8 pcs bacon, (I prefer peppered thick cut, but any will do)
- 8 Eggs
Smoky Croutons
- 1 tbs butter
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 1 tsp oregeno
- 1-2 tbs Paprika
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 baguette, cut into bitesized pieces, about 2 cups
Basic Vinaigrette
- 2 Tbs dijon mustard
- 2 tbs red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- salt and pepper
- Dash of dried chili peppers
Instructions
Lettuce
- Cut well washed lettuce into bite sized pieces, leaving only the woody core when finished.
- Place into salad bowl and put in refrigerator to keep frise' well chilled.
Bacon
- On microwaveable plate fold up paper towels several layers thick. This will serve as a base to cook your bacon on.
- Place bacon side by side onto paper towels.
- Cover top of bacon with one last paper towel.
- Microwave on high until bacon is very crisp. **See cooking note 1""
- Let cool, then crumble bacon into bite sized pieces.
Smoky Croutons
- Heat skillet until hot, then add butter and olive oil.
- Once butter has melted swirl mixture to coat the entire bottom of pan
- Add bread pieces and toss to coat.
- Once croutons are all coated sprinkle with paprika, continuing to toss or stir with wooden spoon.
- Cook croutons until cooked to a crunchy bite. (about 15 mins)
- Add parsley, salt and pepper to taste before removing from pan.
- Let cool on a paper towel for at least 5 minutes.
- These can be made up to a day ahead and stored in an air tight container.
Basic Vinaigrette
- In a small bowl mix mustard, vinegar and spices thoroughly. (I use a liquid measuring cup so that its easy to blend.
- Then slowly add olive oil while stirring rapidly with a fork until well blended.
Poached eggs
- Bring a rounded edge pan to a slow simmer. (1-2 bubbles coming to the surface, not a rolling boil.)**See Note #2
- Take a slotted spoon and swirl the water right before dropping 2 eggs into pan.**See note #3
- Gently stir water a few times to make sure eggs do not stick to the bottom.
- Cook for 3 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon to eliminate any excess water with eggs.**See note #4
- Cook eggs in batches until complete.
Salad
- Toss salad with crumbled bacon, croutons and vinaigrette and place on individual serving plates.
- Place poached eggs atop salad.
- Season generously with pepper before serving.
Notes
1. Cooking bacon in microwave on paper towels allows for most of the oil from bacon to be absorbed which allows for less calories in your salad. ** Alternatively you could cook crumbled bacon in a sauté pan making certain to pat out all excess bacon fat once fully cooked.
2. A gentle rolling boil works best, if you have a strong rolling boil, the eggs will cook too fast and get rubbery.
3. I suggest using a stovetop wok pan for making the eggs, but any rounded edge pan will do. The water swirls slowly cooking the eggs in a pan like this, which helps avoid sticking to the bottom when cooking.
4. I cook 2 eggs at time, you could do more depending on the size of your pan, but you need to leave enough room for the eggs to move around while cooking. In doing 2 at a time it also keeps the 3 minute time more accurate for both eggs.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
4 ServingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 401Saturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 336mgSodium: 328mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 7gSugar: 1gProtein: 14g
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Haley says
This looks so awesome! I’ve never thought about using a different kind of lettuce. I’ll definitely be trying this! Plus bacon is so yummy!
Mardene Carr says
The incredible edible egg…works like a charm…works everytime
Michele says
Can you believe I didnt eat eggs until a few years ago…. NOW I completely agree with you! Every. Single. Time.!
Toni says
The salad looks great, but I think the real MVP might be those smoky croutons! I love the benefits of eggs, but I just don’t like the taste…I’m working on that because your salad good good.
Stacey says
This salad is right up my alley! I love this kind of meal for dinner. Yum – going to make this next week.
laura londergan says
well this looks super easy to make. Sounds like it could be the perfect summer meal.
Becca says
This looks so good! It’s such a simple meal, but looks so fresh and delicious.
Heather says
Yum! This looks amazing! I love frise, but never actually use it at home – I only get it out. But, I might have to look for some and then make this.
Michele says
Heather…. its really easy to find in season. Otherwise I have to ask my grocer to get it! 🙂
Erin says
Oh mylanta! I need this in my life right now. That looks absolutely amazing! Totally worth trying to poach an egg again!
Michele says
Ha! I love this salad so much, it is the reason I learned to poach an egg! ~m
jill conyers says
I love breakfast salads. Minus the bacon I want this for breakfast. Too bad I have to go to work instead.
tiaras and tantrums says
this looks Delicious- but I can not cook a poached egg to save my life. I have been trying for years and FAIL every time!
Michele says
I Crack the egg into measuring cup, then use the spoon to swirl the water before dropping it in. I slightly stir the water to not leg egg sit on bottom for 10 seconds. Then set the timer for 3 minutes. It works EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Try it and let me know if it works….
Blythe A. says
I love frise lettuce. It really does hold its crunch, while clinging on to the delicious dressing. I’ve never thought about using a poached egg on a salad, but after seeing this recipe I definitely want to try it out.
Michele says
I think you hit the nail on the head, thats why I like frise. It holds the crunch with dressing on it and never gets soggy! 🙂
Debra says
This looks amazing! It has such a fresh but filling look about it! We are going to have to try this soon!
Roxanne says
This is one of my favorite breakfasts! Protein and veggies to start my day- yes please! Can’t wait to try your vinaigrette recipe!
Carolyn says
I am going to keep your basic vinigarette dressing recipe. I love mustard and red wine vinegar together. Thanks for sharing.
alexandria says
That looks really tasty. I have never used frise in a salad, but I think I am going to start. Change it up a little!
Ana De- Jesus says
I love frise lettuce too it is so much better than argula in my opinion ! I would love to make a veggie version, maybe add some quorn bacon instead?
Deb- It's me, debcb! says
That looks delicious and I’m not really a frise person. Too peppery for me.
Yanique says
I love the presentation of this salad. I’m not a fan of pouched eggs but would certainly enjoy the rest of this beautiful meal.
Terri Steffes says
This is my favorite brunch meal! I need to make it for my mom! She loves poached eggs.
CoCo says
This looks awesome! I have never thought to put a poached egg on my salad, I always go hard boiled!
Diane says
I love all the different lettuces you can get now. Your salad looks amazing, my kind of dinner!
Mimi says
I’m pretty sure I could live in the produce section at Whole Foods. lol I’ve seen frise’ before, but I don’t think I’ve ever tried it. I definitely can’t stand arugula, but I could probably handle this. I’m certainly willing to try it. Salads during the warm weather season are the perfect meal! I’ll definitely need to try this one.
Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says
You had me at bacon 😉 This sounds seriously delicious! I am going to have to make one soon!
Amanda Love says
Do you know that I see this lettuce all the time and have never bought it, all because I didn’t know much about it and I’m not a fan of trying new things in the event that I hate it. However, now that you’ve given me a lesson on it, I’m going to pick it up the next time I’m also at my supermarket. 🙂
Michele says
Isn’t it funny how we can see things and never try them? There are lots of vegetables like that… I need to work on trying new things too!
katie says
Made this last night. So simple and my whole family loved it. 🙂 Thanks!!