Smoked Tomato and Bacon Vinaigrette

This smoked tomato and bacon vinaigrette is delicious on salads or as a marinade. It’s full of flavor, but each 2 Tablespoon serving clocks in at just 70 calories! 

Two weeks ago, I spent a long weekend in Miami attending a blogging conference and spending some much-needed time at the beach. I had been in a bit of a creative rut for the past month or so, and spending time exploring new cuisines with some of my foodie friends was just what the doctor ordered. I’m back – with pages and pages of new recipe ideas.

If there was a theme to my time there, it was definitely pork. From cuban sandwiches at a roadside shack in Key Biscane to slow roasted pork leg at Havana 1957 in Miami Beach to Southern-style barbecue (and an outrageous smoked and pulled pork sandwich) with my contacts from Jones Dairy Farm at a restaurant with a very appropriate name: Swine.

This smoked tomato and bacon vinaigrette was inspired in part by that lunch and in part by a smoked tomato jam that was served at the conference itself. Of all of the ideas that I came home with, this was the one that I was the most excited about. I got to work straight-away and was rewarded with an amazingly versatile dressing that I’ll definitely be eating all summer long.

The base of the dressing is made from tomatoes that get charred on a hot grill and then pureed with balsamic vinegar for sweetness and red wine vinegar for tartness and mixed with crumbled bacon and crispy fried shallots and garlic.  A little bit of smoked paprika is a nice touch to enhance the smoky flavor of the dressing.

It’s delicious as a marinade for grilled chicken, drizzled over fresh tomatoes and burrata, or in the BLT pasta salad pictured above. (To make the salad, combine 1 cup smoked tomato and bacon vinaigrette with 1 box of high fiber pasta, 2 cups of arugula, 6 slices of crumbled bacon, and 1/2 pint of grape tomatoes. Serve chilled.)

Smoked Tomato and Bacon Vinaigrette

As always, I used Jones Dairy Farm bacon in this dressing. I first tried it last fall and it's so good that I can't bring myself to buy any other brand: it's thick-cut with the perfect balance of smoke and salt. My little brothers now refer to it as "that really good bacon." It can be a little tricky to find, but Jones luckily has a really great [product locator |https://www.jonesdairyfarm.com/shopping/store-locator" target="_blank" rel="nofollow]on their site that will guide you in the right direction.

5

Print Pin SaveSaved!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 16

Calories: 70kcal

Author: Lauren Keating

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• 3 slices bacon preferably Jones Dairy Farm Applewood Smoked Bacon
• 1 shallot minced
• 1 garlic clove minced
• 6 plum tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• ¼ cup water
• ⅛ teaspoon smoked paprika optional
• ⅓ cup olive oil

Instructions

• Add the bacon to a pan set over medium-high heat. Cook, turning frequently, until crisp. Let drain on a plate lined with a paper towel, then crumble. Add the shallot and garlic to the hot bacon grease and cook until crisp – 1-2 minutes. Remove from the pan and let drain on paper towels.
• Cut the tomatoes in half; remove the core and seeds. Grill over medium-high heat (about 500ºF) for 5 minutes, or until lightly charred.
• Add the tomatoes, vinegar, water, and paprika (if using) to a blender container. Blend on high until smooth – about 1 minute. With the motor running, drizzle in the olive oil. Pour into a pint-sized jar or another storage container. Stir in the bacon, shallots, and onions.

Nutrition Facts

Smoked Tomato and Bacon Vinaigrette

Amount Per Serving

Calories 70 Calories from Fat 52

% Daily Value*

Fat 5.8g9%

Fiber 0.5g2%

Protein 1.9g4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?Mention @HealthyDelish or tag #HealthyDelish!

Disclosure: I was paid to create this recipe for Jones Dairy Farm but all opinions are my own. My little brothers were not paid for anything. In fact, I don’t even want to share my bacon with them. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep me inspired in the kitchen!