Spicy Garlic Vinaigrette

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It has been about an hour since I made this salad and paired it with a perfectly cooked, thinly sliced 4 oz steak

and I still have a pleasantly tangy peppery flavor in my mouth.

I’ve been playing around with a spicy mustard garlic vinaigrette for a few months because I adore the flavors, the ease and tonight — tonight, I achieved the pinnacle of Tonguegasmic Mustard/Garlic/Vinegar-y deliciousness

My family and I are huge fans of garlic, mustard and fresh raw spinach.  If you put raw spinach out, my kids will devour it, they don’t need any dressing or dipping sauce — it’s one of my consolations and nods that somewhere, somehow– I’m doing something right.

I’ve made a few sauces with spicy mustard and garlic and I love sprinkling garlic over spinach so I just knew, that out there somewhere, there was a vinaigrette just waiting for me — one that would double as a dressing, a spread for toasted bread and a marinade.

Oh baby, oh hail yes.  This – is it.

Beware, if you do not adore garlic, spicy mustard and tang — walk away now.

Those 5 simple ingredients blend together to produce a tangy, savory, peppery, delicious, unforgettable vinaigrette that is perfect when tossed with fresh spinach and topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese, sliced tomatoes and freshly ground black pepper.

Mince 4 garlic cloves and put in your bowl.

Add in 1 rounded tsp spicy mustard

Add 1 1/2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil and 2 Tbsp white wine vinegar.

Add 2 to 5 turns of freshly ground black pepper, according to your preferences — 1/4 to 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

If you have a food processor, blender, hand mixer — you can puree this up nicely and reduce the garlic to mere shreds — this is not necessary, this is not a smooth vinaigrette, but it definitely sharpens the flavors.

Let the vinaigrette rest for an hour at room temperature and then toss it over about 5 oz of fresh raw spinach; toss until fully coated.

I have found that for me, the best accompaniments for this are freshly grated parmesan

sliced cherry/grape tomatoes and crumbled bacon

This is honestly, my favorite salad combination to date, and that is saying a lot.

This is a salad that my husband will devour willingly and ask for seconds and THAT is a monumental accomplishment, y’all.  He is a chicken fried steak and potatoes boy.

Enough of my yammering, y’all just want the recipe!
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