Foodie Word: Emulsion

In pains me a little to have to admit this, but there are a lot of sciencey things going on with food. The rising of a chocolate cake, the crystallizing of sugar on crème brulee, the molding of a hunk of brie—all are, at their core, scientific reactions. Most of these are satisfying to watch (crème brulee being my particular favorite) but few are as instantaneous at watching an emulsion come together.

An emulsion is the mixture of two (or more) liquids that cannot (or will not, for personal reasons) normally combine smoothly—oil and water being the classic example. Emulsions require a lot of TLC, as you must add one ingredient drop-by-drop into the other whilst whisking rapidly. This action suspends tiny droplets of the liquid being introduced into the receiving liquid, resulting in a satiny textured mixture.

The food dictionary at Epicurious.com informs me that mayonnaise (oil, egg yolks and vinegar/lemon juice) and hollandaise sauce (butter, egg yolks and vinegar/lemon juice) are two of the best-known emulsions. Maybe so, but the best known emulsion to me is also my favorite: hot bacon dressing over spinach salad.

Hot Bacon Dressing over Spinach Salad
Serves 4

8 pieces thick-sliced bacon, chopped
3 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. sugar
½ tsp. Dijon mustard
sea salt and black pepper
1 bag cleaned and trimmed baby spinach leaves
2 large hard-boiled eggs, chopped
4 large white mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
½ a red onion, very thinly sliced

In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, fry the bacon until it’s crispy around the edges, about 6-7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to a paper towel to drain, reserving 3 tablespoons of the rendered fat.

Transfer the fat to a small saucepan over low heat and whisk in the vinegar, sugar and mustard until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.

In a large bowl, toss together the spinach, eggs, mushrooms and onion. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and sprinkle with the bacon. Toss to combine and adjust seasonings to taste. Serve immediately.