Jelly Toast

betty’s salad for #SundaySupper

Betty's Salad by Jelly Toast

Betty’s Salad for #SundaySupper is a classic Ohio salad full of fresh spinach, crispy bacon, hard boiled eggs and a rich, tangy dressing.

I have so many things that I want to talk about today, but first let me start off by wishing you all a very happy Mother’s Day!

You might be wondering a little about this salad. Well, let me give you a little bit of the background of this regional favorite. Growing up in Toledo, Ohio you couldn’t go to a potluck or summer picnic without coming across a Betty’s Salad. This salad is known for it’s fresh spinach, crumbled bacon, hardboiled eggs and tangy reddish/orange salad dressing. It’s a flavor combination that brings to mind visions of childhood summertime. Sunshine, grass, families and fun. And of course, my mom.

Betty’s Salad was actually created by Betty Timko who had a restaurant, called Timko’s Soup and Such, just blocks away from my childhood home. This salad was on the menu and even after the restaurant closed, it remained a classic in our area. You can even buy jars of Betty’s dressing in grocery stores in Ohio.

I told you it was a classic.

Betty's Salad by Jelly Toast

It had been a while since I had thought about this salad and a few weeks ago I went into the small local grocery store near my kiddos school to pick up a few things for dinner. While wandering by the deli counter, I saw that they had Betty’s Salad! Well, I couldn’t not get some, so I popped it in my cart and went home. The Baby wanted to share and by ‘share’ she meant eat all of the eggs and bacon. We need to work on her idea of sharing a little bit, but I couldn’t blame her, those are my favorite parts, too. Most of me was just thrilled because she was loving something that I had such fond memories of as a kid.

It made me think that I really wanted to make my own at home so the Buddy and my husband could try it and I started looking into recipes for the dressing and found a few different versions. Every recipe had oil, ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and sugar in slightly different proportions. Yes, it has ketchup, just go with it. So I picked one and tweaked it to fit my memories.

Betty's Salad by Jelly Toast

When I served the salad to my family my husband chuckled at my ‘ketchup dressing’ but proceeded to clean his plate, so I figured it must have tasted pretty good. Betty’s Salad is a simple, but perfectly flavor balanced salad that takes me straight back to my childhood. I’m so glad to have rediscovered it just in time for Mother’s Day.

Betty's Salad Recipe

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

1 cup canola oil (or other neutral salad oil)
3/4 cup raw sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt + black pepper to taste
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 small onion, cut into chunks
4 cups chopped romaine
4 cups fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup fresh bean sprouts
4 hard boiled eggs, sliced
4 strips of bacon, cooked crisp and crumbed

Directions

Place oil, sugar, salt, pepper, ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and onion in a blender and blend until smooth. Set aside. In a salad bowl, toss together romaine and spinach. Top with bean sprouts, hard boiled eggs and bacon. Drizzle with dressing and serve.

Enjoy!

Notes:

Store leftover dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
This recipe is slightly adapted from this version of Betty Timko's recipe that was made popular through her restaurant, Timko's Soup and Such.
May 11th, 2014

The last tidbit that I want to share today is that I’m so excited to be joining the #SundaySupper movement celebrating families gathering around the dinner table. If you’re looking for some more Mother’s Day dinner inspiration, look no further than our Sunday Supper table!

Mother’s Day Breakfast:

Mother’s Day Appetizers, Soups and Salads:

Mother’s Day Main Dishes:

Mother’s Day Desserts:

Sunday Supper Movement
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.
Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy! You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

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64 comments on “betty’s salad for #SundaySupper”

  1. Welcome to the Sunday Supper Movement! I can see why this salad is so popular because these flavors pair so well with each other. In addition, I don’t think ketchup isn’t all that unusual in a salad dressing. After all, isn’t Thousand Island fundamentally just equal parts ketchup and mayonnaise?

    • Thank you, DB! There are a few ketchup based dressings out there, you’re right! Thanks for all of your help this week with joining #SundaySupper – I look forward to many more suppers to come 🙂
      Emily

  2. This is a salad from my childhood….love it!!! Beautifully done. Welcome to the Sunday Supper team!!!

    • I’m so glad someone else knows this salad! Thank you so much, Liz, I’m thrilled to be a part of such a great movement 🙂

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  6. Love the bean sprouts in there for crunch!

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  9. Your salad looks incredible and the photos are just gorgeous!!

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  13. What a great salad combo. Spinach salad with bacon, yum. And your dressing with ketchup, sounds perfect. Reminiscent of a Catalina Dressing. Welcome to Sunday Supper.

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  16. Looks great! Simple and delicious. That dressing sounds awesome, I’ll have to try it sometime.

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  19. I don’t know why but I LOVE that it was called, Betty’s Soups and Such. Happy Mother’s Day!

  20. Welcome to the Sunday Supper Family! I need Betty’s Salad in my life — looks amazing.

  21. This looks great, but I dont think they have Betty’s here in Cleveland 🙁

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  24. I’m going to have to try that ketchup dressing, looks neat!

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  26. That is a lovely looking salad, I love that it has so many memories for you. Great post!

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  28. This is right up my alley – happy mother’s day!

  29. I love adding bean sprouts to my salads, it adds a great crunch!

  30. What a beautiful salad for a beautiful Mother’s Day!

  31. How have I never heard of this before? I have to try this thoroughly Ohio salad. I’m so glad you were able to join in this week! I hope it wasn’t too overwhelming the first time!

    • Maybe it is more of a Toledo thing?! It’s SO good, though, Courtney! I’m so glad I’m joining Sunday Supper – I just need to try to keep up with all you veterans 😉

  32. Such a gorgeous salad! I always love spinach and bacon so I can’t blame the baby for choosing to eat all your bacon! Happy Mothers Day!

  33. love the story behind this salad! I love learning about local foodie gems . . sorry to hear the restaurant is no longer around but glad to hear it remains a classic in the area! Hope you had a fabulous Mother’s day!

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  35. Great pictures of your salad, it really looks tasty.
    I’ve never heard of Betty’s Salad, but thanks to you I now know of it and will be making it soon.
    I happen to enjoy salads, always on the lookout for a new salad recipe or combination of veggies to try out.
    The dressing sounds delicious, hubby will have to try this one with me. He is a big burger and pizza guy, but he always cleans his plate when I make our dinners. He’s not opposed to new foods. 🙂
    Thanks for sharing your childhood story Emily.
    Pinned!

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  37. Welcome to the Sunday Supper family! I love this salad, and the story behind it !!

  38. I’ll have to show this salad to my mom. Her name is Betty. 🙂 I’d enjoy the salad but I am really curious to try the dressing! Tay loves ketchup so I’d have to make sure she doesn’t sneak off with it.

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  40. Okay, I’ll go with it. My grandma added ketchup to most everything, especially if she was trying to stretch the food. What a fun story about the salad.

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  42. Wow! I’m liking Ohio the more I understand the greatness of this state: Betty’s Salad (and the iconic restaurant which still stands), Chef Michael Symon and my husband’s cousins!

    I trust your Mother’s Day was a happy one =)

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  48. Many years ago we would stay at the French Quarters in Perrysburg, Oh. They served Betty’s Salad in the restaurant. It became a family favorite. I’m thinking of serving this soon for my book club.Do you think I could put grilled chicken in it or would that be too much? Thanks,Bev.

  49. Healthy and good stuff when you are on diet. I love it.