Have you heard about BACON JAM? I first heard about it several years ago on the Food Network show “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.” I was intrigued and checked out the location info on the website and ordered a jar from Skillet a little food operation in Seattle, Washington. This started out as a food truck but they are now a big business. They grew at an amazing rate because of their dedication to simple American food prepared WELL.
I HAD to try this stuff! I ordered a jar, but with shipping it was pricey, about $15 a jar. I had been warned by another blogger that this stuff tasted good but wasn’t pretty. That is correct, it wasn’t pretty. It tasted OK, but the looks were a little off putting…what exactly was in that MYSTERY JAR? I bought 3 jars so I could give one to my son and son-in-law. HHjr and NG will eat anything BACON but I didn’t hear much back about this …hmmm….maybe they thought it looked kinda funky too….
Then I ran across a recipe on Martha Stewart’s website for Slow Cooker Bacon Jam…Who doesn’t trust Martha Stewart?
So I gave it a whirl…I made this several days ago and I keep thinking of new dishes and ways to serve this stuff, it is BEYOND FABULOUS!
In the photo above you can recognize the bacon, so you know what it is! The bacon is cooked with some garlic, onions, a little coffee, maple syrup and vinegar. Those are all the food groups, right?
Here’s a little bonus…you get the flavor and satisfaction of bacon with just a Tablespoon or two, which amounts to maybe less than a strip…so you get the good stuff, FLAVOR, without too much of the bad stuff, FAT & CHOLESTEROL.
I tried it for breakfast~
1 T in a small skillet, heat until warm and add 1 beaten egg and scramble. Now, this is a breakfast people! Low carb, so tasty, kept me going until mid afternoon!
I tried it for lunch~
This is an updated version of a traditional BLT, sour dough toast spread with bacon jam and topped with lettuce and tomato. Yum!
We had it for dinner~
Grilled chicken sliders topped with bacon jam. AMAZING!
Because I made this myself, I knew exactly what was in it so it doesn’t scare me any more! I am still thinking of things I want to try so I will have to make another batch soon…
How about
Bacon Jam appetizer crostini
Bacon Jam flatbread with pear & bleu cheese
Bacon Jam topped asparagus
Bacon Jam stirred into hot green beans
Bacon Jam garnish on Potato, Corn, or Cheese Soup
Bacon Jam on biscuits, muffins, pancakes, waffles, or French toast
Bacon Jam in Grits
Bacon Jam on burgers
Grilled Cheese & Bacon Jam sandwiches
Bacon Jam stirred into hot pasta or macaroni & cheese
Grilled Shrimp with Bacon Jam glaze
Do you want to make some yet?
It’s very simple to make, cut the bacon into about 1 inch pieces with scissors. You don’t have to separate the slices first just cut through them all and toss in a large skillet, they will separate into pieces as they cook. Turn your burner on medium low heat and cook the bacon slowly and thoroughly, being careful not to burn. Low and slow insures even cooking. Drain well. Then you will use 1 T of the fat to cook the onions and garlic, then add everything else and transfer it to a slow cooker.
After 4 hours, cooking UNCOVERED on high,
Give the jam a rough chop with an immersible blender, or transfer to a food processor or blend. Do not over mix, you still want texture and recognizable bacon!
Store the jam in the refrigerator in glass jars for up to 4 weeks. This would make a great GIFT FROM THE KITCHEN!
Here’s the recipe!
SLOW COOKER BACON JAM
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds sliced bacon cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces
- 1 large yellow onion diced
- 3 garlic cloves smashed and peeled
- 1/3 cup cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 3/4 cup brewed coffee
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and bacon is lightly browned, about 20-25 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet (reserve for another use); add onions and garlic, and cook until onions are translucent, about 6 minutes. Add vinegar, brown sugar, maple syrup, and coffee and bring to a boil, stirring and scraping up browned bits from skillet with a wooden spoon, about 2 minutes. Add bacon and stir to combine.
- Transfer mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker and cook on high, uncovered, until liquid is syrupy, 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Use an immersion blender or transfer to a food processor; pulse until coarsely chopped. Let cool, then refrigerate in airtight containers, up to 4 weeks. Makes about 4 cups. Recipe can be halved to make 1 pint jar.
I HOPE you will try this soon! Let me know how it turns out! Dogs will probably be congregating at your back door…Men too!
NOTE: Skillet Bacon Jam is available now at Sur La Table {$10} and some Whole Foods and other stores across the country. Visit their website skilletbaconjam.com for complete store listings. I recommend you just make it yourself, it’s SO MUCH BETTER!
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I’m joining My Pinterventures to celebrate International Bacon Day