Chef Johns Bacon Jam Recipes

HOMEMADE BACON JAM

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 5 minutes. Remove to a cutting board, reserving 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat in the skillet. Chop the bacon into small pieces, then put them back in the skillet.
• Put the bacon skillet over medium-high heat, add the brown sugar, molasses, honey, cider vinegar, sherry, garlic powder, mustard powder, shallots and garlic and bring the mixture to a slight boil. Reduce to a simmer and simmer until syrupy, 30 to 45 minutes. Let cool, then transfer to a canning jar and refrigerate. Enjoy within 2 days.

CHEF JOHN'S BACON JAM

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large, heavy-bottomed pot and cook over medium heat until bacon is crispy and the rendered fat is foaming, about 10 minutes. Pour bacon and rendered fat into a strainer placed over a bowl to drain fat. When fat is drained and bacon is cool enough to handle, remove bacon to a cutting board and finely chop.
• Return pot to medium heat; drizzle 2 teaspoons reserved bacon fat and butter in pan. Saute onions and 1 teaspoon salt until soft and translucent, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Stir brown sugar, sherry vinegar, 1 teaspoon thyme leaves, black pepper, and cayenne into onion mixture; add bacon. Stir water into bacon mixture and cook until jam is a brick-brown bacon color and has a jam consistency, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon thyme into jam; stir until shiny and heated through.

BACON JAM

Steps:

• Start with a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and shallots, and cook until the shallots are slightly translucent and give off a nice fragrance, about 3 minutes. Add the brown sugar, honey and crushed red pepper; stir until well mixed. Now add the crumbled bacon, and stir. Turn the heat down to low, add the beer, and bring to a simmer.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has reduced by half and you have a shimmery, glossy mixture, about 2 hours.

BACON-ONION JAM

Steps:

• Set a Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium heat, and add the bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat is completely rendered and the bacon has started to crisp, approximately 12 to 15 minutes.
• Drain all but 1 tablespoon of the fat from the pot, and add the onions, mustard seed, brown sugar, vinegar and 3 tablespoons of water. Stir to combine, then cover the pot, lower the heat and allow the mixture to cook undisturbed for 15 or 20 minutes. Remove the top, stir again and then partly cover the pot. Allow the mixture to cook until most of the liquid is gone and the onions have achieved a dark brown jamminess, approximately 60 to 70 minutes. (Add a little more water as needed.)
• Taste the jam, and add salt and pepper if necessary.
• Remove mixture from heat, and allow to cool slightly. Spoon the jam into a jar or bowl, then allow to cool completely. Store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to a week.