I’ll have to admit that the first time I heard about bacon jam, it didn’t strike me as a very good idea. I loved the part about frying tons of bacon crispy, but then you want me to add it to a bunch of wet onions? Why would I do that? As usual, I was wrong. Despite losing its crispiness, the intense caramelized bacon flavor, and sweet/tart/peppery punch of this “jam,” more than make up for it.
While I'm officially posting this as another Super Bowl snack idea, its potential uses go way past the big game. One taste and the mind reels with possibilities. While impressive served simply on a chip or crisp, this stuff will turn a grilled cheese sandwich into something beyond our world…and don’t even get me started on the hamburger applications. Such pleasure does not come without its price, however. This takes some time to make, and there is expert-level stirring involved, but what a small price when you consider the final results. Whether you do this for your Super Bowl party, or other festive occasion, I hope you give this amazing bacon jam a try soon. Enjoy!
Ingredients for about 3 1/2 cups of Bacon Jam:
1 1/2 pound bacon, cooked crisp, chopped fine
2 tsp butter
2 tsp reserved bacon fat
4 large yellow onions (about 3 pounds), diced
1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sherry vinegar
1 1/2 tsp fresh picked thyme leaves, divided (1 tsp cooked in, 1/2 tsp at the end)
1 teaspoon black pepper
pinch of cayenne
1/2 cups water
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
