Chef Johns Bacon Jam Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix brown sugar, rice vinegar, maple syrup, and black pepper in a small bowl.
• Place bacon slices on cooling rack set over a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, turn slices, and bake another 5 minutes.
• Remove bacon and brush both sides with brown sugar mixture. Return bacon to the oven and bake another 5 minutes. Repeat basting every 5 minutes until bacon is browned and crisp, about 35 minutes.

Steps:

• Cook and stir bacon in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until bacon starts to brown, about 10 minutes; drain grease, retaining 1/4 of the drippings. Stir onions into bacon and drippings; cook and stir until soft, about 10 minutes. Stir in brown sugar; cook until onions are sticky and browned, about 5 more minutes. Mix in garlic, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cook and stir until garlic is soft, about 5 minutes.
• Mix in bourbon whiskey, coffee, sherry vinegar, and maple syrup. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and cook until the bacon jam is thickened but not completely dry, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, about 35 minutes. Mix in ketchup and cook 5 more minutes.
• Remove from heat, let the bacon jam cool, and pulse in a food processor to a slightly chunky, spreadable consistency. Bacon jam will store in the refrigerator, covered, up to 2 weeks.

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until fat has rendered and bacon is evenly browned but not yet crisped, about 5 minutes.
• Remove all but 2 tablespoons of bacon fat. Add onions to the pan with the bacon and cook, stirring frequently, over medium heat until onions are soft and lightly browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Lower heat to a simmer and add balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, and 1 tablespoon water.
• Simmer until jam comes together, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in remaining tablespoon water and remove from heat.

Steps:

• Add the bacon to a skillet over medium heat. Cook the bacon until it's just starting to brown slightly and render its fat, 3 to 4 minutes. Add in the chopped onions and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and almost melting into the bacon fat, 30 to 40 minutes. If the pan starts to look dry or is browning too much, add a splash of water to deglaze.
• Stir in the brown sugar, cayenne pepper and grated garlic, then add the balsamic vinegar. Cook until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is thick, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat.
• Transfer the mixture to a food processor. Pulse until the bacon is chopped slightly finer, 5 to 6 pulses.
• To serve, top the toast with the bacon jam and garnish with chopped chives.