Bacon Jam with Red Onion Brandy is a glamourous condiment that can be served in many ways
This rich dark Bacon Jam with Red Onion Brandy is similar to a high-quality quince or fig marmalade. Eaten in smaller amounts, its luxurious quality tastes as if it was a little drunk itself. Imagine a nice cold glass of wine or beer (or a rich red wine) with cheese and bacon jam crackers, tapas-style finger foods or an oozing sourdough toasted sandwich all using this delicious jam.
How to eat Bacon Jam with Red Onion Brandy
- Pairs beautifully with cheddar or blue cheese served with crackers or crusty bread
- Combined with cheddar or gruyere cheese inside a decadent toasted sandwich
- As a side sauce to steak, roasted chicken or pork chops
- Stirred through mash potato or other root vegetable mash such as carrot and parsnip
- Mixed with olive oil to produce a vinaigrette used on salads
- Served with waffles or pancakes and eggs
- Served as a condiment on a charcuterie board
Best Bacon Jam Recipe
The ingredients list is as follows:
- Smoked bacon lardons
- Red onions, diced very fine
- Minced garlic
- Butter
- Dried thyme
- Raw sugar (or maple syrup)
- Balsamic vinegar
- Chilli powder (optional)
- Black coffee
- Good quality brandy ( Such as Carlos I )
- Sea salt flakes
- Freshly ground black pepper
The cooking instructions require the onions to be slowly caramelised until deeply browned and sticky. This is the most important part of developing the jam’s flavour. As this jam is finer and more concentrated than class burger bacon jam, the onions should be chopped very fine (or pulsed in a food processor) so they melt down and create a finer texture in the final jam.
Bacon Jam recipe for burgers
Bacon Jam is widely linked to burgers and offers the perfect sweet and savory sauce to compliment a juicy beef patty and mayo-mustard-based burger sauce. This recipe being a little richer and refined could easily be used on a gourmet burger, however, it’s better suited to a posh toasty such as this Grilled Cheese and Bacon Jam Sandwich (seen in the photo below).
Flaevor features another Bacon Jam recipe specifically made for burgers that is less rich. Made using ketchup rather than coffee and brandy so when cooked down into a jam it produces a taste similar in flavour to BBQ Sauce, making it the perfect bacon jam for all kinds of burgers. Recipe for Bacon Jam with BBQ Sauce here:
Note: Carlos I Brandy was used in this recipe but any high-quality brandy will work just as well
Bacon Jam with Red Onion Brandy
Ingredients
- 250 g smoked bacon lardons
- 4 large red onions diced very fine
- 6 cloves minced garlic
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp dry thyme
- ½ raw cup sugar
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- ½ tsp chilli powder optional
- 180 ml coffee
- 50 ml good quality brandy Such as Carlos I
- 1 tsp sea salt flakes
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Fry bacon lardons over medium heat until the bacon is crispy. Remove bacon from pan and chop into small pieces. Return to the pan.
- Add the butter, red onion, garlic and thyme.
- Cook over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes, occasionally stirring, until the onions have reduced and become heavily caramelized. You might need to add small splashes of water to loosen along the way.
- Add the sugar (or maple syrup) and balsamic vinegar. Continue to cook down until it becomes very sticky.
- Finally, add coffee and brandy and over a low simmer cook down for 20 minutes or more, until it reaches a jam-like consistency. Checking and stirring every now and then to ensure it doesn’t burn or become dry.
- Stir through salt and pepper. When cool, transfer to a jar and refrigerate overnight before use. This will allow the flavours to meld and produce a wonderful flavour.
Notes
