Bacon jam facts for kids
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| Course | Accompaniment |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | Bacon |
Bacon jam is a tasty spread or relish made mostly from bacon. It's a bit like a sweet and savory jam, but instead of fruit, it uses bacon! People make it by slowly cooking bacon with other ingredients like onions, vinegar, and brown sugar. After cooking for a long time, the mixture is blended until it becomes a thick, spreadable jam.
Just like fruit jams, bacon jam needs a certain amount of sugar to be called a "jam." This sugar helps give it that unique sweet and savory flavor.
How is Bacon Jam Made?
Making bacon jam involves a slow cooking process. First, you cook bacon until it's crispy. Then, you add onions, brown sugar, and vinegar to the pan. These ingredients cook together for a long time, often several hours. This slow cooking helps all the flavors mix and become rich.
Once everything is cooked down, the mixture is put into a food processor. It's blended until it becomes a thick, spreadable jam. You can then put it into jars to save for later. Some people like to add other ingredients to their bacon jam. These can include maple syrup, garlic, different spices, or even a splash of bourbon. The cooking time can also change, from two to six hours, depending on the recipe.
What is Verhackert?
There's an Austrian dish called Verhackert that is similar to bacon jam, but without the sweet ingredients. Verhackert is a spread made from finely minced bacon, mixed with garlic and salt. It's a very old and traditional dish.
Preparing the bacon for Verhackert can take a long time, sometimes up to two months! This includes freezing the meat a few times. Once the bacon is ready, it's minced (chopped very finely) with garlic and salt. Then, it's pressed into a special mold called a terrine. Verhackert is usually served cold as an appetizer with bread.
Who Makes Bacon Jam?
Many different companies and chefs make bacon jam. Here are a few examples:
- Skillet Street Food is a popular gourmet burger van located in Seattle. They are known for their delicious burgers and often use bacon jam in their recipes.
- The Bacon Jams is a company that specializes in gourmet food products. They are based near Philadelphia and sell their bacon jams at festivals. You can also buy their products online across the country.
- Martin and Suzie Cowley run a fine food business in Rhondda, South Wales. In 2015, they created their own special version of bacon jam. Their unique recipe includes Jack Daniel's whiskey, giving it a distinct flavor.
