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Emily's Bacon Bourbon Jam

Start with crispy bacon – a lot of bacon. Then gently simmer it with smooth bourbon along with a generous splash of dark roasted coffee, maple syrup and luscious, tangy balsamic vinegar. With the layers upon layers of savory and sweet plus a pop of heat you’ve got a thick, rich and an utterly scrumptious condiment.
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Appetizer, Preserves and Condiments
Servings 5 to 5-1/2 cups

Equipment

  • Large sauté pan

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds bacon, cut into small pieces
  • 2 large, sweet onions, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup dark brown sugar
  • ¼ cup chopped garlic
  • ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 cup good bourbon
  • 1 cup freshly brewed coffee, preferably dark roast
  • ½ cup aged balsamic vinegar
  • ½ cup pure maple syrup
  • ¾ cup chili sauce

Instructions
 

  • Cook the bacon in a large sauté pan over medium heat until the bacon is brown and crisp, about 20 to 30 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a heatproof container while you sauté the onions.
  • Skim off the bacon drippings and reserve. Add about 4 tablespoons of the drippings back into the pan along with the onions. (Keep the remaining bacon drippings for other uses – they’re liquid gold!) Cook the onions over medium heat until they’re translucent and softened, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add more bacon drippings only if needed.
  • Stir in the brown sugar along with the garlic, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper, stirring to combine well. Cook for about 5 minutes to caramelize slightly.
  • Pour the bourbon, coffee, vinegar, maple syrup, and chili sauce into the onion mixture. Add the bacon and stir to mix well. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking uncovered until the mixture has reduced down and is thick, about 45 minutes.
  • Keep the bacon jam refrigerated. Serve warm, room temperature or chilled.

Notes

Use the best bacon you can find. This is bacon jam so you want the flavor of your bacon to shine through. And as for the bourbon, if it’s not good enough to drink it’s not good enough to add to your dish.