1732. BACON KETCHUP

1 medium onion, diced into small pieces
10 raw garlic cloves, diced into small pieces
1 – 2 tablespoons of olive oil or vegetable oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 32-ounce can whole peeled plum tomatoes, strained and chopped
4 large red bell peppers, roasted, peeled, destemmed, and chopped
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 bay leaf
4 sprigs of fresh thyme
salt and pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
5 pieces of nice thick bacon

Saute onion and garlic in a tablespoon or two of oil until tender and caramelized.

Add brown sugar to caramelized onions and garlic, and cook a couple of minutes until well integrated. Add tomatoes, roast bell peppers, paprika, bay leaf, and fresh thyme. Simmer about one hour. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add balsamic vinegar at the end.

Preheat oven to 350. Place bacon strips on a baking sheet in the oven until they are crispy all over. Drain on paper towels and dice into small pieces; fold into ketchup.

Serve with hamburgers, French fries, grilled cheese, or anything else you wish had some bacon on it.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Lisa Carlson, The Chef Shack, Minneapolis, Minnesota, info@chefshack.org | Minnesota Monthly, Greenspring Media Group Inc., 600 US Trust Building, 730 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minneapolis 55402