3639. BACON BANBANJI BURGERS

note: banbanji is a Japanese salad traditionally made with chilled chicken and cucumber.

makes six burgers


Patty seasonings:

2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons mirin
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger, including juices
1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce
1 tablespoon pure sesame oil
2 teaspoons cracked black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt

Cucumber-Wakame Salad:
1 cup very thinly sliced cucumber, peeled if waxed (about 1/2 medium-sized)
1/3 cup re-hydrated wakame seaweed
1 1/2 cups thinly sliced nappa cabbage
1/4 cup sliced green onion
2 teaspoons toasted black sesame seeds
1/4 cup natural rice vinegar
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon hot chili oil

Bacon Sauce:
1/2 cup quality ketchup
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce

Shiitake Sauce:
3 tablespoons red miso
3 tablespoons mirin
1/2 teaspoon pure sesame oil
1 1/2 pounds ground chuck, 80/20
1 pound ground sirloin, 90/10
1/2 cup sliced fresh green onions
12 strips applewood-smoked pepper bacon
3 tablespoons vegetable oil + oil for oiling grill rack
1/2 pound sliced shiitake mushroom caps (no stems)
6 sesame-seeded Kaiser rolls, split

Prepare a medium indirect heat fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium.

To make the patty seasonings, in a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, mirin, ginger, Sriracha, sesame oil, pepper and salt, cover and refrigerate.

To make the salad, in a medium bowl, mix together cucumber, seaweed, cabbage, green onion and sesame seeds, cover and refrigerate. In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, lemon juice and oil, cover and refrigerate.

To make the bacon sauce, in a small bowl, mix together ketchup, Worcestershire and sesame oil; set aside.

To make the shiitake sauce, in a small bowl, mix together miso, mirin and sesame oil; set aside.

To make the patties, spread the chuck and sirloin out in a large shallow pan. Distribute the chilled patty seasoning mixture and green onions over meat. Using a fork, evenly mix seasoning mixture and green onions into meat. Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and form the portions into patties to fit the rolls. Refrigerate until ready to grill.

To prepare bacon, lay bacon strips on a sheet pan lined with foil and place pan on grill rack. Internal grill temperature should be 375ºF. Close cover and cook bacon for 18 to 22 minutes, draining as necessary. Evenly spread slices with half of the bacon sauce and cook, covered, for 10 minutes. Dab or "mop" bacon with remaining sauce, close cover and cook for 8 to 12 minutes longer or until bacon is crisp and the sauce is firm and caramelized. Cut slices in half crosswise, tent with foil and keep warm.

Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high.

To prepare the shiitakes, heat 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a medium skillet on the grill rack. Add the shiitakes and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until mushrooms are tender. Stir in the reserved shiitake sauce, cook for 1 to 2 minutes, remove from heat, cover and keep warm.

Toss salad vegetables with reserved dressing and set aside.

To grill the patties, brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Place the patties on the grill rack, cover and cook, turning once, until cooked to preference, 5 to 7 minutes per side for medium. During the last few minutes of cooking, add 4 bacon slice halves to each burger and place the rolls, cut side down, on the outer edges of the rack to toast lightly.

To assemble the burgers, on each roll bottom, place an equal portion of mushrooms, followed by a bacon-topped patty and an equal portion of salad. Add the roll tops and serve.


bacon recipe source: Sutter Home Family Vineyards (@SutterHome), 277 St. Helena Hwy (Hwy 29), South St. Helena, CA 94574

3462. BRAISED NAPA CABBAGE with APPLE and BACON

makes 6 servings


1 tablespoon caraway seeds
6 strips bacon, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and cored, cut into 1/2-inch dice
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 small red cabbage, thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
1 medium Napa cabbage, thinly sliced (about 5 cups)
1 cup apple juice
1/2 cup red wine
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Place the caraway seeds in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until seeds are lightly toasted and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Place the bacon in a large pot over medium heat and cook until crispy, about 5 minutes. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of the fat. Add the onions, apple, and garlic. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are slightly tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients; cover and reduce the heat to medium low. Simmer until the cabbage is tender and the braising liquid has reduced by two thirds, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and discard. Serve immediately.


bacon recipe source: Chef Bradley Ogden, February 7, 2013

3021. JASMINE TEA GLAZED ALASKAN SALMON with HOISIN-BRAISED BACON, GREEN RICE and ORANGE-CASHEW SALAD

yields eight servings


Jasmine tea glaze:
1 cup mirin
1/2 cup sake
2 tablespoons sugar
3 bags black jasmine tea
2 tablespoons soy sauce

Hoisin-braised bacon:
1 lb. slab bacon
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup chicken stock, hot
1/3 cup hoisin sauce

Green rice:
3 cups chicken stock, hot
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
1 small onion, diced
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups basmati rice
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Orange-cashew salad:
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
1 teaspoon sweet soy sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup julienned napa cabbage
1 cup julienned radicchio
3/4 cup toasted cashews
2 oranges, peeled and segmented
8 pieces wild Alaskan salmon, about 8 oz. each
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup olive oil

For the jasmine tea glaze: Combine the mirin, sake and sugar in a pot and simmer over medium heat until reduced by two-thirds to a syrupy consistency. Remove from the heat and steep the tea bags for 5 minutes. Stir in the soy and set aside.

For the hoisin-braised bacon: Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Score the fat side of the bacon in a crisscross pattern. Heat the oil over high heat in a skillet, add the bacon fat-side down, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until a rich brown color is obtained, 10 minutes. Flip and cook for 10 minutes more. Drain off the fat and add the chicken stock to come two-thirds of the way up the bacon slab. Braise in the oven for 45 minutes, and then brush with the hoisin and cook for 30 minutes more. Try to keep the level of chicken broth the same throughout braising.

Remove and let cool in the pan, and then remove the bacon and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Strain the liquid and return to the pan. Cook until reduced to a thick glaze, about 30 minutes, and then stir in bacon. Cook until the bacon crisps and is well coated. Remove and let cool.

For the green rice: Puree 1 cup stock, the basil, chives, cilantro and mint in a food processor until smooth. Saute the onions in the oil in a saucepan until softened, and then add the rice and lightly toast. Add the butter, herb puree, remaining stock and some salt and black pepper, stir, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and cook until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is fluffy. Remove from the heat and keep covered.

For the salad: Combine the vinegar, mustard, sweet soy and some salt and black pepper in a bowl. Whisk in the oil in a slow stream. Toss in the cabbage, radicchio, cashews and oranges.

For the salmon: Sprinkle the salmon with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in large skillet over high heat and saute the salmon over medium-high heat for 2 minutes per side. Add the tea glaze and cook for 45 seconds. Arrange the salmon over bacon slices, pour over more tea glaze, and serve with orange-cashew salad and timbales of the green rice.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Peggy Magister, "Crazy Water," America's Best Bite, Cooking Channel

2321. ROASTED CORN and BACON NAPA CABBAGE SLAW

makes four servings


3 ears fresh sweet corn
4 strips thick-cut bacon (cut into pieces)
1 head Napa cabbage
1 medium onion (thinly sliced)
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Shuck the corn and cut the kernels off onto a baking sheet. Coat the corn in olive oil, salt and pepper and toss into the oven for 15-20 minutes. Remove and let cool.

While corn is roasting, heat medium saute pan over medium high heat. Add the bacon and cook until it starts to crisp up (about 10 minutes). Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, keeping the bacon fat in the pan.

Lower heat to medium and add the apple cider vinegar and onions to the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes, until onions are soft.

In a large mixing bowl, combine corn and cabbage. Pour all the contents from the saute pan with the onions over the corn and cabbage. Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss the salad until all cabbage is coated in the delicious bacon fat and vinegar. Serve immediately.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Kate, Chicago, Illinois, Brussels Sprouts for Breakfast, August 28, 2011

2320. SABLEFISH with GALA APPLE, SAVOY CABBAGE and PEPPER BACON RIESLING BUTTER SAUCE

serves four


4 8-ounce black cod fillets, skin on
4 oz butter
1/2 cup of dry Riesling
4 slices of crisp pepper bacon
1 slice crisp bacon strip julienne
8 oz of Napa cabbage thinly sliced
1 each peeled and cored wedged Gala apple
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
Kosher salt and pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil

Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat olive oil in a nonstick ovenproof sauté pan over medium-high heat. Place fillets flesh side down in the pan and sear until nicely browned, being careful not to burn, about 3 to 4 minutes. Turn fillets over and place the pan in the preheated oven. Roast until the centers of the fillets are pearly white, about 5 minutes.

For Sauce: In medium size pre-heated fry pan add olive oil and sauté apples, Napa cabbage quickly stir a few times, about 2 -3 min. Add fresh thyme leaves and sliced crisp bacon. Finish with dry Riesling, season with salt and pepper. Remove fish from oven and slowly stir in butter to saute pan. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle Riesling butter over and around cabbage and apples. Garnish with bacon slice


bacon recipe courtesy of: Charles Ramseyer, Today Food

2082. POTATO NAPA CABBAGE, APPLEWOOD BACON, MUSHROOM and LEEK CASSEROLE

yields six servings


3 medium potatoes, peeled, washed and very thinly sliced
2 cups leeks, julienned
3 cups Napa cabbage, julienned
1/2 cup applewood bacon, diced
2 cups sauteed assorted sliced mushrooms
1 teaspoon garlic, chopped
1/2 stick of butter, melted
salt to taste
black pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Heat a large sauté pan and add the bacon, once the fat starts rendering out, add the leeks, garlic and Napa cabbage. Saute for 3 minutes; add the mushrooms. Season this mixture to taste, set aside. Place this mixture on a 9x12-inch baking pan and layer the potatoes evenly to cover the mixture completely. Melt the butter and drizzle over the potatoes; season again to taste. Place in the oven until the potatoes brown well, remove and let cool at room temperature. With a ring cutter, cut 1-1/2-inch circles, chop the excess; divide equally among half the rings. Place a ring from the uncovered half on top of the covered ones and reheat at 375 degrees F; serve immediately.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Tim Creehan, Beach Walk Restaurant, Crystal Beach, 2700 Scenic Highway 98 East, Destin, Florida | Idaho Potato Commission, 661 South Rivershore Lane, Suite 230, Eagle, Idaho 83616

1866. WARM NAPA CABBAGE, BACON, BLUE CHEESE and APPLE SALAD

serves four


1 head Napa cabbage
1 head radicchio
5 thick slices apple wood smoked bacon, chopped fine
1 green apple, peeled
4 ounces crumbled blue or green veined cheese
2 tablespoons neutral oil

for Mustard Sauce
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
cold water to thin
salt and pepper to taste

Cut off bottom of head of cabbage. Pull cabbage leaves apart, wash in cold water and dry. Cut out most of hard stem leaving some for body. Stack leaves and crosscut julienne into 0.25 inch wide slices.

Save four nice outside leaves from radicchio. Wash, dry, and set aside at room temp. Repeat procedure used on the cabbage with the radicchio except crosscut julienne into eighth-inch wide slices.

On medium to high heat, cook oil and bacon pieces in large skillet or sauté pan.

Whisk together ingredients for mustard sauce in a cold bowl.

When bacon is cooked tender, push it to the top of the pan. Back tilt pan letting fat evenly coat-then pool in lower half of pan. Make sure pan is on medium-high heat. Place cabbage into fat then toss once. Add crumbled cheese, radicchio, black pepper to taste, and mustard sauce to taste (2 ounces is plenty).

Toss until everything is coated and cook for about 2 minutes until warmed through but still crisp (must not be too wilted!). One final toss.

Set out radicchio leaves on four plates. Drizzle mustard dressing around plate. Fill radicchio leaves with warm cabbage salad.

Grate some fresh apple over the top using large hole on box grater. Garnish with herb of choice. I like a touch of finely julienned sage.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Chef David Du Bois, Franklin Cafe, 278 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, 617-350-0010

1865. KIMCHI BACON DEVILED EGGS

2 eggs
1 tablespoon chopped napa cabbage kimchi
1 bacon rasher fried until crisp and chopped up
2 mint leaves, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon mayonnaise

Hard boil the eggs using your favorite method. I put eggs straight from the fridge into a pot with tap water and bring it to a gentle boil. I start timing when the water starts bubbling: hard boiled eggs usually take about 9-10 minutes.

When your eggs are done, take the pot, put it under the tap and turn on the cold water and let it run until the eggs are cool to the touch.

Gently peel your eggs and let them cool.

Slice eggs in half and pop the yolks into a bowl. Set the whites aside until you are ready to fill them.

Using a fork, break up the yolks until it is in tiny crumbs. Reserve a tiny amount of kimchi, bacon and mint for garnish, then add the rest to the bowl with the egg yolks. Add the mayonnaise and gently mix until the egg yolk mixture comes together. If it looks too dry, add a touch more mayonnaise.

Scoop the filling into the waiting egg white halves and garnish with the reserved bacon, kimchi and mint.

Enjoy!


bacon recipe courtesy of: Momofuku at home, March 30, 2010

1697. BRAISED NAPA CABBAGE with BACON, RED WINE VINEGAR and MINT

yields four servings


8 ounces bacon, diced
1 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
2 cups chicken stock
2 pounds Napa cabbage, thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, thinly sliced

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place medium-sized roasting pan on burner over medium-high heat, add the bacon and cook until crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towels.

Place cabbage in a roasting pan with rendered bacon fat, stir in the vinegar, honey and chicken stock and season with salt and pepper. Cover with foil and roast in the oven until wilted, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and stir in the mint. Transfer to a platter and sprinkle with the cooked bacon.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Bobby Flay, "Irish Pub Grub," Emeril Live

1370. FILIPINO CHOW MEIN with BACON

serves four


8 oz. thick dried egg noodles
3 tablespoons peanut oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves
3 oz. bacon, finely chopped
a small Napa cabbage (Chinese cabbage), thinly sliced
1 carrot, cut into sticks
1 to 1 1/2 cups fresh bean sprouts, trimmed
2 to 3 spring onions, chopped
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
pinch of freshly ground pepper
1 cup of chicken stock

Bring a large pot of water to boil, add the noodles and cook for 2 minutes, stirring to separate the noodles. Drain, rinse under cold running water and drain again. Transfer to a bowl. Heat 2 tbsp of peanut oil in a wok, add the onion, garlic, bacon cabbage, carrot, bean sprouts and stir fry for three to five minutes. Season with salt, sugar, soy sauce, oyster sauce and pepper. Transfer the entire mixture to a bowl. Wipe the wok clean. Heat remaining oil in the wok, add the noodles, toss for a minute and add the spring onions. Then pour in the chicken stock. Bring to a boil and when liquid is reduced to half, add the stir-fry mixture and mix well for two minutes. Adjust the seasoning with soy, salt and pepper. Serve with extra soy sauce or hot chili sauce.


courtesy of: June Chua, Asian Cuisine at suite101.com