3927. MINESTRONE SOUP with BUTTERNUT SQUASH, KALE and WHITE BEANS

Yield: Serves 6-8


4 ounces bacon, ½-inch-diced (4-5 slices)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for toasting the bread and serving
3 cups (½-inch) diced peeled butternut squash (about 1 pound)
2 cups (½-inch) diced carrots (4 carrots)
2 cups (½-inch) diced celery (3 stalks)
1 and 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion (about 1 medium)
1 and ½ tablespoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
1 pound kale, stems removed and leaves coarsely chopped
26 ounces canned chopped tomatoes
6 to 8 cups chicken stock
1 bay leaf
1 and 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus additional as needed (depending upon the saltiness of the stock)
1 and 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 cups cooked whole wheat small pasta, such as elbow (about 1 cup dry)
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Baguette, cut into 1/2 inch thick diagonal slices

In a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium low, cook bacon, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 6 minutes. Remove from pan and place in between two paper towels set atop a dinner plate. Blot lightly and set aside. Drain most of the excess fat from the Dutch oven. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, squash, onion, carrots, celery, and garlic. Sauté over medium heat, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 8-10 minutes. Add the kale in batches as it fits in the pot, stirring so that it cooks down. Once kale has lightly wilted, add the tomatoes, 6 cups chicken stock, bay leaf, salt, pepper, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to directions. Drain and set aside.

Once soup has simmered and the vegetables are soft, discard the bay leaf. Add the beans, cooked pasta, and reserved bacon and heat through. The soup should be fairly thick, but add additional chicken stock as needed. Serve hot drizzled with olive oil and topped with Parmesan cheese.

To toast baguette: Place rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 425 degrees F. Brush both sides of each baguette slice with olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Cook until golden and toasted, about 6 minutes. Serve warm with soup.


bacon recipe source: Erin Clarke, Well Plated (@WellPlated), October 17, 2013

3775. BUTTERNUT with BACON, TOMATILLO and CHIPOTLE (CALABAZA ENCHIPOTLADA)

Servings: 2 to 3 as a main course, 4 to 6 as a salad

3 garlic cloves, unpeeled

4 medium (about 8 ounces) tomatillos, husked, rinsed and cut in half across the equator

1 to 2 canned chipotle chiles en adobo

½ of a small (2-pound) butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks (about 3 cups of chunks)

2 to 4 ounces (2 to 4 thick strips) bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces

Salt

About 1 tablespoon grated Mexican queso añejo or other garnishing cheese such as Romano or Parmesan

Set a large (10-inch) skillet (nonstick or lined with foil) over medium-high heat and lay in the garlic and tomatillos (cut side down). When the tomatillos are well browned and soft, 5 to 6 minutes, flip everything over and brown the other side. (The garlic should be soft.) Cool, then peel the garlic.

In a blender, combine the garlic, tomatillos, chipotles and 1 cup water. Blend to a coarse puree.

Scoop the butternut pieces into a microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic wrap, poke a few holes in the top and microwave on high for 4 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large (10-inch) skillet set over medium, cook the bacon, stirring occasionally, until crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the butternut and tomatillo sauce to the pan, raise the heat to medium-high and bring the sauce to a brisk simmer. Cook until the butternut is fork-tender and the sauce has reduced by about half its volume, about 15 minutes. Taste and season with salt (it will need only about ¼ teaspoon because of the bacon’s saltiness). Scrape into a serving bowl and finish with a generous sprinkling of the queso.

bacon recipe source: Rick Bayless/Frontera Restaurant (@Rick_Bayless) 

3633. CASSOULET with SQUASH, BACON, KALE and SAUSAGE

serves 6-8


16 oz dried white beans
1 lbs pork sausage, in links, casing split
1/4 lb slab bacon, roughly chopped
2 lbs butternut squash, peeled and roughly chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
2 small onion, chopped
1 bunch laciato kale, deveined and chopped
4 cloves garlic
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 quart chicken stock
2 cups panko breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 tablespoons fresh sage
2 tablespoons rosemary
1 tablespoon herbs de Provence
salt and pepper

To prepare dried beans, rinse and sort, making sure to remove any dried or shriveled beans. In a large pot, fill with beans and cover with 3 inches of water. Bring to a boil and cook 2 minutes, uncovered. Remove from heat, cover, and set aside 1 hour. Drain and reserve for recipe.

Preheat oven to 350°. In a 4 quart dutch oven over medium high heat, warm 1 tablespoons olive oil. When oil is shimmering, cook bacon and sausage until sausage is browned and bacon has crisped, about 5 minutes. Remove from dutch oven and set aside. Add onion, celery, and garlic, cooking until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.

Deglaze dutch oven with white wine, scraping to remove brown bits. add squash, kale, beans, bacon, and sausage. Pour in chicken stock, add rosemary, herbs de Provence and a generous serving of salt and pepper. Stir to combine, cover and bake for 1 hour. After 1 hour has elapsed, remove from oven and check cassoulet. If mixture has a soup-like consistency, remove lid and continue baking for 30 minutes. If cassoulet has reduced, and thickened into a stew consistency, continue baking covered for 30 additional minutes.

Meanwhile, mix breadcrumbs with sage and set aside. After additional 30 minutes, remove from oven and top with 1/2 of breadcrumb mixture. Bake an additional 15 minutes. Remove dutch oven again and top with remaining bread crumbs. Drizzle remaining 1 tablespoons olive oil on top and broil for 5-7 minutes, or until breadcrumbs are golden brown.


bacon recipe source: Jillian & Robert, A Better Happier St. Sebastian, October 9, 2014

3610. RICH BEEF STEW with BACON and PLUMS

makes eight servings

 

 

1 3½ pound well-marbled beef chuck roast

1 tablespoon kosher salt

3 tablespoons olive oil

6 ounces thick sliced, center-cut applewood smoked bacon, cut into ½-inch pieces

1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 4 cups)

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Kosher salt

2 cups diced yellow onions

1 leek, white part only, split lengthwise (then blotted dry (reserve one long inner piece) and cut crosswide into slices

3 large cloves garlic, peeled, and roughly chopped (about 1 heaping tablespoon)

2 3/4 cups dry red wine (such as Pinot Noir)

1 cups chicken stock

1 stick cinnamon, broken

2 whole cloves

7 whole black peppercorns

3 fresh bay leaves (or 1 dried bay leaf)

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

5 stems fresh parsley, leaves picked and chopped, stems reserved

1 cup pitted prunes

 

Trim and cut roast into 2-inch pieces. Sprinkle evenly with the 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Cover; chill overnight. 

 

Preheat oven to 450ºF. Line a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with a silicone baking mat; set aside. Cook bacon in 1 tablespoon hot oil over medium-low heat until browned. Remove; drain on paper towel, reserving 3 tablespoons drippings. Place squash on prepared pan. Add 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon bacon drippings. Sprinkle salt; toss to coat. Roast 20 to 30 minutes or until tender and browned, stirring once. Cover with waxed paper; set aside. Reduce oven to 275ºF. 

 

Add remaining 2 tablespoons. olive oil to remaining 2 tablespoons bacon drippings in skillet; heat over medium-high heat. Blot beef well with paper towels; add to skillet in batches, being careful not to crowd the skillet. Brown deeply on all sides. Remove; set aside. 

 

Drain all but 1 tsp. fat from skillet. Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter and onions to pan. Sprinkle with salt. Stir over medium heat, scraping up browned bits from bottom of pan. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring often, until onions just begin to soften. Stir in leek slices and garlic. Sprinkle with salt. Cook 4 minutes more. Transfer to a 3-quart baking dish; set aside. Pour wine into skillet. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Boil gently, uncovered, until reduced by half. 

 

Place beef and bacon over onions. Pour reduced wine over. Add stock to almost cover. Using kitchen string, tie cinnamon, cloves, and peppercorns in a piece of cheesecloth; tuck into beef mixture. Add bay leaves. Dollop tomato paste around beef mixture. Sprinkle with thyme. Tie together parsley stems and inner leek piece; add to beef mixture. Place parchment paper over dish. Top with a triple layer of heavy foil. Seal tightly. Place on rimmed baking sheet. Bake 2 hours. Uncover; add prunes. Cover; bake 45 minutes to an hour more or until meat is easily pierced with a knife. Uncover; skim fat. Remove cheesecloth bag and parsley stems; discard. Increase oven to 350ºF. Add butternut squash. Bake uncovered, 20 minutes, basting once or twice. To serve, sprinkle with parsley leaves.

 

 

bacon recipe source: Scott Peacock, Better Homes and Gardens (@BHG)

3527. CHALLAH KNODEL

yields eight servings


1 large loaf challah bread

2 large onions
1 cup cubed thick slab bacon
3 eggs
1 cup large pecans
½ cup brown sugar
1 large butternut squash
2 cups milk
1 bunch fresh sage
1 tablespoon salt
6 turns of pepper mill
Zest of 1 lemon
Grated nutmeg

Cut the Challah into one-inch cubes. Leave to dry out overnight, up to one week. Soak the pecans in water overnight. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Slice the squash in half and roast with a little salt until cooked. Meanwhile, dice the onion and sweat over medium heat with the bacon cubes until the onion is very tender. Scoop the flesh of the cooked squash into the bacon and onion mixture. Add the milk and heat to a simmer. In a large bowl, dump the milk onion mixture over the challah. Add chopped sage, the eggs, and seasonings, and mix well. Cover with plastic wrap for 30 minutes so the bread absorbs the mixture. Let cool so you can handle the mixture. Roll the stuffing into tubes, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and poach until the internal temperature is 160 degrees or higher. Cool in the refrigerator. While that's cooling, preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Toast the pecans for about 30 minutes, or until crunchy. Turn off the oven and let them dry. To finish, cut the knodel into thick slices and pan fry in butter until golden. Add the brown sugar and the pecans and serve.


bacon recipe source: Tim Wiechmann's Challah Knodel, by Molly Elizalde, Condé Nast Traveller, November 25, 2014 

3479. GEMELLI with BUTTERNUT SQUASH and BACON

yields 4 main course portions or 6 appetizer portions


1/2 medium yellow onion, diced fine
3 tablespoons butter
3 oz bacon, cut into 1/4″ pieces (approx. 2-3 slices of bacon)
1 3/4 lb butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced into 1/2″ cubes
1 cup water
salt and pepper to taste
1 lb gemelli
3 oz medium aged pecorino cheese, medium grated

Bring a large pot of water (about 6 quarts) to boil for the pasta.

Cut the ends off the squash, cut in half, then peel, either with a peeler or sharp paring knife. Cut in half again, lengthwise, remove the seeds and dice.

Dice the onion and chop up the bacon.

Add the butter to a large saute pan and add the diced onion. Cook over medium heat until golden brown. Add the bacon and cook until it starts to crisp, about 2-3 minutes. 

Add the squash and season with salt and pepper. Add the 1 cup of water, stir to combine and cover with a lid for 8-10 minutes until the squash is soft. Check after 5 minutes and make sure all the water has not cooked away. If it has, and the squash is still hard, add more water in 1/4 cup increments until the squash is soft enough to mash with the back of a spoon.

When the water for the pasta comes to a rolling boil, add 2 tablespoons salt and the pasta. Cook until it is al dente, and before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water. Drain.

Add 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water to the sauce, smashing the butternut squash with the back of a large spoon. If it seems too thick, add the other 1/4 cup. Toss the sauce with the cooked pasta and the grated cheese and serve.


bacon recipe source: Kristina Johnson, Former Chef, January 5, 2010; adapted from Thirty Minute Pasta by Giuliano Hazan

3231. BACON-WRAPPED MEATBALLS over BUTTERNUT SQUASH PUREE

serves 3-4


1 large butternut squash
3 tablespoons fat of choice (bacon fat, coconut oil, ghee, butter, etc.)
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
salt, to taste
1 pound ground pork
½ yellow onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
salt and pepper, to taste
10 pieces of bacon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut the bulb off of the butternut squash and just use the end. It’s just easier to work with. Cut the skin off the butternut squash then dice the butternut squash into bit size pieces. Place butternut squash on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Pour choice of fat on top of butternut squash, sprinkle with garlic and onion powder and salt, mix well to coat the squash. In a bowl, mix together ground pork, onion, garlic cloves, and salt and pepper until well combined. Make 10 equal sized meatballs. Cut all pieces of bacon in half. Wrap a half piece of bacon around the meatball, then the other piece in the opposite direction. Tuck the ends of the bacon underneath the meatball then place it cut side down on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Place both baking sheets in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, until butternut squash is soft and meatballs are firm. Serve with a green, because then you feel super healthy. And colorful.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Juli Bauer, PaleOMG, December 2013

3126. PUMPKIN SPICE WAFFLES with BUTTERNUT BACON SYRUP

serves about 4 


Pumpkin Spice Waffles
1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
4 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (recipe below)
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 1/4 cups whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

Butternut & Bacon Syrup
4 slices bacon, chopped
1 cup chopped butternut squash cubes (about 1/2-inch cubes)
1 1/4 cups maple syrup

Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice

4 teaspoons cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoons ginger

3/4 teaspoon ground cloves

3/4 teaspoon nutmeg

a pinch of cardamom

Combine all spices together and mix thoroughly.

Prep the syrup first. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the chopped bacon. Once the fat is rendered and the bacon starts to crisp, add in the butternut squash and stir. Cover the skillet, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the squash is fork tender and begins to caramelize, about 10 minutes. Stir once or twice in between. Add in the syrup and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, turn off the heat and cover the syrup until ready to use.

To make the waffles, combine the flours, 2 tablespoons of sugar, baking powder, pumpkin spice and salt in a large bowl and whisk together. Set it aside. Separate the eggs, and add the egg whites to the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Beat in the remaining sugar. Set the eggs whites aside for a minute.

In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, milk, pumpkin and coconut oil. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until just combined; do not overmix. Finally, fold in the whipped egg whites until the batter comes together. Preheat your waffle iron to the desired setting and cook the waffles according to your appliance's directions. Serve them immediately with the warm bacon and butternut syrup.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Jessica, How Sweet It Is, October 9, 2013

3116. CORN and WINTER SQUASH with SPINACH and BACON

for Marianne Benjamin 

serves 8 to 10 


9 bacon slices, chopped
2 cups chopped onions

2 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cut into 1/3-inch pieces 

1 1/2 6-ounce packages baby spinach leaves 

1 16-ounce package frozen corn kernels, thawed 

6 tablespoons chopped fresh basil 

 

Sauté bacon in large pot over medium heat until crisp, about 10 minutes. Add onions and squash. Sauté until squash is almost tender, about 12 minutes. Add spinach and corn. Toss until spinach wilts and corn is heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir in basil. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl and serve.

 

 

bacon recipe courtesy of: Bon Appétit, November 1998

3036. RADIATORI with BACON, BUTTERNUT SQUASH and CHANTERELLE MUSHROOMS

1 lb. radiatori
4 tablespoons shallot, finely chopped
8 oz. bacon
1-1.5 lbs. butternut squash (4 cups when peeled and chopped)
3 cups chanterelle mushrooms
2 cups white wine
a few sprigs of fresh thyme
Kosher salt to taste
Freshly grated parmesan and flat leaf parsley for garnish

Peel and chop a butternut squash into ½” pieces. You will need 4 cups worth, (this may only take a ½ a squash.) Set aside squash pieces. Fill a large pot with salted water, and bring it to a boil. While you are waiting for the water to boil, chop the bacon into ½” pieces. Add the bacon to a large (preferably non-stick pan). Cook it over medium heat until all of the fat has rendered and the bacon is crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and let it drain on a napkin. Add the shallots to the bacon fat and sweat the shallots over medium heat until they are soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the butternut squash and the thyme, and toss to coat with the shallots and fat. Add the white wine to the pan and let the squash simmer in the wine until tender, about 15-20 minutes. When the squash has 10 minutes left, add the mushrooms to the pan. This is also the time to put the pasta into the boiling water. Drain the pasta in a colander, reserving about a ½ cup of the pasta water. Add the pasta to the large sauté pan and toss the pasta with all the mushrooms and squash. If it seems dry, add the reserved pasta water. Add the bacon and some minced parsley. Add freshly grated parmesan and stir to combine. Season to taste with kosher salt and black pepper.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Heather Christo, October 6, 2010

3011. PAPPARDELLE with PUMPKIN, BACON and TORN BREAD

makes four servings 


400 grams peeled, seeded, butternut pumpkin
200 grams piece sourdough bread 
4 slices rindless short-cut bacon 
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 
2 tablespoons baby capers 
2 cloves garlic 
1/2 bunch flat-leaf parsley 
375 grams fresh pappardelle
1 lemon 
150 grams fresh ricotta

Preheat oven to 220C fan-forced. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil. Meanwhile, coarsely grate pumpkin. Cut crusts from bread, then tear into small pieces. Thinly slice bacon.

Line a large oven tray with baking paper. Place pumpkin on tray, drizzle with 1 tbs oil and scatter over capers. Season with salt and pepper, then toss to combine. Spread mixture to cover half the tray. Place bread and bacon on other half of tray. Drizzle with 1 tbs oil and toss bread mixture to combine. Bake, stirring each mixture halfway through, for 12 minutes or until bread is golden and pumpkin is tender.

Meanwhile, thinly slice garlic and roughly chop parsley, reserving a few leaves to serve. Add pasta to boiling water, return to the boil, then cook for 2 minutes or until al dente. Drain, reserving 180ml (3/4 cup) cooking water.

Heat remaining 2 tbs oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 1/2 minutes or until golden. Add pasta, reserved cooking water, pumpkin and bread mixtures. Squeeze over juice from lemon, tear over half the parsley, then toss to combine.

Divide pasta among bowls, then top with small spoonfuls of ricotta. Tear over reserved parsley to serve.

bacon recipe courtesy of: Sophia Young & Jessica Brook, MasterChef, August 2012

2986. BEEF STEW with BACON and BUTTERNUT SQUASH

yields six servings


3 pounds beef chuck
Kosher salt and black pepper
olive or vegetable oil
6 slices good quality, lean, smoky bacon, chopped 1-inch pieces
2 carrots, chopped
2 to 3 ribs celery, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
3 to 4 cloves garlic, sliced or chopped
1 tablespoon fresh marjoram or 1 teaspoon dried
3 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped, divided
2 fresh bay leaves
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 12-ounce bottle hard cider or 1 cup sweet vermouth
2 fat strips orange rind
1 quart beef stock
1 medium-large butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks
a little freshly grated nutmeg
about 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
about 2 tablespoons grainy Dijon mustard
warm crusty bread and butter, to pass at table

Bring meat to room temperature and pat dry. Cut into 2-inch pieces. Just before cooking, season with Kosher salt and black pepper. Preheat oven to 325°F. Heat oil, 2 turns of the pan, over medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven. Add the bacon and stir until crisp; remove to a plate. Cook meat in batches, caramelizing on all sides. Remove to a plate and repeat with remaining meat, adding additional oil if necessary. To meat drippings, add chopped carrot, celery, onion, sliced garlic, marjoram, half the thyme, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Partially cover pot and cook 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in tomato paste, cook for 1 minute, then stir in hard cider or vermouth and a few fat strips of orange rind; deglaze and reduce liquid by half. Add stock then slide meat and bacon back into the pot, bring to bubble, cover and transfer to oven. Roast 2 1/2 hours. Remove the stew and let it stand, covered, while you roast squash. Raise heat to 425°F. Coat squash with oil and toss with remaining thyme, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Roast 30-35 minutes, turning once, until brown at edges. Once the squash is done, remove bay leaf and orange rind from the stew. Skim fat with a spoon or paper towels. Place meat in a large shallow bowl or serving dish and stir honey and mustard into sauce. Stir in squash and serve in bowls. Pass crusty bread at table for mopping.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Rachael Ray Show, March 19, 2013 

2902. CAMPANELLE with CHICKEN, BACON, BUTTERNUT SQUASH and PEAS

serves four


1 1/2 cups frozen peas
1 pound campanelle pasta
4 slices bacon, diced
1 yellow onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
pinch crushed red pepper flakes
1 cup dry white wine
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 cups shredded cooked chicken, from 1/2 a whole chicken
2 cups roasted butternut squash
grated Parmesan, for serving
chopped fresh parsley, for serving

Place peas in a colander set in the sink. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta into the colander over the peas; set aside. Place the bacon in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Cook until the bacon is crisp, about 6 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper-towel lined plate. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat from the pan. Add the onion and cook until soft, about 6 minutes. Add salt and red pepper, cook for 1 minute. Add wine, scraping up browned bits with a wooden spoon. Add chicken broth and cook until reduced by half. Stir in butter and lemon juice until butter is melted and combined. Stir in chicken and vegetables and cook until heated through, about 3 minutes. Add pasta and peas and toss to combine. Serve pasta garnished with Parmesan and parsley.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Sam Talbot, GMC Trade Secrets

2880. HEARTY CAVOLO NERO, BORLOTTI BEAN and SMOKED BACON SOUP

serves 4-6 

150 grams smoked bacon cut into small lardons

1 clove of garlic crushed

1 carrot, 5mm dice

1 large white onion, 5mm diced

150 grams leek, 5mm dice

150 grams celery, 5mm dice

250 grams butternut squash, 5mm dice

240 grams borlotti beans

100ml dry white wine

1.2 liters vegetable or white chicken stock

100 grams cavalo nero shredded

50ml olive oil

salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Prepare the bacon and vegetables: Cut the bacon into small lardons, I normally buy a chunky piece of bacon or pancetta, the smokey flavour is essential for the extra hearty taste. Wash the vegetables and cut the peeled carrot into roughly 5mm dice (you do not need to be precise with the measurements I'm only giving you an indication of the rough size required),  and do the same with the celery, onions, leek and butternut squash. Shred the cavalo nero and set aside.

If you used tinned borlotti beans then drain them; alternatively if you used dried borlotti beans soak them over night in 3 times the weight in water and cook them until tender before adding them to the soup.

Heat a large saucepan with the half  the oil and saute the bacon until golden brown, remove the bacon from the pan and return the pan to the heat.

Saute the carrots, onions, crush garlic, celery and butternut squash until golden in the remaining oil with a bit of seasoning, not too much, as the bacon is salty.

Return the smoked bacon to the pan and deglaze with the white wine, cook until all the caramelised bits that got stuck to the pan have dissolved and the wine becomes glossy around the vegetables.
Add the stock and bring the soup to a gentle simmer, cook for about 15 minutes, add the drained cooked borlotti beans.

Bring the soup back to the simmer and simmer for 10 minutes, add the shredded cavalo nero and simmer for a further 6 minutes, taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Serve this hearty broth with buttered chunky bread and lots of grated Parmesan cheese.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Madalene Bonvini-Hamel and Ross Pike, The British Larder: Inspirational recipe diary, October 22, 2009

2788. ONION, BACON and BUTTERNUT TART

serves 6 as a main course, 12 as an appetizer


all-purpose flour for rolling dough
14 ounces whole wheat pizza dough, thawed if frozen
5 slices thick-cut bacon
1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 (10 ounces) package frozen diced butternut squash (1 1/2 cups), thawed
1 1/2 cup (about 6 ounces) grated Fontina or Gruyère cheese
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

On a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin, roll dough out to a circle about 14 inches in diameter; if the dough pulls back strongly, stop rolling, cover the dough with a kitchen towel and let rest 10 minutes before continuing. Transfer dough to a round pizza pan, stone or large greased baking sheet; reshape dough as needed, but you can leave any edges of the dough hanging over the sides of the pan (they will be folded in later). Cover with a towel and refrigerate.

Preheat oven to 475°F and place a rack in the middle of the oven. Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisped, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to a paper-towel-covered plate to drain. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of grease left in skillet. Return skillet to medium heat and add onion, garlic and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden and tender, about 15 minutes. Add squash and cook, tossing gently once or twice, until any excess moisture evaporates, 2 to 3 minutes.

Scrape onion mixture into middle of dough and spread evenly, leaving a 1-inch border around edges. Sprinkle top with cheese. Brush edge of dough with half the oil and fold it over to make a ½-inch rim. Brush rim with remaining oil. Bake until tart is deeply browned and dough is cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle with thyme and cool 10 minutes, then transfer to a cutting board and cut into wedges or squares for serving.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Whole Foods Market

2362. ROAST BUTTERNUT SQUASH with BUCKWHEAT and BACON PILAF

serves two


1 butternut squash
1 teaspoon olive or vegetable oil, plus extra for brushing
1 rasher of lean back bacon, chopped
50 grams buckwheat groats
175 ml chicken, ham or vegetable stock
1 spring onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, torn
salt and black pepper

Heat the oven to 200°C/gas 6. Halve the butternut squash lengthways and scoop out the seeds and pith from each piece. Brush lightly with oil, season with a little salt and pepper and place on a baking tray. Roast in the oven for 35-45 minutes or until the squash is browned and tender.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a saucepan and add the bacon and buckwheat. Cooking, stirring, for 5 minutes or until the grains become orangey brown and fragrant. Pour in the stock and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 12-15 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the grains are just tender.

Stir the spring onions and parsley leaves into the buckwheat and season to taste. Remove the squash from the oven and place on serving plates. Pile the pilaf into the cavity in the squash and serve hot.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Jenni Muir, for Good Food Channel, UKTV

2330. BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP with APPLE and BACON

serves 6-7; yields about 6-1/2 to 7 cups


8 slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch strips
2-1/2 lb. butternut squash (about 1 medium), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch dice (to yield about 6 cups)
1 small Granny Smith or other tart-sweet apple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch dice (to yield about 1 cup)
1-1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage leaves
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 cups homemade or low-salt chicken or vegetable broth

In a 5-quart or larger stockpot set over medium heat, cook the bacon, stirring occasionally, until crisp and golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels.

Increase heat to medium high. Add the squash to the pot with the bacon fat and cook until lightly browned, 4 to 6 minutes (resist the urge to stir it too often or it won’t brown). Stir in the apple, sage, salt, and pepper and cook for about 4 minutes (you’ll see more browning occur on the bottom of the pot than on the vegetables). Add the broth, scraping up any browned bits in the pot with a wooden spoon. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat to maintain a simmer, and cook until the squash and apples are very soft, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool somewhat.

Add about half the bacon to the soup and purée, using a stand or immersion blender (you’ll need to work in batches if using a stand blender). Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed. Reheat the soup and garnish each serving with the remaining bacon.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Jill Hough, Fine Cooking, p. 67, November 1, 2005

2146. ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH LASAGNA with GOAT CHEESE, BACON and FRIED SAGE

serves 6


6 slices of uncooked bacon
1 1/2 cup smashed roasted butternut squash
8 ounces soft goat cheese
1/3 cup ricotta cheese
1 egg
2 tablespoons minced fresh sage or 1/2 tsp dried ground sage + 2 sprigs fresh sage to fry for garnish
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
3 cups marinara sauce (around 25 ounces)
9 no-boil lasagna noodles
2 cups shredded mozzarella and Provolone cheeses

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Ask a question about this step. Fry the bacon (sliced or whole, whichever you prefer) in a medium saucepan over medium heat until it crisps up. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside. Ask a question about this step. Meanwhile, remove leaves from the 2 sprigs of fresh sage and add to the hot bacon drippings after you remove the cooked bacon. Fry for about 45 seconds or so until they, too, crisp up. Remove fried leaves from skillet and set aside with cooked bacon bits. Ask a question about this step. In a small bowl combine the goat cheese, ricotta cheese, egg, 2 T minced fresh sage, salt & pepper. Mix thoroughly. Set aside. Ask a question about this step. Prepare an 11x7 inch casserole dish with nonstick spray and add spread a couple spoonfuls of marinara sauce in the bottom. Put a layer of lasagna noodles over the sauce. I used three, but I had to break one to make it fit. Spread about 1/2 cup smashed squash over noodles, followed by 1/3 of the goat cheese mixture, 1/3 of the marinara sauce and 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella. Repeat layering two more times with remaining ingredients and top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Ask a question about this step. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake, uncovered, for another 15 minutes until everything is bubbly, heated through, and the cheese begins to turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and top with reserved bacon bits and fried sage. Allow to rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. Ask a question about this step.

NOTES:This obviously goes much faster if the squash is roasted ahead of time. It also freezes well. To roast a butternut squash, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Slice the squash in half, discarding seeds and gunk from the center. At this point you can either place it face-up on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil or face-down in a casserole dish and fill the dish with about 1/2-inch of water. Bake for about 40-70 minutes, depending on the size of your squash. When it's done, it should easily pierce with a fork. Allow it to cool, then scrape the flesh from the skin, discarding the skin. Mash, then proceed with recipe. This method works for just about any type of squash. Ask a question about this step.


bacon recipe courtesy of: perrysplate, California, food52

2090. RIESLING-MARINATED CHICKEN with BACON-WRAPPED ONIONS

makes four servings


1/2 cup Riesling
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1 head of garlic—1 small clove minced, the rest coarsely chopped
4 thyme sprigs
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 chicken breast halves, on the bone with wings attached
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1/2 tablespoon finely chopped basil
3/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
salt and freshly ground pepper
1 large red onion, cut lengthwise through the core into 8 wedges
one 1 1/2-pound butternut squash—halved lengthwise, seeded and cut into 16 wedges
1 large apple—halved, cored and cut into 8 wedges
4 slices of bacon, halved crosswise

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the Riesling, onion, chopped garlic, thyme and 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the chicken, seal the bag and let the chicken marinate, refrigerated, for 2 hours, turning the bag occasionally.

Preheat the oven to 425°. In a small bowl, combine the vinegars, basil, mustard and minced garlic. Slowly whisk in 2 tablespoons of the oil and season with salt and pepper. Arrange the onion wedges on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with the dressing; toss to coat. On another rimmed baking sheet, toss the squash and apple wedges with 1 tablespoon of oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast the vegetables for about 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender and the onion has browned around the edges. Let cool.

Preheat the broiler and position a rack 8 inches from the heat. Wrap the onion wedges in the bacon and secure with toothpicks. Broil the onions for 3 minutes per side, or until crisp.

Turn the oven to 425°. Remove the chicken from the marinade. Scrape off the onions and garlic and pat dry with paper towels. Brush the chicken with remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and season with salt and pepper. Transfer the chicken to an oiled baking pan and roast, skin side up, until just cooked through, about 25 minutes. Reheat the onions, squash and apples while the chicken is cooking and serve.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Cory Schreiber, Food & Wine, October 1997

2024. RUSTIC MAINE LOBSTER and BUTTERNUT SQUASH RAVIOLI with TOASTED WALNUTS, SAGE and MAPLE BACON

1 pound of lobster meat, cut into bite sized pieces
1 pound of peeled butternut squash cut into cubes
½ pound of peeled Russet potato cut into cubes
2 leeks cleaned and cut into 1 inch chunks
5 cloves of fresh garlic
2 cups of light cream
1 cup of water
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
1 teaspoon of ground coriander
½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
salt and pepper to season, approximately 1 ½ teaspoons

1 package of prepared fresh pasta sheets, or 6 squares 10 inches by 10 inches
¾ cup of walnut halves, lightly toasted and seasoned with salt and pepper
1 bunch of fresh sage, roughly chopped
6 slices of good quality bacon
2 tablespoons of maple syrup
8 tablespoons of butter
¼ cup of dry vermouth
1 bunch of chives, minced

In a large, shallow pot combine the butternut, potato, leeks, garlic, cream, water, and spices. Cover the pot and cook over medium heat for 45 minutes or until the squash and potatoes are tender.

When the mixture is cool enough to handle, ladle the solid part of the mixture in batches into a food processor and blend until smooth, adjusting the consistency with the liquid. We want a smooth paste. There might be leftover liquid when you are finished; that’s OK- the liquid content of the squash varies wildly. Make the paste and thin it out as you go with the cooking liquid. Taste for salt and pepper and set aside.

Preheat your oven to 350F degrees.

Drizzle the maple syrup over the bacon and roast the bacon at 350F for 10 to 12 minutes or until the bacon is crispy and fragrant. Cool, roughly chop and set aside.

Boil a large pot of salted water for your pasta sheets.

Melt 2 tablespoon of butter in a medium sized sauté pan, add the lobster, season with salt and pepper, and as the meat becomes fragrant, add the squash puree. Fold the lobster and puree together until the mixture is incorporated and keep it warm.

Melt the other 6 tablespoons of butter in another medium sized sauté pan. When the butter begins to foam, add the walnuts, the sage and the bacon. Off the heat, add the vermouth. The alcohol should burn off at this point. Toss the mixture together, season with salt and pepper, and keep warm.

Cook your pasta sheets, draining each one for excess water. As they are complete, rest each one on a dinner plate. You want to leave some of each sheet resting off the plate; we are going to fold the sheet in half over the filling, creating the ravioli effect.

Carefully spoon 1/6 of the mixture, or approximately 8 ounces, onto each sheet, fold the top over the mixture, and press a small dimple into each ravioli.

Spoon 1/6 of the walnut mixture, or approximately 3 ounces, on top of each one, carefully drizzling some of the pan butter on top of each ravioli

Garnish each one with minced chives.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Chef William Clifford (Lobster Chef of the Year 2010), Portland Harbor Hotel, 468 Fore Street, Portland, Maine 04101