1280. CHUNKY BACON and CUCUMBER SALAD

serves two


1 tablespoon groundnut oil
6 long dried chillies
2 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns
1 whole star anise (optional)
3½oz smoked bacon, cut into 1cm/½in thick pieces
1 red chilli, de-seeded, finely chopped
1-2 tablespoons Shaoxing rice wine or dry sherry
2 tablespoons clear rice vinegar or cider vinegar
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
7oz cucumber, halved lengthways, de-seeded and sliced into 1cm/½in thick wedges
pinch sea salt
1-2 pinches dried chilli flakes
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon chilli oil
1 small handful fresh coriander leaves, roughly chopped
dry-roasted peanuts (optional)

Heat a wok until smoking and add the groundnut oil, then add the dried chillies and Sichuan peppercorns. Stir fry for a few seconds, or until fragrant. Add the star anise (if using), bacon lardons and chilli and stir fry for 2-3 minutes, or until the lardons have turned golden-brown at the edges. Add the rice wine or sherry, vinegar and sesame oil and stir-fry for a few seconds, then add the cucumber and stir-fry for a few more seconds. Season with sea salt, dried chilli flakes and lime juice, stirring well. Pile the stir-fry onto a serving plate, drizzle over the chilli oil, garnish with the chopped coriander, sprinkle over some peanuts, if using, and serve immediately.


courtesy of: Ching-He Huang, Chinese Food Made Easy, BBC Food

673. BACON, EGG and CUCUMBER SALAD

serves 6


3 medium cucumbers--peeled, halved, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch dice
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon sugar
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 ounces sliced bacon
6 large eggs
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Toasted country bread, for serving

In a medium saucepan, combine the cucumbers with the vinegar, water, butter and sugar and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over moderately low heat for 5 minutes. Uncover and cook over moderate heat until the sauce thickens slightly and the cucumbers are crisp-tender, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and keep warm.

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the bacon and cook over moderate heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Drain the bacon on paper towels. Fry the eggs in the same skillet until the yolks are soft but not runny. Transfer the eggs to a cutting board and coarsely chop them.

Gently stir the eggs into the cucumbers. Coarsely crumble in the bacon and toss gently. Spoon the salad onto plates, sprinkle with parsley and serve with the toast.


courtesy of: Taylor Fladgate, "The First Family of Port," Food & Wine, March 2002

82. OPEN-FACED BACON and CUCUMBER-SALAD SANDWICHES

serves two


1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 large slices country-style bread
1/2 English cucumber
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
6 bacon slices
2 teaspoons packed brown sugar

In a fine sieve set over a bowl drain yogurt 20 minutes. Lightly toast bread. Finely chop cucumber and in a bowl stir together with yogurt, garlic, and salt and pepper to taste.

In a large heavy skillet cook bacon over moderate heat, turning it, until it begins to brown and is almost crisp. Sprinkle sugar evenly over bacon and turn it. Cook bacon until golden and crisp and transfer to paper towels to drain. Divide cucumber salad between toasts and top with bacon.


courtesy of: Gourmet, June 1999