3559. CRISPY COCONUT BACON TEMPURA with MAUI MUSTARD DIPPING SAUCE

serves 6-8 


1 pound thick cut bacon 
3/4 cup red pepper jelly, divided 
8 ounces can crushed pineapple, drained 
3 tablespoons whole grain mustard 
2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro 
1 cup all-purpose flour 
1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more for garnish 
1 tablespoon ground ginger 
1/2 teaspoon white pepper 
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 
3/4 cup lime flavored seltzer 
2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut 
1 cup plain fine dry breadcrumbs 
2 cups coconut or vegetable oil, for frying 
2 fresh lime, cut into wedges

Heat oven 400F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Arrange bacon slices on the paper in a single layer. Stir 4 tablespoons of pepper jelly; brush over 1 side of bacon. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until brown and just cooked through. Transfer bacon to paper towels, glazed side up, to cool.

Meanwhile, in small bowl, stir cup pepper jelly, mustard, pineapple and cilantro until blended. Cover Maui Mustard and set aside.

When bacon is cool prepare tempura batter by whisking flour, sea salt, ginger, pepper, garlic powder and seltzer in a bowl until smooth. Combine coconut and breadcrumbs in a large shallow dish. Dip bacon pieces in tempura batter letting excess drip back into the bowl and then dredge in coconut-breadcrumbs to coat.

Pour oil to a depth of 2 inches in a deep skillet and heat to 350F. Fry bacon in batches 30 seconds per side or until crisp and golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Season with an additional sprinkle of sea salt while still hot. Serve with Maui Mustard and lime wedges.


bacon recipe source: lisak (member), cookmore

2706. FRIED KALE with FISH SAUCE, MINT and BACON

serves four


1 bunch of kale
8 cups canola oil
tempura batter (recipe follows)
½ cup fish sauce dressing (recipe follows)
¼ cup chopped, cooked thick-cut bacon
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
2 tablespoons chopped mint

Tempura Batter
2 cups rice flour
1 egg
1 cup cold seltzer water
Dash of salt

Whisk all ingredients until they just come together.

Fish Sauce Dressing
½ cup fish sauce
¼ cup water
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
6 tablespoons sugar
1 lime, juiced
1 garlic clove minced
1 Serrano chile
minced

Whisk all ingredients together.
Stored in the fridge, this will keep for a couple of weeks.

Bring a pot of salted water to boil.
Tear kale leaves off of the stems, and cut larger leaves in half.
Boil kale in salted water for 1 minute.
Strain into colander and spread out onto a sheet tray.
When cool enough to handle squeeze out all of the water from the kale.

Heat 8 cups of canola oil in a wide high-sided pot to 350º.
In a large bowl put fish sauce dressing, cilantro, mint, and bacon.
Dip the kale into the tempura and place into the oil.
It is important to try and separate the leaves as it goes in the oil to avoid clumping.
Fry for 30 seconds.
Using a spider,
take kale out of oil and place into the large bowl.
Toss the kale so all the ingredients coat it.
Place into individual bowls.


bacon recipe courtesy of: Johanna Ware, Smallwares, 4605 NE Fremont Street, Portland, Oregon | via Edible Manhattan, the edible blog, September 6, 2012