3525. BACON-WRAPPED ELK CHOPS with PICKLED BRUSSELS SPROUTS and PUMPKIN PUREE

yields four servings


Brussels sprouts: 
6 cups apple cider vinegar
2 cups distilled vinegar
1/2 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 ounces pickling spice
1 ounce red pepper flakes
1 ounce whole peppercorns
1/2 bunch fresh dill
3 bay leaves
1 pound Brussels sprouts

Pumpkin puree:
1 small to medium pumpkin
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 stick butter, melted
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Elk chops:
1 ounce fresh rosemary
1 ounce fresh sage
Oil, for frying and searing
1 rack elk chops, broken down into double chops
1 pound sliced bacon

Demi-glace:
4 cups beef stock or 1 cup beef demi-glace
Unsalted butter, optional

For the Brussels sprouts: Combine 8 cups water, the apple cider vinegar, distilled vinegar, kosher salt, sugar, pickling spice, red pepper flakes, whole peppercorn, fresh dill and bay leaves, into a large pot and bring to a boil. Cut the Brussels sprouts into quarters, place them into a large container and pour the boiling liquid over them. Let the sprouts sit overnight, or at least 1 to 2 hours so they are at room temperature.

For the pumpkin puree: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Remove the seeds from the pumpkin. Quarter the clean pumpkin and roast in the oven until tender, 30 to 45 minutes.
Scoop out the meat of the pumpkin into a bowl and add the brown sugar, melted butter, maple syrup, cinnamon and nutmeg. Combine the ingredients by hand using a wooden spoon. Look for a slightly chunky consistency.

For the elk chops: Decrease the oven to 350 degrees F. Fry the rosemary and sage in some oil. Crumble the herbs, rub them on the sides of the elk chops and then wrap with the bacon. Secure with butcher's twine.
Add some oil to a hot pan and sear the elk chops, achieving a nice caramel color before flipping over and repeating on the other side. Finish cooking in the oven until medium.

For the demi-glace: Reduce the beef stock by three-quarters over low heat. Butter can be added if desired.

When the meat is cooked, place a large spoonful of the hot pumpkin puree on a plate. Remove the butcher's twine from the chop and lean it against the puree. Drizzle the demi-glace over the chop. Garnish the dish with a few pieces of the pickled sprouts and the dish is ready to serve.


bacon recipe source: adapted from Brian Jupiter, "Frontier," America's Best Bites, Cooking Channel

3464. BACON CONFIT with CHILES and PICKLES

yields 4-6 servings 


Bread-and-Butter Pickles
1 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sliced white onions
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon sliced jalapeño
3/4 teaspoon turmeric
3/4 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
1 whole clove
2 Kirby cucumbers, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices

Pickled Chilies
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons white wine
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons pickling spice, wrapped in cheesecloth and tied with string
2 Fresno chiles, seeded and cut into 1/8 inch thick slices
 
Bacon Confit
2 cups duck fat

1/2 pound slab bacon, cut into 1/2-inch slices

1 shallot, peeled

1 small sprig rosemary

1 large garlic clove, peeled

1 small bay leaf

1 whole clove
1 bunch Thai basil or regular basil

Make the bread-and-butter pickles: combine the apple cider vinegar, sugar, water, onions, salt, jalapeño, turmeric, mustard seeds, and clove in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Pour over the sliced cucumbers in a heatproof bowl. Let cool and refrigerate for at least 1 day.

Make the pickled chiles: combine the water, wine, white wine vinegar, salt, sugar, and pickling spice in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour over the chiles in a heatproof bowl and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour. 

Make the bacon confit: preheat the oven to 210ºF. Put the duck fat in a small, ovenproof pot and melt over low heat. Add the bacon. (It should be submerged in the fat). Add the shallot, rosemary, garlic, bay leaf, and clove. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cover and place in the oven. Cook until the bacon is tender when pierced with a knife, about 1 hour. 

When the bacon is done, remove it from the fat and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. 

While the bacon is still warm, place each piece on a skewer. Finish each skewer with a slice of bread-and-butter pickle, a pickled chile, and a basil leaf.


bacon recipe source: Ty Kotz, Topping Rose House, One Bridgehampton, Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton, NY 11932; James Beard Foundation, 167 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10011