3361. BACON, PEACH and ARUGULA SANDWICHES

makes 4 servings
 

 

8 slices thick-cut bacon
1/4 cup packed fresh basil
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon fresh lemon or lime juice
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
8 thick slices multigrain bread
2 peaches, halved, pitted and thinly sliced
Baby arugula, for topping
Cornichons or other pickles, for serving (optional)

Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, turning a few times until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, then cut each slice in half.

While the bacon is cooking, pulse the basil, olive oil, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon water, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste in a mini food processor (or finely chop the basil and whisk with the other ingredients) until smooth. Add the mayonnaise and pulse until just combined.

Toast the bread and spread evenly with the basil mayonnaise. Divide the peaches, bacon and arugula among half of the bread slices; top with the remaining bread slices. Serve with cornichons.

bacon recipe source: Food Network Magazine/Food Network Kitchen

3360. MIXED GREEN SALAD with DICED AVOCADO, PEACHES, CRISPY BACON, FETA CHEESE and CHAMPAGNE VINAIGRETTE

makes 4 servings


1/4 cup champagne vinegar

1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons minced shallots
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
1/2 pound mixed greens
1 cup diced ripe peaches
1/2 avocado, diced
4 strips bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled
1/3 cup feta cheese

 

In a blender, combine the champagne vinegar, honey, shallots, mustard and garlic. Puree until smooth, 10 to 15 seconds. While continuing to blend, slowly drizzle the olive oil into the blender through the opening in the lid until the dressing is smooth and emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste and transfer to a clean, non-reactive container with a lid. Set aside until ready to use, or store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

To make the salad, in a large stainless steel bowl, combine the mixed greens, peaches, avocado, bacon and feta cheese. Drizzle about 1/2 cup of the vinaigrette into the bowl and season with salt and pepper. Toss the salad gently but thoroughly to combine, then serve immediately on chilled salad plates.

bacon recipe source: Emeril Lagasse, "Meals in Minutes," The Essence of Emeril, Food Network

3359. BAKED COD with LEEKS, MORELS and BACON

serves four


3/4 oz. dried morel mushrooms 
1/2 cup boiling water  
3 tablespoons unsalted butter 
4 bacon slices 
2 cups thinly sliced leeks, white and light green portions 
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more, to taste 
1 teaspoon Champagne vinegar 
4 cod fillets, each about 6 oz. 
Freshly ground pepper, to taste 
1 tablespoon minced fresh chives

Preheat an oven to 375°F.

In a small heatproof bowl, soak the mushrooms in the boiling water for 20 minutes. Squeeze the mushrooms dry and roughly chop the larger ones into bite-size pieces. Set aside.

In a large ovenproof fry pan over medium-high heat, melt 2 Tbs. of the butter. Add the bacon and fry until crispy, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Pour off all but 3 Tbs. of the fat from the pan. Add the leeks and the 1/4 tsp. salt, stir until evenly coated with the fat and cook, stirring often, until tender and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Crumble the bacon and add half to the leeks along with the reserved mushrooms and the vinegar. Toss to combine well and spread the leek mixture over the bottom of the pan.

Season the cod fillets with salt and pepper and lay them on top of the leeks. Dot with the remaining 1 Tbs. butter. Bake until the fish flakes with a fork, about 12 minutes. Garnish with the remaining bacon and the chives and serve immediately.





bacon recipe source: Williams-Sonoma's One Pot of the Day: 365 recipes for every day of the year, by Kate McMillan (Weldon Owen, 2012)

3358. RAMEN SOUP with BACON and SOFT-BOILED EGG

makes 1-2 servings

4 cups chicken broth

1/8 cup peas, fresh or frozen

1/4 cup broccoli, fresh or frozen

1/2 cup fresh spinach

2 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces

1/8 cup onions, thinly sliced

1 (3-ounce) packet ramen noodles, any flavor

1 egg, soft-boiled

grated carrots, to garnish

Bring chicken broth to a boil and add greens—peas, broccoli and spinach. Boil for about 5-7 minutes, or until bright green and tender. In a cast iron skillet over medium heat, fry bacon and onions until tender. Transfer to broth. Meanwhile, soft-boil an egg ahead of time by simmering it in an uncovered pot of water for about 5-7 minutes. Remove egg from pot and rest until cool enough to peel and halve. When broth is ready, reduce heat to a simmer and add ramen noodles and seasoning packet, stirring to combine. Cook noodles according to package instructions and transfer soup to a large bowl. Dress ramen soup with freshly shredded carrots and soft-boiled egg.

bacon recipe source: Helana Brigman, Clearly Delicious, 2013

3357. BACON GARLIC GUACAMOLE with TARO CHIPS

3 slices of bacon
2 avocados
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1 green onion, sliced
1 tablespoon of chopped cilantro or parsley
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
Salt to taste
1 medium taro root
Melted coconut oil, bacon fat or desired cooking oil

Preheat the oven to 420ºF. Grill or bake the bacon slices until crispy, allow to cool and crumble into small pieces. In a medium bowl, mash the avocado. Mix in the garlic, green onion, cilantro, lemon juice, and salt. To make the chips, peel and slice the taro root. The slices need to be very thin like a chip otherwise they won’t get crispy. A mandolin slicer makes this step much easier. Place the taro slices in a bowl, sprinkle some salt if desired and generously coat with the oil. Arrange slices in a cookie sheet on a single layer. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the chips are golden brown and crispy. Some chips will be done before others. Rotate them or take them out as necessary.


bacon recipe source: Denise Nassar Rice, Edible Harmony, August 13, 2013

3356. BACON, EGG and CHEESE BAGEL CASSEROLE

serves 6-8


1 tablespoon butter, softened
5-6 large bagels (any variety), chopped into 1″ chunks
1 pound bacon, cooked and chopped
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
12 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Use a paper towel to rub the bottom and sides of a large (13×9) baking dish with the softened butter. Arrange 5-6 chopped bagels in the baking dish. They should mostly fill the baking dish. Scatter the bacon and cheese over the bagels. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour the mixture over the bagels, bacon, and cheese. Press down on the mixture, so that the bagels are mostly submersed in the egg mixture. Allow the mixture to rest for about 15-20 minutes in the refrigerator, so that the bagels absorb some of the egg mixture. Bake for about 45 minutes.


bacon recipe source: Amy Deline, The Gourmand Mom, June 10, 2012

3355. ROAST LAMB RUMP with PEA PUREE, LEMON THYME and BACON SAUCE

Roast lamb rump

6 lamb rump cap on 

 

Pea & mint puree 

500 grams peas frozen

Handful of fresh mint

100 grams butter

100ml chicken stock

1 small onion, finely diced

Red wine sauce 

500ml red wine

3 springs of thyme

2 cloves of crushed garlic

¼ bay leaf

2 peppercorns

500 ml veal jus

Lemon thyme & bacon sauce 

300ml red wine sauce

1 tablespoon picked lemon thyme leaves

100 grams fresh peas

100 grams diced Kaiser flesh (double-smoked bacon)

Roast lamb rump: Season lamb rumps and sear in a hot pan till caramelised completely. Place in a 200 degree oven and 12 minutes and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Reheat for 1-2 minutes then slice and lay on puree. 

 

Pea & mint puree: Sweat onions in the butter over gentle heat, when transparent, add mint and chicken stock. Turn up the heat and bring to the boil. Add peas and salt and pepper to taste. Cover with a lid and boil for 3-4 minutes. Blend til smooth and pass through a fine sieve. Serve immediately.

 

Red wine sauce: Put all ingredients except for the veal jus into a heavy-based saucepan and bring to the boil over a high heat. Boil rapidly to reduce the alcohol, taking care as it may ignite.

When reduced to a thick syrup-about 60ml add the veal jus. Lower the heat and gently simmer for 8 minutes, skimming frequently. Remove from the heat and pour through a fine sieve. Don’t press the contents to extract more liquid as it will make the sauce cloudy and grainy. Serve immediately.
 

Lemon thyme & bacon sauce: Bring to the boil for 2 minutes then ladle over meat.


bacon recipe source: Chef Neale White, Papa Goose Restaurant, 91 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

3354. ORECCHIETTE CARBONARA with BACON and LEEKS

makes four servings

 
4 applewood-smoked bacon slices, diced 
2 medium leeks (white and pale green parts only), halved lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/3-inch pieces 
10 oz. orecchiette (little ear-shaped pasta) or small shells 
2 large eggs, room temperature 
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus additional for serving 
1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley

Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towel to drain. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat from skillet if necessary. Add leeks and sauté over medium heat until tender, about 6 minutes. Set aside.

Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid.

Whisk eggs and 1/2 cup Parmesan in medium bowl to blend; gradually whisk in 1/4 cup pasta cooking liquid. Add pasta to leeks in skillet and stir to heat. Remove skillet from heat. Pour egg mixture over pasta and stir until sauce is just creamy and eggs are no longer raw, about 2 minutes. (Return skillet to very low heat if egg mixture is runny; do not overcook or eggs will curdle.) Add some of remaining 1/4 cup pasta cooking liquid to pasta if needed to moisten. Stir in bacon and parsley. Serve pasta, passing additional cheese separately.


bacon recipe source: Jeanne Thiel Kelley, Bon Appétit.com

3353. CURRIED BRUSSELS SPROUTS with PANEER and BACON

1 1 /2 lbs. Brussels sprouts
12 oz bacon, about 12 strips
1/2 cup canola oil
1 1/2 tablespoons whole cumin seeds
3 cups pureed tomatoes
salt to taste
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 cups water
6 oz paneer, cut in 1 inch cubes

Wash Brussels sprouts and cut each one in quarters lengthwise. Set aside. Fry bacon strips in large pan over medium-high heat, until light brown and slightly crispy, about 5-6 minutes. Transfer cooked bacon to a plate and allow to cool. When cool, cut bacon into 1 inch pieces. Heat oil in a medium shallow pan on medium-high heat for 1 minute. Add cumin seeds, stir and allow to sizzle for 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, salt, turmeric, cumin, coriander and cayenne. Stir well and cook for 5 to 8 minutes or until top glistens with oil. Stir in Brussels sprouts and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cover and simmer for 5 to 8 minutes or until Brussels sprouts are slightly soft but not mushy. Divide paneer evenly among six plates and pour piping hot Brussels sprouts and its curry over the paneer. Sprinkle the bacon pieces over the Brussels sprouts.

bacon recipe source: Chef Vikram Vij (Vij’s Restaurant, 1480 W 11th Ave, Vancouver, BC, Canada); Steven and Chris, CBC, October 11, 2013

3352. CHICKEN and BACON KORMA BURGER

makes four burgers


1 lb. dark chicken meat, skinned and cut into chunks

4 slices bacon, cut into chunks
1/2 large onion, cut into rough chunks
3 tablespoons korma paste
1/3 cup dried breadcrumbs

 

Put onions into food processor and blitz until very finely chopped. Put into a large bowl. Put the chopped up chicken and bacon into the food processor and pulse until they are minces and combined. You want it pretty fine but stop before they become a total paste. Put meat mixture into the bowl with the onions. Add the korma paste and breadcrumbs. Work the mixture together with your hands until it is fully combined and the paste is evenly distributed. Form into four patties. Fry patties in a skillet with a little canola oil for about 5 minutes each side or until cooked through. You could also do this on a Foreman type grill and save yourself those calories. Serve.

bacon recipe source: Sarah_Jayne (member), Food.com/Indian Recipes, December 22, 2008

3351. SPAGHETTI with CHANTERELLES and BACON

serves two


approx 180 grams spaghetti (or linguine, tagliatelle, etc.)
3 handfuls of small chanterelle mushrooms (cleaned)
4 slices of streaky bacon, cut into small strips
1 clove of garlic, chopped
3/4 cup of dry white wine
3/4 cup of single cream
about 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Salt and pepper to season
A little olive oil for frying

Cook the pasta according to packet instructions. In the meantime, prepare the sauce. Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a large frying pan and fry the bacon till it just starts to brown. Toss in the mushrooms and the garlic and fry over a medium heat for a further 2- 3 minutes. Pour in the wine and cook over a medium heat till about 1/2 of the wine has evaporated. Add the cream and parsley to pan and cook for a few minutes, reducing the sauce a little. Season with some salt and black pepper. Add the drained pasta to the pan and toss over a low heat for a minute or so, to allow the pasta to soak up some of the sauce. Serve with a little grated parmesan cheese.


bacon recipe source: Allora Andiamo (member), Jamie Oliver.com

3350. BACON and SMOKED GOUDA CAULIFLOWER MASH

makes approximately 3 cups (serving size: 1 cup)


4 cups cauliflower florets
3 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
4 slices of cooked bacon
1/3 cup shredded smoked gouda cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Place the cauliflower, heavy cream, butter, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a microwave safe dish. Microwave on high for 18 – 20 minutes, or until soft. Transfer the cauliflower and liquid to a magic bullet or food processor. Add the bacon and Smoked Gouda. Blend until smooth and creamy. Season with additional salt and pepper as desired.


bacon recipe source: Mellissa Sevigny, I Breathe... I'm Hungry..., March 27, 2014

3349. SPAGHETTI with BACON, PECORINO and FRIED EGG

serves four


1 lb. spaghetti

1 lb. thick cut smoked bacon
½ cup grated pecorino
4 eggs
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Cook spaghetti according to package directions, until al dente. Drain through a colander, reserving about a cup of the pasta water. In a large skillet over medium heat, fry half of the bacon until crisp, about 3 minutes on each side. Transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the fat in the skillet, and repeat with the remaining bacon. Pour half of the bacon fat out of the pan and reserve it. Add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet with the remaining bacon fat, sprinkle with pecorino and add about ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss to coat, and crumble the cooked bacon into the pasta. Transfer pasta to serving bowls, and wipe out the skillet. Add the reserved bacon fat to the skillet, and fry 4 eggs (2 at a time) over medium heat, cooking until whites are set but yolks are runny. Serve one egg on top of each bowl of pasta.


bacon recipe source: Rebekah Peppler, posted by Christine Byrne, for Buzzfeed.com, February 10, 2014

3348. BACON, CHEESE and ZUCCHINI MUFFINS

makes 12 


1 teaspoon olive oil 
1 middle bacon rasher, trimmed 
1/2 cup grated zucchini
1 cup self-raising flour 
1 cup plain flour 
1 teaspoon baking powder 
1/4 cup vegetable oil 
1 cup milk 
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup grated tasty cheese

Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add bacon. Cook for 5 minutes or until crisp. Cool. Roughly chop. Preheat oven to 375ºF/190°C/170°C fan-forced. Line a 12 hole, 1/3 cup-capacity muffin pan with paper cases. Squeeze excess liquid from zucchini. Sift flours and baking powder into a bowl. Make a well in the center. Add oil, milk, and egg. Mix well. Fold in bacon, zucchini and cheese. Spoon mixture between paper cases. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until golden and just firm to touch. Stand in pan for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Serve.


bacon recipe source: Kirrily La Rosa, Super Food Ideas, February 2013, page 57; Taste.com.au, News Life Media, 2 Holt St, NSW, Surry Hills, 2010

3347. POMELO, ESCAROLE and CANDIED BACON SALAD with MEYER LEMON DRESSING

makes six servings 


2/3 cup packed light brown sugar 
12 slices bacon, preferably applewood-smoked 
1 large clove garlic, finely chopped 
1/4 teaspoon salt 
1/2 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard 
Freshly squeezed juice from 1 or 2 Meyer lemons (1/4 cup) 
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 
Freshly ground black pepper 
1 head (16 ounces) escarole, cleaned and torn into bite-size pieces 
1/2 medium sweet red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch pieces 
1 (32 ounces) pomelo, peeled (removing pith), then cut into bite-size pieces

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place a rack in a roasting pan that's large enough to hold all of the bacon.

Spread the brown sugar evenly over a large piece of wax paper. Press the bacon slices on half of the sugar so the sugar sticks. Arrange the coated bacon in a single layer, sugar side up, on the rack. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven, turn the slices over and sprinkle them with the remaining brown sugar. Bake for about 10 minutes or until the bacon is crisp.

Transfer the bacon to a plate. Use paper towels to dab away some of the fat on both sides; do not drain the slices on layers of paper towels or the bacon will stick to them.

Use the back of a spoon to mash the garlic and salt together in a medium bowl. Whisk in the mustard, then the lemon juice and oil to form an emulsified dressing. Season with black pepper to taste.

Toss together the escarole, red bell pepper and dressing in a large bowl. Divide among individual plates, then scatter equal amounts of the pomelo pieces over each portion. Top each serving with 2 slices of the candied bacon.

Serve right away.


bacon recipe source: Elinor Klivans, The Washington Post, January 18, 2012 

3346. CRISPY CARDAMOM SUGARED BACON

makes 10 slices


10 slices thick-cut bacon
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, then lay a wire rack on top of the baking sheet. On a large plate, mix sugar and cardamom. Dredge bacon slices through the mix, lightly patting the sugar on top but not overdoing it. Lay strips on wire rack and bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping the bacon once halfway through. Remove and drain on paper towels for 1 minute.


bacon recipe source: Jessica, How Sweet It Is, December 27, 2011

3345. BACON BAKLAVA

makes about 24 servings 


1/2 pound raw walnut pieces 
1/2 pound raw pistachio meats 
1 cup cooked and crumbled bacon (about 12 slices) 
1/3 cup sugar 
1 teaspoon ground cardamom 
1 1/4 cup (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted 
1 package (16 ounces) phyllo dough, thawed 
1 cup water 
1 cup sugar 
1 cup honey 
1 cinnamon stick 
1/4 cup orange flower water or rose water

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a food processor, pulse the nuts until they are ground, but not turned into meal. Add the bacon, sugar, and cardamom and pulse a few more times until the nut mixture is finely chopped and evenly blended.

Begin layering the baklava. Brush a jellyroll pan, or sheet pan with sides, generously with the melted butter. Unroll the phyllo dough and cover the sheets with a piece of plastic wrap and a damp towel. This keeps the sheets from drying out while you are layering the baklava. Read the package for detailed handling instructions.

Place a sheet of phyllo on the sheet pan and brush it with melted butter. Repeat with 6 more sheets of phyllo dough and butter for a total of 7 sheets. You do not have to cover every last inch of the phyllo with butter, but try and have it evenly dispersed between all of the layers. Spread 1/3 cup of the nut mixture evenly over the phyllo. Top the nuts with two more buttered sheets of phyllo. Continue sprinkling with 1/3 cup of the nut mixture adding two sheets of buttered phyllo until all of the nut mixture is used. Top with a final layer of 7 buttered phyllo sheets.

Use a sharp knife to cut the uncooked baklava into 24 diamond shapes. Bake the baklava until it is brown and crisp, 30-35 minutes.

While the baklava is baking, combine the water, sugar, and honey in a saucepan. Gradually heat the mixture until the sugar dissolves. Add the cinnamon stick and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer for 25-30 minutes. Remove the pan from heat, add the orange flower water and cool slightly. Pour the syrup evenly over the baklava as soon as it comes out of the oven. Make sure you get the syrup in every crack and crevice. Leave to soak for several hours. Serve at room temperature and store leftovers in the refrigerator.


bacon recipe source: Bacon 24/Seven: Recipes for Curing, Smoking, and Eating by Theresa Gilliam (Countryman Press, 2014)

3344. ASPARAGUS with BACON and HARD-BOILED EGGS

makes 8 servings


4 ounces bacon (about 4 slices) 
2 bunches green and/or white asparagus (about 2 pounds), trimmed, ends peeled if thick 
Kosher salt 
1/2 small shallot, finely chopped 
3 tablespoons Sherry vinegar 
1 tablespoon pure maple syrup 
1 teaspoon whole grain mustard 
2 tablespoons olive oil 
1 tablespoon vegetable oil 
Freshly ground black pepper 
4 hard-boiled large eggs, whites and yolks separated, chopped 
2 tablespoons chopped fresh tender herbs (such as chives and/or tarragon)

Cook bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, turning once, until browned and crisp, 5-8 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain; let cool, then crumble.

Meanwhile, cook asparagus in a large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, 3-5 minutes, depending on thickness. (If using both green and white asparagus, cook white asparagus first to keep them from turning green.) Drain and transfer to a large bowl of ice water to cool. Drain and pat dry.

Whisk shallot, vinegar, maple syrup, and mustard in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in olive oil until emulsified, then whisk in vegetable oil; season with salt and pepper.

Serve asparagus drizzled with vinaigrette and topped with eggs, herbs, and bacon.

Do Ahead: Vinaigrette can be made 2 days ahead; cover and chill. Asparagus can be cooked 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

bacon recipe source: Lou Lambert and Larry McGuire, Bon Appétit, July 2014

3343. BACON and CHEDDAR POTATO PANCAKES

makes four servings (about 2-3 pancakes per person)


4 medium sized potatoes, peeled and diced
½ cup milk
3 tablespoons finely chopped shallots or onion
1 egg, slightly beaten
4 tablespoons flour
3 slices thick sliced bacon
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Freshly ground pepper and salt to taste
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
3 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided

Put the peeled and diced potatoes into a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer until potatoes are tender. Drain. In a skillet add 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook until crisp. Remove bacon from skillet and drain on paper towel. Remove all the bacon grease from the skillet, leaving only a little to coat the skillet (about ½ tablespoon). Add the chopped shallots or onions.  Cook until they are translucent (about 3-4 minutes). Remove from heat. Return the potatoes to the pot and mash them with a potato masher. Add the shallots or onions, milk, flour, parsley, onions, bacon, cheddar cheese, salt and pepper, mix thoroughly. Heat a large skillet with 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons oil. When skillet is hot, drop spoonfuls of the mashed potato mixture into the skillet; flatten with the back of the spatula. Turn when the bottom side is golden brown. Cook until the other side is golden brown. Drain on a paper towel.


bacon recipe source: Linda, Cooking Tip of the Day, July 2009

3342. PULLED PORK NACHOS with PEPPER JACK and BACON

tortilla chips
1 1/2 cup (heaping) shredded pepper jack cheese
heaping 3/4 cup Kalua pork, chopped into bite size pieces
3-4 tablespoons drained and diced pepperoncini
2-3 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled
2-3 tablespoons chopped red onion
2-3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
sour cream

Preheat oven to 350. Place a single layer of tortilla chips on an oven safe plate. Top with a heaping 3/4 cup cheese. Place pork over top and sprinkle with pepperoncini. Break up a handful of tortilla chips into large pieces and sprinkle on top. Add remaining cheese, top with crumbled bacon and onion. Bake in the oven until cheese is melted. Remove, and sprinkle on cilantro and dollops of sour cream. Serve immediately.


bacon recipe source: Sara Wells and Kate Jones, Our Best Bites, March 3, 2014

3341. PAPAYA on CRUNCHY LETTUCE with CRISPY BACON

serves six


3 small ripe papayas

1 cos lettuce
12 strips bacon

Dressing
juice of 2 limes
2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot or red onion
shreds of lime zest
salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 tablespoons olive oil

Peel the papayas and cut each in half. On each plate lay out two or three lettuce leaves and top with a papaya half. Cook the strips of bacon until crispy. Make the dressing by mixing the ingredients together in a small jar. To serve, top the papaya with the hot bacon and drizzle over the dressing.

 

 

bacon recipe source: Lauraine Jacobs, Cuisine, Issue 73, PO Box 6341, Wellesley Street, Auckland, New Zealand

3340. BAKED SAUSAGES, BACON and FLAGEOLET BEANS

300 grams of high quality sausages
125 grams of unsmoked streaky bacon
400 grams tin of flageolet beans, rinsed well and drained
1 chunky garlic clove, peeled, squashed and chopped very fine
Half a teaspoon of dried thyme
Big handful of baby tomatoes

Preheat the oven to 200c/190c fan/400 F. Chop up the bacon and fry until crisp. Retain the bacon fat. Mixed the garlic, thyme and a little of the bacon fat with the beans. Pour the beans into the base of an oven proof dish just large enough to hold the sausages. Place the sausages on top of the beans and the bacon pieces around the edges to cover the beans. Bake for half an hour and then turn the sausages over and add the tomatoes, to cover the beans and bacon. Bake for another twenty minutes to half an hour until the sausages are nicely browned. Mix the bacon through the beans and serve on warm plates.


bacon recipe source: Fiona Nevile, The Cottage Smallholder

3339. APPLE-BACON BREAKFAST CUSTARD

serves 4


4 slices thick-sliced bacon, crisp, 1/2” dice
2 red apples, peeled, cored, 1/2” dice
4 large eggs
8 ounces heavy cream
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced
few grinds of pepper
soft butter
crème fraîche for garnish (optional)
pinches of smoked paprika

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange bacon slices on a baking sheet. Bake until browned and crisp, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. Don’t turn the oven off.

While the bacon is cooking, peel, core, and dice the apples. Whisk together the eggs, cream, rosemary, and pepper.

When bacon is done, dice it and fold into the custard mixture.

Run a pastry brush over some soft butter and brush the insides of 4 4-ounce ramekins.

Use a large spoon or a ladle to divide custard among the ramekins. Set ramekins on a baking sheet with a lip all the way around. Fill a large measuring cup or pitcher with very hot tap water. Set the baking sheet in the oven with the front edge hanging off the edge of the rack by an inch or so. Pour hot water into the baking sheet until it almost reaches the lip. You are creating a water bath that will ensure that the center of your custards will be done at the same time as the perimeter. Gently nudge the baking sheet the rest of the way into the oven.

Bake custards for 30-40 minutes. Custards are done when slightly puffed and golden on top, and slightly tender when you tap the surface.

Remove the custards to a cooling surface. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Top each with a spoonful of crème fraîche and pinches of smoked paprika just before you serve. Serve with some good grilled bread and a fruit salad. 

A note about the water bath: the safest way to remove the baking sheet from the oven is to turn off the heat, and leave the door ajar so that the water can cool. When it reaches a temperature that you feel comfortable handling it, go ahead and carefully carry it to a sink.


bacon recipe source: solitarycook (member), Whole Foods Market Cooking

3338. CURLY KALE with CRISPY BACON

serves six 


1 kilogram curly kale or 1.4 kg Savoy cabbage, quartered, cored and coarsely shredded 

salt and ground black pepper

1 3/4 tablespoons butter 

6 rashers dry cure, rindless streaky bacon, cut into strips 

 

Remove and discard any tough or discolored outer leaves from the curly kale. Blanch the curly kale for 20 seconds in boiling, salted water; blanch the cabbage for 1-2 minutes. Drain and immediately plunge into cold water to stop further cooking. Drain again and tip out on to kitchen paper to dry. Set aside. Melt the butter in a wok or large frying pan. Add the bacon and fry gently for 3-4 minutes or until turning golden brown. Toss in the curly kale or cabbage and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until coated with butter and heated through. Season well and serve.

 

 

bacon recipe source: allaboutyou.com

3337. BACON FRIED RICE with BROCCOLI and WILTED GREENS

yields 2 large servings, 4 modest servings


1 cup short grain brown rice (uncooked)
1½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 ounces bacon, cut into ½ inch lardons
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup broccoli florets, chopped
1 cup Brussels sprouts, shaved or very thinly sliced
3 cups leafy greens, coarsely chopped
4 large eggs
Kosher salt
Fresh ground pepper
¼ cup shaved Parmesan cheese (optional)

Pour the rice into a small pot with 1¾ cups water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, lower to a simmer, cover and cook for 40 minutes until the water has been absorbed. Remove from the heat and allow to rest, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside until ready to use.

While the rice is cooking, slice the bacon and chop the broccoli, Brussels sprouts and greens. Briefly set aside.

Moving on to the eggs. Bring a medium pot with 6½ cups of water and 4 tablespoons of salt to a boil. When boiling, carefully add the eggs. Bring the water back to a boil and cook for 5½ minutes. Drain the eggs immediately and let them cool for about 5 minutes before gently removing their shells. Place the peeled eggs in a pot filled with hot water if you want to keep them warm.

Now it’s time to finish up the rice. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan or wok. When hot, add the bacon, red pepper flakes and garlic. Sauté for about 4 minutes until the bacon is golden brown.

Add the greens to the pan and sauté for 1 minute until they are just wilted.

Add the rice and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring continuously. Season with salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.

Drain the eggs and cut them in half lengthwise. Divide the rice among 4 plates (or 2…) and top with an egg and Parmesan (if using). Serve warm.


bacon recipe source: Serena Wolf, Domesticate Me, March 25, 2014

3336. FENNEL-SHALLOT-BACON and EDAM QUICHE

makes 1 round 10″ by 2″ deep quiche


Toppings:
1 medium size fennel bulb and some of the tops and stems
1 large shallot
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
3 thick slices of smoked bacon

Egg mixture:
1 cup Edam cheese shredded
5 large eggs room temperature
½ cup heavy cream
¼ cup milk
salt pepper

For the Crust:
1 cup all-purpose flour (plus a little more for rolling) 1 cup whole wheat flour
1-2 pinches of sea salt
2 sticks of butter (1 cup), cold and cut into small squares
1/4-2/3 cup iced cold water.
1- 10″ ceramic-oven safe dish or a pay pan

Measure all your ingredients. Place all the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix. Place the bowl in the freezer. Meantime cut your cold butter, and iced water ready to measure. Remove the bowl of dry ingredients from freezer and add the butter. With a pastry blender incorporate the butter and flour until the mixture resembles to a coarse meal, and the butter pieces are small like the size of a pea. Slowly add the cold water and carefully, with your hands, form a dough that just holds together. Be careful not to over work the dough this will give you a flakier crust. 
Once that the dough coarsely holds together, wrap your dough in plastic wrap and shape it into a disk. 
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour; you can rush it by placing into freezer for 20-25 minutes.

Preheat Oven at 400.
In clean work surface, dusted with flour unwrap the dough let sit for a couple of minutes and roll it into a 18-20” round and about 1/4” thick. Once is rolled place it into quiche pan and start pushing down the inside edges to make sure the pastry dough takes the shape of the dish.

Let the edges of the pastry up to extend beyond the dish edge. Prick the crust a few times all around and blind bake in the oven for about 16-20 minutes at 400 F/  200 C.

Remove from the oven and let it cool for at least 20 minutes.

Prepare your toppings: Render the bacon pieces until crunchy, save 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat. Finely cut your fennel; include some of the green tops and stems, shallots, garlic and shred your cheese. In a saute pan add the 2 tablespoons of bacon fat and a glug of olive oil, sauté the fennel, shallots, and garlic. Let it come to room temperature. Mix, the eggs, heavy cream and milk, some salt and pepper.

Start assembling your quiche: Spread half of the cheese on the bottom of the crust, add bacon crisps, spread the sautéed fennel and shallots. Then add the egg mixture, top with the rest of the shredded Edam cheese, top with some freshly cracked pepper. Place into the 350F oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the top looks golden brown and slightly giggles in the center. Let it cool on a rack for about 15 minutes until totally set. Serve warm with a green salad, or tomato soup.


bacon recipe source: Mariana McEnroe, Yes, more please!, November 19, 2013

3335. FIDDLEHEAD FERNS with BACON, MORELS and SUMMER CORN

1/2 lb. fiddlehead ferns, cleaned
6 strips thick-cut bacon, diced
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 lb. morels, cleaned
2/3 cup fresh corn kernels

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.

In a pot of boiling water, blanch the fiddlehead ferns for 1 minute. With a slotted spoon or spider, transfer the fiddleheads into a large bowl filled with ice water to cool.

In a large cast-iron pan, brown the diced bacon on medium-high heat until crisp, about 6 minutes. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Reserve the drippings in the pan.

Add the butter to the drippings. Continuing on medium-high heat, add the morels. Cook until the mushrooms begin to caramelize in the hot fat, about 4 minutes. Add the corn kernels and continue cooking until the corn begins to turn golden, about 2 minutes. Add the fiddlehead ferns to the pan, and season with salt and pepper. When the fiddleheads have come up to temperature, add the bacon back into the pan and toss to combine.

Serve hot as a side dish to grilled steaks, chicken or ribs.


bacon recipe source: Lorna Yee, Seattle Magazine, April 28, 2011

3334. CANDIED BACON and CHOCOLATE TARTLET with PORK SCRATCHING SNAP, CREME FRAICHE and CARAMEL SAUCE

serves four


For the sweet pastry
100 grams of butter, cubed and cold
50 grams icing sugar
175 grams plain flour

For the filling
225 mls double cream
1 tablespoon caster sugar
150 grams Godiva dark chocolate pellets
125 grams streaky bacon, finely chopped
2 tablespoons of golden syrup

For the pork scratching snap
200 grams caster sugar
25 grams butter
50 grams pork scratching, chopped finely

For the caramel sauce
100 grams double cream
50 grams soft light brown sugar
50 grams butter
Crème fraiche, to serve

First make your sweet pastry (or pâte sucrée) by blending the butter, icing sugar, plain flour and eggs in a food processor and mix until everything comes together into a ball of dough. Wrap in cling film and leave to rest in the fridge for an hour.

Then preheat your oven to 160C (320F) and butter four individual tart tins, 10-cm across.

Roll out your pastry to a thickness of about 5mm and line your tart tins. If your pastry sticks, a good tip is to roll it out between two sheets of cling film (tip from @tomsdinner on Twitter). Prick the pastry and place the tins in the freezer for 15 minutes, then blind bake in the oven for about 12-15 minutes until the pastry is cooked through and golden. Leave to cool.

Next make your candied bacon by frying the streaky pieces in a pan until they are cooked through and slightly crispy. Place in a bowl and stir through the golden syrup. To refine further, place in a food blender or processor and pulse very briefly to make smaller nuggets.

To make the chocolate filling, put the cream and sugar into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and mix until the chocolate has melted. Add roughly two-thirds of the bacon nuggets (keeping some back for presentation) and mix further and then pour the sauce into the cooked pastry cases. Leave to set at room temperature for an hour or so.

To make the pork scratching snap, place the sugar in a saucepan and gently heat until it melts and forms a caramel. Jiggle the saucepan slightly to help it on its way and do keep an eye on the caramel, as in my experience it can burn very quickly. Add the butter and the chopped pork scratchings and mix together. Then pour onto a sheet of greaseproof paper, spreading and thinning with a pallet knife and leave to cool and set. Once set, cut or smash with the back of a knife to create shards.

Finally, make the caramel sauce by heating the butter and sugar together in a saucepan, take off the heat and then mix through the cream.

To serve, drizzle the caramel sauce over your plate of choice, place the chocolate tart on top, add a quenelle of crème fraiche and a shard of the pork scratching snap and then dot a small spoonful of the remaining candied bacon onto the crème fraiche.


bacon recipe source: Danny Kingston (@FoodUrchin), on Great British Chefs, Unit 4, Pride Court 80-82, White Lion Street, London, N1 9PF

3333. SMOKY RED PEPPER SOUP with MAPLE CANDIED BACON

Smoky Red Pepper Soup
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 large red bell peppers, chopped
3 medium carrots, chopped
1 large sweet onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger
3 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground coriander
5 cups chicken or vegetable broth
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Heat olive oil in large soup pot over medium high heat. Add bell peppers, carrots, and onions and cook 12 to 15 minutes or until onion is golden, stirring frequently. Add garlic, tomato paste, ginger, paprika, and coriander and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add broth and bay leaves; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, 25 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Discard bay leaves. Transfer soup in two batches to a blender, blending until smooth and returning to soup pot.  Add salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve topped with maple candied bacon (recipe below).

Maple Candied Bacon
1/2 pound sliced nitrate free bacon (7-8 slices)
1/2 cup maple syrup

Preheat oven to 400′F. Place bacon a baking sheet. I use an ugly one that I don’t mind staining. Covering the baking sheet with foil isn’t a good idea because the candied bacon sticks to pretty much everything. You can also use a pyrex baking dish, but it’s just as hard to clean. Place bacon in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and pour off the grease.Turn oven temperature down to 350′F. Pour maple syrup over bacon slices. Return to oven and bake for 20-25 more minutes, until syrup is thick and well, candy-like. Flip the bacon slices several times during this time. Remove from oven and place bacon slices on a plate to harden. Serve in strips, or crumble into the soup.


bacon recipe source: Elizabeth, three beans on a string, April 1, 2014

3332. CHILE and GARLIC PRAWN LINGUINE with BACON, ZUCCHINI and LEMON

70–100 grams linguine 6–8 large prawns
2 rashers of smoked streaky bacon, finely chopped
2 small or 1 large zucchini, sliced into ribbons using a potato peeler, then cut into smaller strips
1 clove of garlic, crushed
half a green chile finely cut
a splash of cream and 50 grams mozzarella (optional)
a few sprigs of thyme or chopped parsley
lemon zest to taste
lemon juice to taste
olive oil
salt and pepper

Cook the pasta in salted boiling water. Just before the pasta is ready, add the zucchini strips to the water and cook for about 2 minutes, then strain in a colander, set aside. Heat a pan and fry the bacon until crispy, remove and set aside. In the same pan, with a bit of the bacon fat lining it, very quickly fry the prawns until just starting to turn pink. As they turn pink, add the garlic and chilli to the pan and toss around a bit. Then squeeze over a bit of lemon juice and a few grates of zest along with the thyme or chopped parsley (or both). Add the bacon back, along with the pasta and zucchini and mix it about ensuring all the ingredients are heated. Add the cream and mozzarella if you want a more indulgent pasta, otherwise its a lovely, lighter and zesty dish. Add salt and black pepper if necessary and serve.


bacon recipe source: Sam Linsell, Drizzle & Dip, July 31, 2011

3331. BACON with WOOD EAR MUSHROOMS and TOFU (培根双鲜)

4 oz sliced bacon, cut into bite-sized pieces, about 1″ square and between 1/8″ and 1/4″ thick
14 oz extra firm tofu, cut into bite-sized triangles (see above)
1 oz dried wood ear mushrooms (木耳, mùěr), soaked until soft in lukewarm water (about 15-30 minutes), and then cut or torn into pieces to match the size of the bacon
4 cloves garlic, sliced
1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns (husks only)
1 very generous tablespoon spicy bean paste (辣豆瓣酱, là dòubàn jiàng)
1/4 cup water or stock
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons dark soy sauce

Heat your wok on medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add the bacon (#1) in batches so that each piece can lay flat against the bottom of the wok. Let it fry until it just begins to curl, then turn and continue cooking for another minute or so. Remove the bacon to drain on a paper towel. Repeat until all the bacon is cooked. It should be gently crispy in places but overall still flexible and soft.

Bacon fat will have collected in your wok at this point. Heat it until hot but not smoking, and then add the tofu (#2) in batches, frying on each side like the bacon. Treat the pieces gently so that they don’t break up. Remove them to a paper towel to drain.

Make sure the bacon fat in the wok is once again hot but not quite smoking. Add the mushrooms (#3) and stir-fry to heat, perhaps one minute. Then add the garlic (#4) and continue stir-frying for another 30 seconds. Next, add the Sichuan peppercorns and the bean paste (#5). Stir-fry everything for another half minute.

Stir in the water and soy sauce (#6), heat until just bubbling, and then add the tofu back to the wok. Stir gently until everything is heated through. Garnish with some chopped scallions in the final stir.

Serve with rice and contrasting dishes.


bacon recipe source: Will, TastyAsia, June 14, 2013

3330. BACON-WRAPPED MARINATED STURGEON

1 pound sturgeon sliced into pieces about 3/4” thick
1/2 pound bacon

Marinade:
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
1 clove garlic minced or smashed
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice

Place fish pieces in a plastic bag. Pour in the marinade. Seal and mix well. Place in refrigerator for 2 hours.

Remove fish from bag and let marinade drain off, but do not rinse. Wrap each piece in bacon and secure with a toothpick. Fry in a very hot pan until the bacon gets cooked, turning often. Remove from pan to paper towel lined plate.


bacon recipe source: Cooking with Game.com, April 10, 2009

3329. WARM YELLOW WAX BEANS in BACON VINAIGRETTE

yields 6-8 servings 


2 pounds yellow wax beans, trimmed 
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 
4 ounces thickly sliced bacon, cut into lardons (1 cup) 
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar 
10 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved 
1 small shallot, very finely chopped 
2 garlic cloves, very finely chopped 
1/3 cup chopped basil 
Kosher salt 
freshly ground pepper 

Cook the beans in a large pot of salted boiling water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain the beans and cool them under cold running water. Drain well and pat dry; transfer the beans to a large bowl. 

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the bacon and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until golden, 7 to 8 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the vinegar, tomatoes, shallot, garlic and basil. Scrape the bacon vinaigrette over the beans, season with salt and pepper and toss to evenly coat. Serve warm.


bacon recipe source: Jody Williams, Food & Wine, April 2014

3328. CHARRED OCTOPUS SALAD with BACON and TANGERINE SAUCE

yields 5 to 6 servings


1 bottle red wine, such as Merlot

2 heads garlic, halved
1/3 cup black peppercorns
one 2-pound octopus
4 bacon slices, cut into lardons

tangerine sauce (recipe follows)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup pink peppercorns, crushed
3 sprigs fresh oregano, leaves picked, for garnish
microgreens, for garnish
micro baby arugula, for garnish
extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
 

Tangerine sauce:
2 cups tangerine juice
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 anchovies
1 half finger chile
canola oil, for drizzling
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

 

Tangerine Sauce: Reduce the juice and honey in a saute pan over medium heat until syrupy. Allow to cool slightly. Combine in a food processor with the red wine vinegar, mustard, anchovies and chile and process until smooth. While processing, drizzle in enough canola oil to create an emulsified sauce. Season with salt and pepper.

Octopus salad: Combine the red wine, garlic, black peppercorns and 2 quarts of water in a large pot and bring to a boil over high heat.

Dip the octopus in the boiling liquid for 10 seconds and lift it back out. Repeat the process 3 times. Finally, submerge the octopus in the liquid and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover with a lid and allow the octopus to poach in the liquid until tender, about 90 minutes.

Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate and reserve the fat in the pan.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Preheat a grill to high heat. Warm up half of the Tangerine Sauce in a saute pan on medium heat.

Remove the octopus from the poaching liquid and allow to cool before handling, about 10 minutes. Remove the head and discard. Cut off the tentacles from the body and reserve the body for another use. Dip the tentacles into the reserved bacon fat, and place on the hot grill to char very briefly. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the tentacles to a large ovenproof saute pan, toss with the heated Tangerine Sauce and place in the oven for 5 minutes.

To serve, drizzle some of the remaining Tangerine Sauce on each plate. Sprinkle some of the crushed peppercorns and oregano leaves around each plate. Place a tentacle on each plate and sprinkle with some of the bacon. Garnish with the Bulls Blood microgreens and micro arugula. Finish with a drizzle of oil and some freshly ground black pepper. 

 

 

bacon recipe source: Bobby Flay, "Timer's Up," Worst Cooks in America, Food Network

3327. GRILLED SALSIFY, CORN and BACON HUSH PUPPY with SALSIFY HONEY BUTTER DIPPING SAUCE

yields 4 servings


2 stalks salsify, peeled and sliced in half

1 ear corn, shucked
Olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 strips bacon, cooked and chopped
Peanut oil, for frying 

Salsify Honey Butter Dipping Sauce:

4 salsify stalks
1/2 cup honey
4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons sriracha
1 tablespoon cayenne
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 

Dipping sauce: Fill a medium saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Break the salsify stalks in half to release the milk inside, and boil for 10 minutes. Simmer for another 5 minutes. Take 1 cup of salsify stock and pour into another saucepan. Then add the honey, butter, sriracha, and cayenne. Season with salt and pepper. Bring back to a boil and simmer for another 10 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.

Hush puppies: Preheat the grill to high.

In a large bowl, toss the salsify and corn with a little olive oil and some salt and pepper. Add the salsify and corn to the grill, grilling on all sides until the salsify is fork tender and the corn looks charred. Remove from the grill.

Slice the corn kernels off the cob into a bowl. Chop the salsify into small cubes. Add to the bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

In another bowl, mix the buttermilk with the egg. Add to the salsify and corn, mixing to incorporate. Add the cornmeal, flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon salt and bacon. Mix together to form a thick batter.

Heat enough peanut oil to fry in a Dutch oven or cast-iron skillet to 350 degrees F. Drop golf ball size balls of batter in the oil, cooking until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes.

Remove from the fryer, sprinkle with salt and drizzle with dipping sauce. 


bacon recipe source: Chad Rosenthal, "A Star Is Chopped," Food Network Star, Food Network

3326. SPICY CHICKEN THIGHS and BACON STIR FRY

1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1/2" pieces

1 large egg white

1 tablespoon arrowroot or cornstarch

1/2 lb bacon, cut into 1 1/2" pieces

1" fresh ginger, cut into tiny matchsticks

2 bell peppers, any color, stemmed and cut into 1" pieces

1 bunch of green onions, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2" pieces

1 tablespoon chili paste
2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 cup soy sauce



In a large bowl, whisk together the arrowroot and the egg white. Toss the chicken pieces in this mixture and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar and chili paste and set aside.



Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the bacon pieces and cook, stirring frequently, until they are crisp and browned, approximately 7 minutes. Without draining the oil, add the chicken and the ginger to the pan. Cook over high heat until browned, approximately 3-4 minutes. Add the bell peppers and green onions and stir to combine. Cook over high heat, stirring until crisp tender.



Add the soy sauce mixture and stir to combine. Cook about two more minutes, until the sauce is thick enough to coat the meat and vegetables.


bacon recipe source: Mary Younkin, Barefeet In The Kitchen, January 6, 2012

3325. BRUSSELS SPROUTS with BACON and SUNFLOWER SEEDS

makes six servings


1 lb. Brussels sprouts, trimmed
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 slices bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled
2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
salt and ground pepper to taste

Cook Brussels sprouts in boiling, salt water in medium sauce pan 6 to 8 minutes or until tender crisp; drain. Cut Brussels sprouts in half, if desired. Saute Brussels sprouts in hot oil in large skillet with cooked bacon and sunflower seeds 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.


bacon recipe source: Dole Food Company, PO Box 5700, Thousand Oaks, CA 91359-5700

3324. CHICKEN, BACON and MUSHROOM STRUDEL

3 chicken breasts, chopped into generous mouthful-sized pieces½ cup of milk
½ cup of chicken stock
4 spring onions, finely chopped
4 rashers of streaky bacon, diced
450 grams of Swiss Brown mushrooms, sliced
2 cloves of crushed garlic
1 red capsicum, sliced
2 eggs, beaten
250 grams ricotta cheese
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
¼ cup grated Mozzarella cheese
1 bunch of parsley finely chopped
phyllo pastry
thyme
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 220°C (425ºF)

Fry onions, capsicum, garlic, bacon and onions in butter until just golden, add chicken pieces and all to color slightly before adding stock and milk.  Reduce heat and cook until chicken is tender and most of liquid has evaporated.  Add mushrooms and allow to soak up remaining liquid.    Allow to cool slightly before folding through ricotta and parmesan cheese, herbs and eggs.

Lay out the phyllo pastry over an oblong oven tray one sheet at a time brushing with butter or olive oil.  Layer up at least four sheets of pastry positioning it horizontally on the tray.  Spoon the filling onto one edge of the  pastry, leaving enough pastry at each end of the parcel to fold inwards. Form the filling into a long sausage and carefully roll the pastry over, leaving the 'seam' at the bottom.  Sprinkle Mozzarella cheese over the top of the parcel and bake in a moderately hot oven until the pastry is golden and crispy.

Can be served hot or cold with salad or vegetables.  Can also be rolled into individual parcels for lunches, canapés or entrées.

Bake in a hot oven for about 15 minutes, or until the pastry is just golden and crisp.


bacon recipe source: the cooking bug.com

3323. RED BLISS POTATO SALAD with BLUE CHEESE, BACON and CHIVES

serves 4-6


1 1/2 lb. Red Bliss potatoes
3 tablespoons coarse salt
1 1/2 oz. Danish blue cheese, plus more for garnish
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon red-wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon minced fresh chives, plus 1 teaspoon for garnish
8 bacon strips, cooked until crisp and crumbled

Place potatoes and the salt in a medium saucepan. Cover with water, and bring to a simmer. Cook until a knife pierces through potatoes with little resistance, about 12 minutes. Drain, and let cool slightly. Halve potatoes.

Meanwhile, mix blue cheese, buttermilk, vinegar, and mustard in a bowl until well combined.

Combine potatoes, dressing, chives, and almost all of the bacon in a large bowl. Garnish with blue cheese, chives, and remaining bacon.


bacon recipe source: Martha Stewart Living, "Salads with Substance," by Genevieve Ko, p. 74, June 2008

3322. GRILLED CHEESE with BACON, APPLE and SPROUTS

serves one


2 slices extra-sharp cheddar cheese
2 slices rye or sourdough bread
2 strips bacon, cooked
3 thin slices Granny Smith apple
1/2 cup assorted sprouts, such as radish or adzuki
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened, divided

Place one slice of cheese on one slice of bread. Layer bacon, apple, sprouts, and remaining slices of cheese and bread on top. Spread half the butter on top of sandwich. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat, and place sandwich, butter side down, in skillet. Spread remaining butter on top of sandwich. Cook until cheese is melted and bread is golden brown, flipping once, about 12 minutes.


bacon recipe source: Martha Stewart Living, p. 72, January 2013

3321. UDON NOODLES with CHICKEN and BACON

3 chicken thighs 1 onion (chopped)
2 tablespoons grated ginger
2 tablespoons crushed garlic
1 liter boiling water
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon sesame oil
3 pieces bacon
3 scallions (chopped)
½ cup mushrooms (chopped)
1 cup vegetables of your choice (i.e. frozen mix of baby corn, peppers, water chestnuts)
400 grams udon noodles
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
salt & pepper to taste

To serve:
sliced eggs
sliced scallions (green parts)
fried onions

The first thing to do is to make the broth. In a big soup pot, heat some vegetable oil. Sweat the onion, half the garlic and ginger. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken pieces, sauté for a couple of minutes. Then add the boiling water and bring the mixture to a boil. Cover the pot and simmer for half an hour. Then add the rest of the ginger, soy sauce and brown sugar. Mix it in thoroughly. Then simmer for further 15 minutes. Turn the heat down and put the mixture in a blender. In the same pot, add the bacon and the scallions. After the bacon has browned add the mushrooms, other vegetables and garlic. Stir in the oyster sauce and sauté for a further few minutes. Then stir in the noodles. Simmer for a further few minutes. Take it off the heat. Ladle the noodle dish onto bowls and serve topped with sliced eggs, scallions and fried onions.


bacon recipe source: Yummyfoodmadeeasy, November 30, 2012

3320. SMOKED HADDOCK and LEEK CHOWDER with BACON

serves four (generously)


600 grams natural (undyed) smoked haddock
500 ml milk
1 tablespoon olive oil
150 grams diced bacon
2 sticks of celery, thinly sliced
3 medium leeks, washed and sliced
2 bay leaves
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced into small cubes
500 ml fish or chicken stock
125 grams frozen sweetcorn, thawed
142ml carton single cream
2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh parsley 

Lay the haddock in a deep frying pan and pour over the milk. Cover and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and leave undisturbed for about 5minutes , until the haddock is just cooked. Lift the haddock from the milk, remove the skin and bones and flake onto a plate. Reserve the milk for later. 

Heat the oil in a large saucepan (preferably non-stick) and gently fry the bacon until starting to brown. Add the celery, leeks, bay leaves and potatoes, and cook for a couple of minutes. Pour in the stock and reserved milk. Bring to the simmer and cook for 10 minutes. 

Add the flaked haddock, sweetcorn and cream. Season with pepper (it shouldn’t need salt) and stir in the parsley. Heat through gently, then serve.


bacon recipe source: Jo Pratt, Good Food Magazine, February 2005

3319. BACON-CRUSTED TEXAS-STYLE BRISKET

serves 10-12


For the brisket and rub:
1 trimmed brisket (5 to 6 pounds) with a layer of fat and least 1/4-inch thick 

3 tablespoons chili powder 

1 tablespoon coarse (kosher or sea) salt 

2 teaspoons black pepper 

1-1/2 teaspoons brown sugar 

1-1/2 teaspoons garlic salt 

1-1/2 teaspoons onion powder 

1 teaspoon ground cumin 

1 teaspoon dried oregano 

1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

8 slices of bacon

For the mop sauce:


1 cup distilled white vinegar

1 cup beer

1 tablespoon garlic salt 

1 tablespoon brown sugar 

1 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes 

1 teaspoon black pepper

Other items needed:

6 cups hickory or oak wood chips or chunks, soaked for 1 hour in cold water 

or beer to cover, then drained 

Heavy-duty aluminum foil (optional)

Rinse the brisket under cold running water and blot dry with paper towels. Combine all the ingredients for the rub in a small bowl and stir to mix. Rub onto the brisket on all sides. Drape with the bacon. If you have the time, let the brisket stand in the refrigerator, covered, for 4 to 6 hours. Or, smoke the brisket right away. 

Combine the mop sauce ingredients in a nonreactive bowl and stir until the salt and brown sugar are dissolved.

Set up the grill for indirect grilling and preheat to low. If using a gas grill, place all the wood chips in the smoker box or in a smoker pouch and preheat on high until you see smoke, then reduce the heat to low. 

When ready to cook, if using a charcoal grill, toss 1 cup wood chips on the coals. Place the brisket, fat-side up, in an aluminum foil pan and place in the center of the hot grate, away from the heat, and cover the grill. Grill until the brisket is tender, about 6 to 8 hours (the cooking time will depend on the size of the brisket and the heat of the grill). Baste or mop the brisket with the mop sauce once an hour for the first 4 hours. If using a charcoal grill, you'll need to add 12 fresh coals and 1/2 cup of wood chips per side every hour.

If desired, wrap the brisket in heavy-duty aluminum foil for the last 1-1/2 to 2 hours of cooking time to prevent it from drying out. 

To test for doneness, use an instant-read meat thermometer; the internal temperature should be about 190 degrees F. 

Transfer the brisket to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Thinly slice across the grain, using an electric knife or sharp carving knife. Transfer the meat to plates or a platter and pour the pan juices on top.


bacon recipe source: How to Grill: The Complete Illustrated Book of Barbecue Techniques, A Barbecue Bible! Cookbook Paperback, by Steven Raichlen (Workman, 2001)

3318. BACON-APRICOT CORNBREAD with MAPLE ICE CREAM

yields one 8 x 8-inch cornbread, about 9 servings


Maple Ice Cream:
2 cups heavy cream
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 vanilla bean, split
5 egg yolks

Cornbread:
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup diced bacon
1 1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup whole milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup dried apricots, diced
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon molasses
2 tablespoons maple syrup, optional

To make the maple ice cream, combine the cream, syrup, sugar, and vanilla bean in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.

Meanwhile, beat the egg yolks until light and fluffy. Remove the vanilla bean from the cream mixture. By droplets at first, whisk the hot mixture into the yolks to temper them. Pour this back into the saucepan, set over medium-low heat and continue stirring until the mixture begins to thicken and give off steam; do not let it come to a boil. Remove from the heat and transfer to a clean bowl. Cover and refrigerate until chilled.

Churn this mixture in an ice-cream maker according to the manufacturer’s directions.

To make the cornbread, preheat the oven to 325˚F. Grease an 8 x 8-inch baking pan with one tablespoon of the butter. Coat with 2 tablespoons of flour and set aside.

Heat remaining tablespoon of butter in a saucepan over medium heat and add the bacon. Cook until the bacon is browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Combine the remaining 1 cup of flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and add buttermilk, milk, and eggs. Stir until just combined.

Combine apricots, honey, molasses, and cooked bacon with about a tablespoon of the bacon drippings and stir to combine. Pour cornbread mixture into prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.

Allow to cool slightly. Serve with a scoop maple ice cream.

If desired, you can combine any remaining bacon drippings with 2 tablespoons of maple syrup and drizzle over the top of the ice cream. You can also top with some additional cooked bacon bits.


bacon recipe source: Gabriel Rucker, Le Pigeon, 738 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214; James Beard Foundation, 167 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10011

3317. BACON TOMATO CAPELLINI

makes eight servings


2 16 oz. packages bacon
1/2 cup bacon grease, from the bacon you're cooking
2 28 oz. cans diced tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 bunch chopped green onions
2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 16 oz. box/package capellini

Fry bacon in a large frying pan, making sure it’s cooked thoroughly but not too crispy. Drain cooked bacon on paper towels, but don’t throw away the grease in the pan! You want to reserve 1/2 cup bacon grease. Dump the rest of the bacon grease out, then put the skillet back on the stove without cleaning it. When the bacon is cool, use your fingers to tear it into small pieces. Set your cooked, crumbled bacon aside.

Open your tomato cans and dump them into a large bowl. Throw in the chopped fresh basil and stir. You want to be able to see the basil, distributed evenly in the tomatoes, so if you have to add more, you can. Set this bowl aside and let the flavors mingle while you do the next step.

Dice your garlic, and chop your green onions. Pour your 1/2 cup of bacon grease back into the skillet and heat it to medium. Throw in and saute your garlic and onions. When they’re getting a nice tan from the color of the bacon grease, add your bacon. On low heat, saute the bacon together with the garlic and onions for around ten minutes. When you start getting high from the smell in your kitchen, pour in the bowl of tomatoes and basil. Stir together really well, bring to a boil and then cover and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and add salt if necessary.

Meanwhile, in a large pot, cook your pasta according the directions on the package. Drain noodles and set aside. Right before serving, in a very large bowl, add the bacon/tomato sauce to the noodles and mix well.


bacon recipe source: Amy Johnson, She Wears Many Hats; on Tasty Kitchen, August 2010

3316. BACON-WRAPPED MASALA CHICKEN

12-15 pieces of chicken (drumsticks, thighs or breast) skin removed

Lemon/chili marinade
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
salt to taste (about 1 tablespoon)
1/2 teaspoon of turmeric
1 teaspoon of red chili powder (or to taste)

Yogurt marinade
1 cup of yogurt
1 teaspoon of garam masala
1 tablespoon of paprika
1 tablespoon of cumin
4-5 cloves of garlic grated
2 tablespoons of grated ginger
1 teaspoon onion powder or some pulverized onion
black pepper

Clean and skin your chicken pieces. Cut a few slits into each piece of chicken so the marinate can absorb all the way to the bone. Mix the lemon juice/chili marinade and apply it to each piece of chicken making sure that the marinate gets into each slit. Allow to sit for a few minutes while you make the yogurt marinate. Next apply the yogurt marinate all over the chicken pieces. At this point you want let the chicken sit in the fridge overnight or 8-12 hours so it soaks up all the flavors.

Wrap a slice of bacon around each piece of chicken. Place on a foil lined baking sheet (sprayed with cooking sprayed or lightly greased). Bake in a 375 degree oven for 1 hour until chicken is cooked through and bacon is crispy.

Serve with rice, naan, raita or any curry meal.


bacon recipe source: Ramona, Curry and Comfort, July 9, 2013

3315. BBQ CHICKEN, APPLE, BACON and CHEDDAR QUESADILLAS

makes 4 quesadillas


2 small chicken breasts, cooked & shredded
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
4 burrito-sized flour tortillas
1-1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1 apple, chopped
6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

Mix shredded chicken with BBQ sauce (may not use all sauce.) Spray a large skillet with non-stick spray then add two tortillas, propped against each other in the center so only half of each tortilla is laying on the bottom of the skillet. Sprinkle 2-1/2 Tablespoons cheese on the bottom of each tortilla followed by 1/4 of the chicken, 1/4 of the chopped apple, and 1/4 of the crumbled bacon. Top with 2-1/2 more Tablespoons cheese then fold tortillas over.

Turn heat to medium then cook until bottom side is golden brown. Flip then cook until second side is golden brown. Remove to a cutting board then let rest for 5 minutes before cutting into wedges with a pizza cutter. Repeat with remaining ingredients then serve.


bacon recipe source: Kristin Porter, Iowa Girl Eats, February 11, 2013

3314. GRILLED COTSWOLD CHEESE SANDWICH with BACON and THOUSAND ISLAND DRESSING

yields four sandwiches

 

 

8 strips thick-cut maple-glazed bacon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more as needed
8 slices sourdough bread
12 ounces cotswold cheese (double Gloucester with chives) or cheddar, shredded
4 tablespoons Thousand Island dressing

 

Cook the bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Remove and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Wipe out the skillet.

Heat the butter in the skillet over medium heat. Add 2 bread slices. Top each with one-quarter of the cheese and 2 strips bacon. Spread 2 bread slices with some of the dressing and press them on top of the sandwiches, dressing-side down. Cook until the cheese melts and the bread is golden, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Repeat to make 2 more sandwiches, adding more butter as needed.

bacon recipe source: Greg Morris, Food Network Magazine

3313. GRILLED CORN with BACON BUTTER and COTIJA CHEESE

makes six ears


6 ears of corn
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 tablespoons butter, softened
2 slices bacon, fried and crumbled
3-4 ounces cotija cheese, crumbled
fresh cilantro for garnish
black pepper

Preheat your grill on the highest setting. Shuck corn ears and brush each with olive oil and sprinkle with pepper. Wrap each in a square of aluminum foil – just so there is one layer cover the corn. Grill for about 5 minutes each “side,” rotating corn 4-5 times during grilling. While grilling corn, combine softened butter with crumbled bacon. Crumble cotija cheese on a large plate.

Once corn is finished, let sit for about 5 minutes to cool a bit before serving. The corn will still be very hot. Serve with a brush for the bacon butter, the plate of cotija to roll the corn in, and a bunch of fresh cilantro for garnish.


bacon recipe source: Jessica, How Sweet It Is, July 20, 2011

3312. BREAKFAST TORTA with BACON, EGGS and CHIPOTLE GUACAMOLE

serves four


4 Mexican rolls (telera or bolillo)

1 (16-ounce) can refried pinto beans

1/2 pound thick-cut bacon 

8 eggs  

2 avocados 

1 tablespoon fresh juice from about 1 lime 

Handful fresh cilantro leaves, chopped 

1/2 white onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup) 

1 garlic clove, minced (about 1 teaspoon) 

1 chipotle chile en adobo  

2 ounces queso fresco, crumbled 

 

Preheat oven to 400°F. Wrap rolls in aluminum foil and place in the oven to warm.

 

Heat refried beans in a small saucepan over medium-low, stirring occasionally to keep from sticking on the bottom. Alternatively, heat in the microwave on medium heat, stirring every 30 seconds until hot. Taste and season with a pinch of salt if necessary.

 

Cook bacon in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, flipping occasionally, until crisp. Remove slices with tongs and drain on paper towels. Add 1/2 tablespoon bacon fat to refried beans and stir well. Drain fat remaining fat into a bowl and set aside.

 

Crack 4 eggs into large bowl, season with a pinch of salt, and whisk until combined. Heat 1 tablespoon of reserved bacon fat in the now-empty skillet over medium heat until shimmering, then add the whisked eggs. Tilt the pan so eggs evenly coat the bottom, and cook until set and just starting to brown on the bottom, about 1 minute. Use a spatula to fold the eggs like an omelet, and continue cooking until lightly browned. Flip and brown on the other side. Transfer the cooked eggs to a plate. Repeat process with more bacon fat and remaining eggs. Cut both sheets of egg in half, to make four sheets.

 

Cut avocados in half, remove the pits, and scoop the flesh into a bowl. Mash with the back back of a fork. Stir in lime juice, cilantro, onion, garlic, and chipotle. Season to taste with salt.

 

When warm, remove rolls from the oven and discard aluminum foil. Cut each in half horizontally, and use your fingers to remove some of the excess interior of the rolls. For the bottom halves, smear the cut-side with a few tablespoons of refried beans and add a sheet of egg and 2 slices of bacon. For the top halves, smear the cut-side with a few tablespoons of the guacamole and sprinkle queso fresco. Place the top halves on the bottom halves. Slice vertically crosswise and serve immediately.

 

 

bacon recipe source: Nick Kindelsperger (@nickdk), "Dinner Tonight," Serious Eats, March 17, 2014

3311. BACON-LETTUCE-AVOCADO-SERRANO-TOMATO DOGS

serves 12-16


24 halved serrano peppers
1 small red onion, sliced
A small handful cilantro or parsley leaves
1 teaspoon coriander seed
1/2 cup rice wine or white wine vinegar
1 cup water
4 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons kosher or coarse sea salt
1 pound good-quality smoky, thick-cut bacon
3 avocados, sliced
2 limes
3 vine-ripe tomatoes, halved and sliced
Celery salt and pepper
12-16 hot dogs, pork or beef
12-16 hot dog rolls, brioche, potato or roll of choice
Shredded iceberg or romaine heart
Ketchup and mustard

Place the serrano peppers and onion in a small container with the cilantro or parsley leaves and coriander seed. Bring the vinegar, water, sugar and salt to a low boil in a small saucepan and pour over the top of the peppers. Cool and store several hours or overnight.

Pre-heat the oven to 375°F.

Arrange the bacon on a slotted broiler pan and bake to crisp, 20 minutes.

Dress the sliced avocado with lime juice. Dress the tomatoes with celery salt and pepper.

Par-boil the hot dogs fpr a few minutes in simmering water to heat through, then crisp up the casings on a grill or griddle. Toast the rolls.

Fill the rolls with sliced crisp bacon, lettuce, avocado, serrano peppers, tomatoes and dogs and top with drizzles of ketchup and mustard.


bacon recipe source: Rachael Ray.com, July 3, 2013

3310. BACON COTIJA GUACAMOLE

4 strips bacon (preferably uncured applewood-smoked bacon)
1 tablespoon finely chopped serrano chile pepper
3 Hass avocados
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup crumbled cotija cheese, plus more if desired

Tortilla chips, for serving

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Lay the bacon on the baking sheet in a single layer and transfer to the oven. Let the bacon cook for 20 to 25 minutes, until just crispy, turning the bacon over once in the middle of the cooking time. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and transfer the bacon to a paper towel–lined plate to cool. Once the bacon is cool enough to touch, chop it into bite-size pieces and set aside.

Cut each avocado in half lengthwise. Remove the pit from the avocado and discard. Remove the avocado from the skin, and place the avocado flesh in a bowl.

Add the cilantro, cotija cheese, serrano pepper, lime juice, salt, and pepper to the bowl. Mash with a fork until half smooth and half chunky. Fold in half of the bacon. Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired. Garnish the guacamole with the remaining bacon, and add more crumbled cotija cheese if desired.

Serve immediately with tortilla chips.

bacon recipe source: Gaby Dalkin, What's Gaby Cooking, December 10, 2013