Cherry Bacon Jam With Thyme And Cloves Recipes

THREE-ONION CHERRY JAM

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, over medium heat, heat the oil. Add the yellow onion, red onion, and shallots to the pan and stir well. Season the onions with salt, and pepper, to taste.
• When the onions have cooked down and they are deepening in color, deglaze the pan with the red wine. Let the wine cook until reduced and absorbed by the onions. Cook the onions for about 5 minutes more, then add the cherry juice and red wine vinegar. Reduce the heat to medium-low heat, and let cook at a slow simmer. Add the thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf. Let the onions cook down until they start taking on a soft texture and the liquid is reduced and absorbed by the onions. Stir in 2 tablespoons brown sugar and honey. Cook, stirring occasionally until the liquid has reduced and the onions have absorbed most of the liquid, about 8 to 10 minutes. Taste the mixture and add more sugar if it is too tart. Test the consistency of the jam by drizzling a spoonful of it onto a plate and letting it cool. It should be thick and not runny. If it is too runny, simmer the mixture longer until more liquid is cooked out.
• Serve the jam with pork, beef, chicken, or fish, or try it with roasted vegetables.

SIMPLE ONION AND BACON JAM

Steps:

• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until fat has rendered and bacon is evenly browned but not yet crisped, about 5 minutes.
• Remove all but 2 tablespoons of bacon fat. Add onions to the pan with the bacon and cook, stirring frequently, over medium heat until onions are soft and lightly browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Lower heat to a simmer and add balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, and 1 tablespoon water.
• Simmer until jam comes together, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in remaining tablespoon water and remove from heat.

CHICORY ROASTED WITH THYME & BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to fan 180C/conventional 200C/gas 6. Trim away the stalk ends of the heads of chicory, discard any limp outer leaves and quarter the vegetables lengthways.
• Brush a shallow baking dish with 2 tbsp olive oil, then add the chicory. Tuck the bay leaves and thyme sprigs in between the chicory, scatter the peeled whole garlic cloves on top and drizzle over 2 more tbsp olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
• Cut the bacon into strips and scatter over the chicory, then return the dish, uncovered, to the oven for about 30 minutes until the bacon is crisp. Serve straight from the oven, with hunks of wholemeal bread.

BACON JAM

Steps:

• Cook and stir bacon in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until bacon starts to brown, about 10 minutes; drain grease, retaining 1/4 of the drippings. Stir onions into bacon and drippings; cook and stir until soft, about 10 minutes. Stir in brown sugar; cook until onions are sticky and browned, about 5 more minutes. Mix in garlic, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cook and stir until garlic is soft, about 5 minutes.
• Mix in bourbon whiskey, coffee, sherry vinegar, and maple syrup. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and cook until the bacon jam is thickened but not completely dry, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, about 35 minutes. Mix in ketchup and cook 5 more minutes.
• Remove from heat, let the bacon jam cool, and pulse in a food processor to a slightly chunky, spreadable consistency. Bacon jam will store in the refrigerator, covered, up to 2 weeks.