Spicy Marinated Bacon Recipes

SWEET AND SPICY BACON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Stir together brown sugar, cayenne, and black pepper in a small bowl.
• Arrange bacon slices in l layer on a large broiler pan and bake in middle of oven (or upper third of oven if baking with eggs) 20 minutes. Turn slices over and sprinkle evenly with spiced sugar. Continue baking until bacon is crisp and brown, 15 to 20 minutes more, then transfer to paper towels to drain.

SPICY BROWN SUGAR BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• Cut bacon lengthwise into nine 1/4- to 1/2-inch-thick slices.
• Line a baking sheet with foil and place a cooling rack into the baking sheet. Coat the cooling rack with cooking spray.
• Whisk together the sugar, cayenne, paprika, 2 teaspoons pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a pie dish. Pour 1/2 cup of the maple syrup into a small bowl.
• Brush both sides of each slice of bacon with maple syrup. Press the bacon, one slice at a time, into the brown sugar mixture to coat. Arrange on the greased wire rack. Sprinkle the bacon with the leftover brown sugar mixture.
• Bake, rotating halfway through, until the bacon is cooked and the sugar is dark and caramelized, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Transfer the bacon to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Let cool completely. (Bacon can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.)
• Meanwhile, whisk together the red pepper flakes and remaining 1/4 cup maple syrup in a small bowl. Drizzle the bacon with the red pepper-maple syrup or serve on the side for dipping.

SPICED BACON

Steps:

• Arrange 6 slices thick-cut bacon on a rack set on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F until they just start to crisp, 12 to 14 minutes.
• Microwave 2 tablespoons sugar with 1 teaspoon water until dissolved, about 45 seconds. Flip the bacon and brush the tops with the sugar mixture.
• Sprinkle with seasonings (such as chili powder, pie spice or Cajun seasoning). Continue baking until browned, 12 to 16 more minutes. Drain on paper towels.

SPICY CANDIED BACON

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 cup brown sugar and 2 1/2 teaspoons gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes) and spread on a plate. Coat one 12-ounce package thick-cut bacon in the sugar mixture, pressing each slice on both sides to adhere.
• Lay the bacon on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 325˚ F, rotating the pan and flipping the bacon halfway through, until the bacon is dark brown and caramelized, 30 to 40 minutes. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds on both sides, then let cool completely to harden.

HOMEMADE BACON

Steps:

• Rinse the pork belly and pat dry. Transfer to a resealable 2-gallon plastic bag. To make the spice rub, mix the kosher salt, pink salt, brown sugar, honey, red pepper flakes, paprika and cumin in a bowl. Coat the pork belly all over with the mixture.
• Close the bag and refrigerate 7 to 10 days, flipping once a day, until the pork belly feels firm. It should take 7 days for a thin belly that is about 11/2 inches thick, longer for a belly that's 2 to 3 inches thick.
• Remove the pork belly from the bag, rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Refrigerate the belly on a rack, uncovered, 48 hours.
• Set up your smoker according to the manufacturer's instructions using applewood chips, and set to 200 degrees F. Smoke the pork belly 3 hours, or until the bacon reaches an internal temperature of 150 degrees F.
• Remove the rind (optional), then slice and cook as desired. To store, wrap the bacon in plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 1 week or freeze up to 2 months.
• Pink curing salt is a mix of salt and sodium nitrite. It keeps the meat pink and protects it from bacteria. You can find it at specialty food stores or online.

SPICY BACON-WRAPPED WATER CHESTNUTS II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cut each strip of bacon in half. Wrap one strip around one water chestnut. Secure with a wooden toothpick. Place in shallow baking dish.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 minutes.
• While the wraps are baking, in a small mixing bowl combine brown sugar, mayonnaise, and chili sauce to make barbecue sauce. After the wraps have finished baking, transfer them (removing them from the grease) to a second shallow baking dish. Pour the sauce over the wraps.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 to 15 additional minutes, or until bacon is crispy. Serve hot out of dish with toothpicks.