Bacon Jelly: A Surprisingly Delicious and Easy Recipe
Bacon and jelly? It sounds like an odd combination, but trust us, this bacon jelly recipe is a flavor explosion that will surprise and delight your taste buds. This savory-sweet spread is perfect for adding a unique twist to your breakfast, pairing with cheese and crackers, or even as a glaze for meats. It's easier to make than you think, and the results are undeniably impressive. This recipe is fully optimized for search engines, incorporating relevant keywords naturally throughout the text.
Ingredients You'll Need for This Bacon Jelly Recipe:
This recipe is designed to be both easy to follow and yield a delicious result. You probably already have many of these ingredients in your pantry!
- 1 pound bacon: Choose your favorite cut – thick-cut, center-cut, whatever you prefer! The smokiness will be the star of this recipe.
- 1 cup bacon grease: Save that precious grease! This is crucial for the flavor of the jelly.
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar: Adds a tangy counterpoint to the richness of the bacon.
- 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped: Adds a subtle savory depth to the jelly.
- 1/4 cup brown sugar: Balances the saltiness of the bacon with a touch of sweetness.
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce: Adds a complex umami flavor.
- 1 package (1.75 ounces) powdered pectin: This is what helps the jelly set properly. Don't skip this!
- 1/2 cup water: Needed to properly activate the pectin.
Step-by-Step Instructions: Making Your Bacon Jelly
Follow these simple steps to create your own batch of this surprisingly addictive bacon jelly.
Step 1: Cook the Bacon
- Crisp up your bacon: Cook the bacon until it’s perfectly crisp. Remove the bacon from the pan and set aside to cool. Reserve the bacon grease.
Step 2: Prepare the Bacon Grease Mixture
- Measure your bacon grease: Make sure you have at least 1 cup of bacon grease. More is fine, less might affect the setting.
- Sauté the onions: Gently sauté the finely chopped onion in the bacon grease until softened. This will infuse the grease with onion flavor.
Step 3: Combine and Simmer
- Mix the ingredients: Add the brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce to the pot. Bring this mixture to a simmer.
- Add the pectin and water: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the powdered pectin and water until smooth. Slowly add this mixture to the simmering pot, whisking constantly to prevent clumping.
- Simmer for one minute: Keep whisking constantly! This ensures the pectin is fully activated.
Step 4: Crumble and Add Bacon
- Crumble the bacon: Crumble the cooled bacon into small pieces.
- Stir in the bacon: Stir the crumbled bacon into the jelly mixture.
Step 5: Jar and Cool
- Sterilize your jars: It's important to sterilize your jars and lids to prevent spoilage.
- Fill the jars: Carefully ladle the hot bacon jelly into your sterilized jars, leaving about 1/4 inch of headspace.
- Seal the jars: Seal the jars tightly with the lids and rings.
- Process in a boiling water bath (optional but recommended): For longer shelf life, process the jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. This ensures proper sealing and prevents spoilage.
Serving Suggestions for Your Homemade Bacon Jelly
This versatile spread has so many possibilities!
- Breakfast spread: Pair it with cream cheese and bagels, biscuits, or even toast.
- Cheese and crackers: A fantastic addition to a cheeseboard.
- Meat glaze: Use it as a delicious glaze for grilled or roasted meats – pork tenderloin, chicken, or even burgers.
- Gift it!: Homemade bacon jelly makes a unique and delicious gift.
Tips for Success
- Don’t skimp on the bacon grease: The flavor is key!
- Use good quality bacon: This impacts the overall taste.
- Sterilize your jars: This is crucial for safety and shelf life.
This bacon jelly recipe is sure to become a new favorite in your kitchen! Enjoy the surprising and delicious results of this unique culinary creation. Remember to share your culinary adventures using #baconjelly on social media!
