Every year, I like to give friends homemade treats. I gather recipes from various sources throughout the year (okay, mostly from the ‘edible Christmas presents’ blog posts that pop up at the end of the year) and experiment with them. I have the staples, the tried and true recipes that make an appearance every year, but I also like to try new things. This is what I tried this year.
I made this mainly for a Canadian friend who LOVES her bacon. As the recipe also incorporates maple syrup, how could I resist?
recipe from YumSugar
Ingredients
500g smoked bacon
1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
5 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons sriracha, plus more to taste
1 cup coffee
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, plus more to taste
1/4 cup maple syrup, preferably grade B
Freshly cracked black pepper
Slice the bacon into 2cm strips then cook in batches until it’s lightly browned and just starting to crisp. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.
Add the onion and garlic. Cook until soft and translucent, 10-12 minutes.
Return the bacon to the pan. Add the brown sugar, sriracha, coffee, apple cider vinegar and maple syrup. Bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat and allow to simmer, stirring every now and then to prevent sticking until it has a thick, jam-like consistency and a deep, rich brown color (approx 3-4 hours).
Allow to cool and then transfer to a food processor. Pulse for several seconds to finely chop and blend the jam. Allow the solids to settle and then skim off any fate. Season to taste with additional vinegar, sriracha and salt.
Serve at room temperature with crackers, crostini, or on a burger.
