Chef John's Bacon Jam Recipe

Name: Chef John's Bacon Jam
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds bacon, chopped; 2 teaspoons butter; 4 large yellow onions, diced; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1/4 cup sherry vinegar; 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, divided; 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1 pinch cayenne pepper; 1/2 cup water; 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar; 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds bacon, chopped
2 teaspoons butter
4 large yellow onions, diced
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sherry vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, divided
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1/2 cup water
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

	PREP TIME 15m	COOK TIME 30m	TOTAL TIME 45m
YIELD 12 servings

Instructions

Place bacon in a large, heavy-bottomed pot and cook over medium heat until bacon is crispy and the rendered fat is foaming, about 10 minutes.
Pour bacon and rendered fat into a strainer placed over a bowl to drain fat.
When fat is drained and bacon is cool enough to handle, remove bacon to a cutting board and finely chop.
Return pot to medium heat; drizzle 2 teaspoons reserved bacon fat and butter in pan.
Saute onions and 1 teaspoon salt until soft and translucent, 7 to 10 minutes.
Stir brown sugar, sherry vinegar, 1 teaspoon thyme leaves, black pepper, and cayenne into onion mixture; add bacon.
Stir water into bacon mixture and cook until jam is a brick-brown bacon color and has a jam consistency, 10 to 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon thyme into jam; stir until shiny and heated through.