Description
Cranberry bacon jam brings together sweet and savory flavors in a rich spread perfect for holiday gatherings. Homemade condiments elevate your charcuterie boards and sandwiches with complex, irresistible taste.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) bacon, diced
- 1 cup (100 g) fresh or frozen cranberries
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Bacon Preparation: Render diced bacon in a cast-iron skillet over moderate heat until golden and crisp. Reserve two tablespoons of bacon fat in the skillet, placing browned bacon on a paper towel-lined surface.
- Aromatics Infusion: Sauté diced onions in the reserved bacon fat until translucent. Add minced garlic and briefly toast to release its aromatic essence.
- Flavor Transformation: Introduce cranberries, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, paprika, and cinnamon to the skillet. Simmer over medium heat, allowing cranberries to burst and the mixture to reduce and thicken into a glossy, rich consistency.
- Texture Development: Reintegrate crispy bacon pieces into the cranberry mixture, stirring thoroughly to distribute flavors. Continue simmering to develop a complex, harmonious profile.
- Final Refinement: Optional: Use a food processor or immersion blender to gently pulse the jam, maintaining a rustic, slightly chunky texture. Cool completely before transferring to a clean glass container. Serve at room temperature as a versatile condiment that beautifully balances sweet and savory notes.
Notes
- Manage Bacon Rendering: Control heat carefully to prevent burning and ensure even, crispy bacon without excessive charring.
- Balance Sweet and Tangy Flavors: Adjust maple syrup and apple cider vinegar ratios to create a harmonious flavor profile that doesn’t become overly sweet or acidic.
- Control Liquid Reduction: Monitor skillet moisture during simmering to achieve desired jam-like consistency without becoming too dry or runny.
- Texture Customization: Pulse mixture minimally when blending to maintain rustic chunks, allowing for varied mouthfeel and visual appeal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg