This savory and sweet jam combines crisp hickory-smoked bacon with deeply caramelized onions and a splash of bourbon. The mixture cooks down slowly into a rich, thick spread that balances salty pork with tangy apple cider vinegar and a hint of fresh thyme. It is an excellent condiment to keep on hand for upgrading burgers, building impressive cheese boards, or adding a smoky bite to a simple grilled cheese sandwich.
Cook
8 min
Servings
4
Ingredients
4 hickory-smoked bacon slices, chopped
5½ cups thin sweet onion strips
½ cup sugar
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp. bourbon
Pinch of dried crushed red pepper
1½ tsp. chopped fresh thyme
¼ tsp. salt
Instructions
1Cook the chopped bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 6 to 8 minutes until crisp. Remove the bacon and drain it on paper towels. Leave 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings in the skillet.
2Place the sliced onions into the skillet with the reserved drippings. Cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions turn a deep caramel color. Stir in the sugar until it dissolves completely.
3Pour in the apple cider vinegar, bourbon, crushed red pepper, fresh thyme, and salt. Cook for 5 minutes until the liquid reduces to a syrupy consistency. Return the cooked bacon to the skillet and continue cooking for another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens into a rich marmalade.