This homemade bacon jam recipe is so easy to make! It's a delicious spread to use on toast, as a sandwich spread, on a crostini as an appetizer, and more!
My love for bacon is no secret, nor is my love for wine.
Do the two pair well together? Despite my favorite line "everything is better with bacon," not every wine pairs well with the beloved meat candy.
One wine that does pair well with bacon: Gallo Family Vineyards' Hearty Burgundy.
Gallo Family Vineyards Hearty Burgundy
Recently, Gallo Family Vineyard's celebrated its 50th anniversary of its iconic red blend, Hearty Burgundy.
Winemakers Ernest and Julio Gallo first introduced this red blend in 1964. It's a fuller medium-bodied blend, comprised of delicious dark berry and plum notes. I like that it's not too oaky, nor too fruity: it's somewhere in the "just right" category for each of those descriptors.
The Gallo brothers loved how this blend reminded them of wines they would enjoy in Italy at meal times surrounded by family. After tasting it myself, I could quickly see how this was an ideal wine to share with friends and family over great conversation and hearty laughs. It is definitely MY kind of red wine: big, bold, full of deep, dark berry flavor with each sip.
You could easily pair this wine with any number of hefty, meaty meals. It would go beautifully with such as with steak frites, a big bowl of my Tri-Pepper Pasta, or even my Sausage and Peppers dish.
But I wanted to pair this with appetizers that would work well for entertaining guests. It does, after all, come in a 1.5 liter bottle, which is the perfect size bottle to enjoy with friends!
You already know I'm going the bacon direction here, right? I quickly decided to pair this with two bacon dishes: Bacon Jam and Bacon Wrapped Dates Stuffed with Goat Cheese.
And I didn't have to wait until International Bacon Day to make them. As luck would have it, I was hosting the next Bunco night. The perfect opportunity to share and test out the pairings!
How do you make bacon jam?
Making jam is fairly simple, but time consuming. At least, it is for this working mother of two younger kids. Is it worth it? YES. Absolutely. I have the full bacon jam recipe and directions at the bottom of this post.
The basic bacon jam recipe is:
- cook the bacon in a skillet
- remove bacon and sauté onions and garlic, making sure to scrape up all that yummy bacon bit goodness that might be stuck to the pan
- then you add the cider vinegar, maple syrup, and the bacon back to the pan and simmer.
- next, place the entire mixture in a slow cooker and cook on high for 3.5 to 4 hours. Finally, you blend the mixture in a food processor.
The ingredients and steps are simple (but like I said, just time consuming), and in the end you get about 2.5 cups of tasty Bacon Jam!
I served it with goat cheese and sliced baguette. You can also serve this on toast for breakfast; as a condiment with a tasty sandwich; or smother it over some pork chops for dinner. It's versatile, and it keeps in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks (if it lasts that long!).
Hearty Burgundy Pairing With Bacon Jam
How did this appetizer fare with the Gallo Family Vineyards Hearty Burgundy? I personally enjoyed it. I thought the berries in the Hearty Burgundy brought out the sweetness of the Bacon Jam.
A reminder: when it comes to wine pairings, go with your gut, and follow your taste buds. Just as we don't all taste wines the same, our palettes don't all agree with certain pairings. You won't know until you try -- and I definitely think you should at least try this pairing (because it's delicious!!).
Bacon Jam
Ingredients
- 8 slices bacon
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a skillet.
- Once cooked, remove bacon and all but one tablespoon of reserve bacon fat. Sauté onions and garlic, making sure to gently scrape up all that yummy bacon bit goodness that might be stuck to the pan.
- Then add the cider vinegar, maple syrup, and brown sugar to the pan, and add the bacon back to the pan, and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Next, place the entire mixture in a slow cooker and cook on high for 2 to 3 hours or on low for 4-5 hours.
- Finally, blend the mixture in a food processor. Serve immediately or let cool to room temperature, and then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
Disclosure: this post is sponsored by Gallo Family Vineyards, and I am compensated as part of the Mom It Forward blogger network. All photos and opinions are my own.
Ranch Office says
Thanks for this awesome recipe! Glad I stopped by.
Ann says
Sounds good! What are the measurements of the ingredients for the bacon jam?
Dates are excellent and a huge hit at our work party!
san francisco County virtual office space says
Fantastic web site. Plenty of helpful info here. I'm sending it to a few friends ans additionally sharing in delicious.
And naturally, thanks in your effort!
Kimberly Carlson says
Those look DELICIOUS! Bacon wrapped dates are my favorite new party dish.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Thanks, Jane!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Mary Ann, they are SO good -- it's the only way I will eat dates! :) Thanks for pinning!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
All bacon, all the time! ;)
Jane {In the Pink and Green} says
I LOVE bacon, so these recipes are right up my alley! They both look delicious, thanks for sharing!
Mary Ann says
Yum! Those dates look amazing! Who doesn't love bacon everything, right? Pinned your recipe for later!
Pech says
Yay for sharing bacon jam recipes! It's true, bacon IS a gateway food!