Tag: bacon

Spinach, Bacon and Raw Mushroom Salad

Although not called for in the original recipe, the addition of crumbled blue cheese is delicious.

18 rashers bacon
15 oz. baby spinach
1/2 lb. button mushrooms, thinly sliced
4 tbs. olive oil
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 heaped tsp. Dijon mustard

Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crisp and set aside. Leave the drippings to cool a bit, then stir in the lemon juice and the mustard.

Tip the spinach into a large bowl and crumble in the bacon. Drizzle over the dressing from the skillet and toss well. Check the seasonings and serve.

Serves 4

 

Warm Potato Salad

Here is a wonderful, non-mayo version of potato salad.

4 lb. new potatoes
4 green onions, sliced
1 tbs. garlic-infused olive oil
8 slices bacon
2 tsp. white wine vinegar
1 tbs. whole grain mustard

Bring a pan of salted water to a boil and tip in the potatoes. Cook for 20 minutes, or until tender. Drain and cut into bite-sized pieces. Put them into a large bowl with the green onions.

Heat the olive oil in a skillet and cook the bacon until crisp. Remove to a paper towel to drain. Take the skillet off the heat and stir the vinegar and mustard into the remaining oil. Pour into the bowl and toss everything together gently. Season. Crumble over the bacon and serve warm or at room temperature.

Serves 10-12

Barbecue Beef Mince

Serve this in warmed buns like a sloppy joe, in tortillas with shredded cheddar on in jacket potatoes.

1 celery stalk, cut into chunks
2 onions, peeled and quartered
2 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
3 garlic cloves, peeled
5 rashers bacon
2 tbs. vegetable oil
3 tbs. dark brown sugar
pinch ground cloves
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
1 lb. ground beef
1 x 14oz. can chopped tomatoes
3 tbs. Worcestershire sauce
3 tbs. bourbon
2 tbs. tomato paste

Tip the celery, onions, carrots, garlic and bacon into a food processor and blitz to a nubbly paste. Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan and add the veg. Cook for 15-20 minutes over a low heat. Stir in 1 tbs. of the brown sugar, cloves and allspice. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon as you go. Season well and tip in the tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, bourbon, tomato paste and remaining 2 tbs. brown sugar. Simmer for 25-30 minutes, adding a bit more water is needed.

Serves 4

 

Pasta with Garlic Oil and Bacon

 

Simple perfection!

2 tbs. garlic-infused olive oil
1/2 lb. bacon lardons or pancetta
1/2 lb. pasta
shaved Parmesan, to serve

Heat the oil in a skillet and cook the bacon until crisp. Turn off the heat and set aside.

Boil a large pot of water and salt it well. Cook the pasta according to the packet directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water and drain. Tip the pasta into the skillet and toss well, adding enough pasta water to make a creamy sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan to serve.

Serves 2

Chicken, Bacon and Avocado Salad

Yet another use for rotisserie chicken!

1 tsp. garlic-infused olive oil
4 slices bacon
1/2 iceberg lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
3 cups shredded, cooked chicken
2 small avocados, scooped into chunks
3 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tbs. seasoned rice vinegar
pepper to taste
splash more olive oil, if needed
1 tbs. chopped chives, to serve

Heat the oil in a skillet and cook the bacon until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel to cool, then crumble. Do do throw out the oil in the pan.

Put the lettuce, chicken, avocado and bacon in a large bowl. Add the mustard and vinegar along with a good grinding of pepper to the skillet and whisk to combine. Pour over the salad and toss to dress. Drizzle in more olive oil, if needed. Sprinkle with the chives, to serve.

Serves 3-4

Pronto Pig Feast

Here is a double quick, double pork supper!

2 tbs. garlic-infused olive oil
4 thin, streaky slices bacon
6 pork escallops (medallions cut from a pork tenderloin)
1/3 cup Marsala
1 tbs. butter
2 tbs. chopped fresh chives

Heat the oil in a non-stick skillet and fry the bacon until crisp. Remove and set aside. Add the pork and cook for 4-5 minute on each side, depending on how thick they are. Remove and cover with foil. Tip the Marsala and butter into the skillet and bubble to reduce.

Pour the sauce over the pork, crumble the bacon on top and scatter with chives to serve.

Serves 2

Chicken Schnitzel with Bacon and White Wine

Bacon makes anything better and here it is sprinkled over chicken in a quick white wine pan sauce.

1 tsp. garlic-infused olive oil
4 strips bacon
4 chicken escallops or large tenders
1/3 cup white wine

Put the oil in a skillet with the bacon. Cook until the bacon is crisp, then remove and wrap if foil.

Add the chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until cooked through. You want a high heat so the chicken catches in places. Remove to a serving plate and quickly crumble the bacon on top. Pour the wine into the skillet and let it bubble up, then pour over the chicken and bacon

Serves 4

Warm Potato Salad

What a wonderful divergence from cold potato salad tossed with mayonnaise!

4 1/2 lbs. baby potatoes
4 scallions, finely sliced
1 tbs. garlic-infused olive oil
8 slices bacon, sliced
1-2 tsp. white vinegar
1 tbs. wholegrain mustard

Bring a pan of water to a boil and tip in the potatoes. Cook for 20 minute, or until tender. Drain and put into a large bowl with the scallions.

Heat the oil in the same pan and add the bacon, then cook until crispy. Remove from the pan. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the vinegar and mustard. Tip into the bowl, toss everything together and scatter with the bacon.

Serves 10-12

Chicken Schnitzel with Bacon and White Wine

This speedy supper will satisfy everyone!!
1 tsp. garlic-infused olive oil
4 strips bacon
4 x 4 oz. chicken escalopes or boned and skinner breast tenders or thighs
1/3 cup white wine

Put the oil in a skillet and add the bacon. Fry until the bacon is cooked and the pan is full of bacon juices. Remove the bacon to a piece of foil and wrap to keep warm. Fry the chicken for 2-3 minutes per side, depending on the thickness, or until cooked through. Make sure the pan is hot so that the chicken catches a little, turning is bronze.

Remove the chicken to a serving plate, then crumble in the bacon and pour in the wine. Bubble until slightly thickened, then pour over the chicken to serve.

Serves 4