This sweet, tangy + savory recipe for homemade bacon jam is great for cheese boards. Serve with your favorite cheese, meats, and crackers for a one-of-a-kind appetizer that no one can resist.
Cook bacon until crisp and drain. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the bacon drippings. Crumble or chop the bacon to desired size and set aside. (I like to cook my bacon in the oven on a broiler pan with catch pan at 375 degrees for about 20 - 25 minutes.)
In a stainless steel skillet or sauce pan, heat 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings and 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Stir in the sliced onions, minced garlic, and half of the sea salt. Stir and cook until the onions start to brown. Reduce heat to medium-low, and let the onions caramelize and cook for 25 minutes.
Stir in the water, scraping the brown bits from the bottom of the skillet. Add the apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, remaining salt, and spices.
Fold in the bacon and increase heat to a low boil, stirring frequently. Cook and stir for 2 - 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low and simmer until the mixture has thickened and reduced to desired jam-like consistency, about 20 minutes.
Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold with your favorite cheese, meats, crackers and more for a delicious appetizer or snack.
Notes
This recipe will serve about 16 (two tablespoons per serving). The nutritional information is only for the bacon jam and does not include the other items shown on the cheese board.