Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds thick-cut applewood- or cherrywood-smoked bacon
- 2 medium yellow onions, peeled and finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed with the back of a knife
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup pure Grade B maple syrup
- ¾ cup brewed dark-roast coffee
Preparation
Slice the bacon into roughly 1-inch pieces.
Put the bacon slices in a large (at least 12-inch) skillet or sauté pan. Place the pan over medium heat and cook until the fat is rendered and the bacon is lightly browned, about 25–30 minutes. Stir the bacon occasionally.
Remove the bacon from the pan using a slotted spoon and place it in the slow cooker’s container. Drain off all but about 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat from the pan. Place the pan back over the heat and add the onions. Cook the onions until they are lazy and translucent, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and continue cooking for another minute or 2, until it is fragrant. Add the vinegar, brown sugar, syrup, and coffee. Increase the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil, scraping any brown bits from the skillet. This process should take about 2 minutes. Pour the liquid into the slow cooker.
Set the slow cooker for high and cook uncovered until the liquid is syrupy, usually about 3 ½–4 hours. Transfer this mixture to a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Remove to an airtight container and let cool. Refrigerate for up to 4 weeks.
About this recipe
From Bacon: A Savor The South® cookbook by Fred Thompson. Copyright © 2016 by Fred Thompson. Used by permission of the publisher. www.uncpress.unc.edu
