Charred Okra with Bacon Jam Recipe
- 8 ounces thick-cut bacon, cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces
- 1/4 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth or stock
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon ground piment dEspelette
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 12 ounces fresh okra
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- Place the bacon in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat has rendered and the bacon is starting to brown, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Add the onion, season with salt, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion has browned, about 5 minutes.
- Add the sugar and stir to combine.
- Add 1 cup of the broth and bring to a simmer, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and almost all of the liquid has evaporated, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add 1 more cup of the broth and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and almost all of the liquid has evaporated, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add the remaining cup of broth, honey, Espelette, measured salt, and black pepper and stir to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to a blender and reserve the pot.
- Blend until smooth, removing the small cap from the blender lid (the pour lid) and covering the space with a kitchen towel (this allows steam to escape and prevents the lid from popping off).
- Return the mixture to the reserved pot, place over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about 1 1/2 cups, about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the butter; set aside.
- (At this point, the bacon jam can be cooled to room temperature and then refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
- Rewarm before using.)
- Trim the stems from the okra and cut each pod in half lengthwise.
- Place in a large bowl, add the salt, and toss to combine; set aside.
- Heat a large, well-seasoned or enameled cast-iron skillet over high heat until very hot, about 3 minutes.
- Working in 2 to 3 batches so as not to crowd the pan, add the okra, cut-side down in a single layer, and sear undisturbed until charred on the bottom, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Flip the okra and cook until crisp-tender, about 30 seconds more.
- Remove to a medium bowl.
- Remove the pan from the heat, add the okra in the bowl and 1/2 cup of the bacon jam to the pan (reserve the remaining bacon jam for another use), and stir to combine.
- Immediately transfer to a serving dish.
bacon, yellow onion, brown sugar, lowsodium, honey, ground piment, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, unsalted butter, okra, kosher salt
Taken from www.chowhound.com/recipes/charred-okra-with-bacon-jam-30780 (may not work)