Making bacon butter is a quite simple culinary endeavor that can add a smokey, savory flavor to your dishes. Bacon butter is simply a compound butter made by blending cooked bacon and its fat with softened butter. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making your own bacon butter.
Ingredients
– 1/2 cup (one stick) unsalted butter, softened
– 4 strips of bacon
– Optional: salt, pepper, herbs, or other seasonings to taste
Instructions
Step 1: Cook the Bacon
Begin by cooking the bacon strips. You can do this in a skillet over medium heat, in an oven at 400°F (200°C), or even in a microwave until the bacon is crispy. Make sure to flip the bacon as needed for even cooking. Once the bacon is crisp, remove it from the heat and let it cool on a paper towel to absorb excess grease.
Step 2: Reserve the Bacon Fat
Reserve the bacon fat left in the pan—this will be incorporated into the butter for that extra bacon flavor. If you’re health-conscious, you can choose to use less or even skip this step, however, it enhances the flavor significantly.
Step 3: Crumble the Bacon
Once the bacon has cooled, crumble or chop it into very small pieces. The finer you chop the bacon, the easier it will be to blend with the butter.
Step 4: Mix the Bacon with Butter
In a bowl, combine the softened butter with the crumbled bacon. If you are using the reserved bacon fat, allow it to cool but not solidify, then add it as well. You can use a fork or an electric mixer to combine them until the bacon is evenly distributed throughout the butter.
Step 5: Add Optional Seasonings
If you want to enhance the flavor of your bacon butter, now is the time to add any additional seasonings. Salt and pepper are basics, but you can also consider adding herbs like thyme or parsley, a splash of maple syrup for sweetness, or even a pinch of cayenne for heat. Mix all ingredients well.
Step 6: Form the Bacon Butter
Place the mixture on a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap. Shape it into a log or any other shape you prefer. Roll the paper or plastic wrap around it, then twist the ends to seal. This will also help firm up the butter into a more solid state.
Step 7: Refrigerate
Refrigerate your bacon butter log until it’s firm, at least 4 hours, though overnight is preferable. This will allow the flavors to meld together and the butter to take on a firm texture that’s easy to slice or scoop.
Step 8: Serve or Store
Once the bacon butter is firm, you can cut it into slices or spoon it onto warm dishes. It’s perfect for spreading on toast, melting over steamed vegetables, or enhancing the flavor of a steak. If you have extra, store the bacon butter in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, or freeze it for up to three months.
Enjoy your homemade bacon butter! Remember, you can always adjust the proportions to your taste, and feel free to experiment with additional flavors to tailor it to your palate or specific dishes.