Home-made bacon salt
A few weeks ago, I received a sample packet of coarse Himalayan salt crystals from Pure Pink Salt. Apart from filling up my salt and pepper grinders with this salt, I was trying to think of a good recipe to make use of these pink salt crystals.
Then, I came across this recipe by Evan Thomas who is the author of The Wannabe Chef. Reading through the recipe , I knew I had to try making it because it appeared so simple and yet, I could think of more than a dozen ways to use this delicious seasoning. Perhaps calling it a “seasoning” may not do it justice because it may imply artificial additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG).
I like this homemade recipe because it is made from only three fresh ingredients – bacon, salt and black pepper. It is relatively healthy in small doses since most of the bacon fat has also been rendered from the baking process, leaving only the small crispy and flavoursome bacon bits to add just that extra flavour and texture to an otherwise bland salad or soup.
So last weekend, I set about making bacon salt from the simple recipe below.
Made in heaven: Crispy rasher of bacon
Can you possibly imagine the aromas coming from the oven as the bacon was being baked? Heavenly!! When the bacon was cooled, I had to constantly slap Mysaucepan’s wrist as she was stealing bits of the crispy bacon and eating it on its own. Each strip of bacon was like a long, golden brown piece of decadent bacon chip!
I can think of a good sprinkling this bacon salt to make the following foods come to life!
Soups
- Creamy cauliflower soup
- Fig and rocket salad
- Leek and potato soup
- Pea and ham soup
- Roasted pumpkin soup
- Rocket salad and shaved parmesan
- Seafood chowder
Salads / Entrees
- Baked potatoes and light cream
- Boiled French beans and sugar snap peas
- Breakfast poached eggs
- Cold potato salad
- Creamy mashed potatoes
- Grilled asparagus and zucchini
- Grilled corn on the cob
- Guacamole and tzatziki dips
Meats / Mains
- Angel hair pasta with EVOO, garlic and cherry tomatoes
- Barbequed, steaks and lamb chops
- Cold chicken or turkey slices
- Homemade ham and pineapple pizza
- Poached salmon fillet with watercress salad
- Roasted pumpkin, eggplant and capsicum salad
- Spaghetti vongole
Raw bacon on the grill
Using this bacon salt sensibly and in moderation, I believe it can contribute to more healthy eating habits by reducing the salt content in our cooking by a larger amount than the addition of the bacon salt since it is more flavoursome than just ordinary salt.
This recipe is adapted from the recipe of Evan Thomas, author of The Wannabe Chef.
Ingredients
- 600gm rashes of bacon
- 2 tablespoon of salt flakes or salt crystals (adjust according to your preference for saltiness)
- 2 – 3 teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper
Method
1. Place the bacon on a baking grill and bake at 180 degrees Centigrade for approximately 25 – 30 minutes. Check constantly to avoid over-cooking / burnt bacon as it becomes bitter.
2. Turn off oven when the bacon become a deep golden brown and it should be very crispy and light as most of the fat has been rendered from the baking process.
3. Let cool then place the bacon, salt and pepper in food processor and process in short bursts until it becomes a very coarse and sand-like texture.
4. Store bacon salt in air tight container in the fridge.
Tips:
1. Some fan-forced ovens can operate the grill and baking functions simultaneously and I have chosen this function as the process is faster and the bacon is crispier.
2. Let the bacon cool to room temperature and it should be very crispy and can be broken by hand into crumbly bits before processing in food processor.
3. The bacon salt should be fairly coarse and not too fine because bigger, crispy bits have better texture when mixed with soups, salads, pasta and meats.
This delicious bacon salt can be used for so many recipes where it can enhance flavours and textures. Can you imagine the good old creamy seafood chowder with a sprinkling of this bacon salt?
Crispy rashers of bacon (Note a fair bit of fat has been rendered)
Himalayan salt crystals
Spaghetti carbonara tossed with EVOO, egg yolks, garlic, parsley and bacon salt
Home-made bacon salt
So dear readers, have you tried bacon salt in your food before and would you give this recipe a go?
Click on any of the photos to view ChopinandMysaucepan‘s favourite recipes or simply click here.
ChopinandMysaucepan received complimentary samples of the Himalayan salt courtesy of Pure Pink Salt. All opinions on this blogpost are our own.
For more information on Himalayan salt, you can visit Pure Pink Salt at www.purepinksalt.com.au
Awesome! I’m defintely making this so the jar of revolting Baconnaise seasoning in the cupboard can be binned.
Dear Bel,
I’ve never heard of baconnaise until now. I guess with bacon salt as the base ingredient, baconnaise is easy peasy.
BACON SALT?! Is this heaven? I love this one! The first thing I thought of was how delicious it would be sprinkled on something sweet and chocolaty- like brownies or even caramels! Delicious – this was WAY COOL! Thanks for sharing and as always, your photos are incredible!
Dear Ann,
I must admit I have not thought of using it in any desserts yet although I think it would also be a great addition of flavours.
It would probably go well with the thick gravy for your roast chicken as well
Thanks for the recipe! I will most definitely be makeing this with the last peices of my homemade bacon. So much bacon love in the new year! Happy New Year to you
Dear Anna,
After you have made bacon from scratch, this will be a walk in the park for you!
You’re a GENIUS! I have got to remember this when it comes time for my dad’s birthday!
Dear Hannah,
This would make a great personal pressie if your dad is a bacon fan!
This sounds much better than the packaged one that I tried. A lovely reader sent it to me but alas it wasn’t as tasty as it sounded (and packed full of additives too).
Dear Lorraine,
That’s the best thing about making it myself – there is absolutely zero additives.
This looks really fantastic, what a great idea!
Dear sara,
Tastes delicious too!
Oh my, I bet this would make a multitude of things so much tastier. Heck, I bet it would be great just eaten by the spoonful. 😉
Dear Carolyn,
You’re too right, I’ve stopped myself from pinching it as a snack, very dangerous!!
OMG! Bacon seriously makes my world go round and I think this salt will too! I’m gonna get myself a kilo of bacon and start this on the weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear msihua
Glad you like the recipe.
This sounds heavenly… I would love to get this bacon salt as Christmas holiday, please! =P This recipe is also a keeper!
Dear Nami,
This would make a great personal present for someone who loves to cook
I love this recipe. It reminds me of bacon jam I once saw and which also looked fantastic. I can imagine at least hundred dishes this bacon salt would go perfectly well with! Thanks for this amazing idea.
(I am not sure if I could be strong enough to keep the bacon chips for the next stage though 😉 They look irresistible.)
Dear Sissi,
Bacon jam is an interesting one. This bacon salt is very versatile and we had trouble resisting it on its own as well!!
THIS IS AWESOME!! I recently bought bacon salt at the USA foods store and now put it on everything. Good to know I can make it at home instead! Thanks for sharing 😀
Dear Iron Chef Shellie,
The best thing about this recipe is that it is very simple to make and also you will know it’s free from additives unlike the ready-made ones from the supermarket.
WOW! Bacon AND Himalayan salt? AMAZING!!
Dear Life Salts,
It’s a lethal combination.
Looks nice and I like that it’s so easy to make too. Will try once I get my hands on some bacon.
Dear Baby Sumo,
It’s a very simple and tasty recipe! Glad you like it.
So good and so easy to make, I bet it will make a perfect gift.
A Very Happy and Prosperous New Year to you and your family.
Dear Reem,
It’s a really simple recipe and a very good personal gift. Have a great 2012!
I would definitely give this a go, it would definitely revolutionize my cooking.
Dear Raymund,
This recipe is definitely worth a go!
It was like you were reading my mind. Guess what wild request my teenage son had for his Birthday? Yes, Bacon Salt! He had seen this add on a commercial. Of course living in Hong Kong, I thought to my self I wonder if they do international deliveries. However, now thanks to you, my problem is solved. I also am a happy new follower. Looking forward to keeping in touch in 2012. Take Care, BAM
Dear Bams Kitchen,
What a co-incidence. Hopefully this recipe will help in satisfying birthday wishes and kitchen essentials. Thanks for the follow and I look forward to reading your recipes too! Have a great 2012!
This is a very creative idea! I don’t use much salt, but the little salt I use is mostly Himalayan salt. For some reason, it doesn’t give me the issues regular salt does.
Dear Kath,
The recipe might be simple but I like the idea that bacon salt can become the conduit for so many recipes to come alive with taste and flavour.
I absolutely love it. Both you and Evan Thomas have really made my day! This is one recipe I have to make.
Salt is quite versatile, but I’ve never seen it used in this way before. Now that I have, many other alternatives have opened up. There’s so many more combinations to cook up!
Do you know how long this can be kept in the fridge?
Dear Ayden,
With most perishables, it really depends on storage techniques and conditions.
Taking into consideration bacon has been cured and salt being a preservative agent, this bacon has also been cooked a second time and most of its fat rendered through the baking process, so I would say it should keep for around 3 months if properly stored in the fridge in an airtight container.
It would be wise to make a small batch that you would use it up within a month and I doubt this first batch would even last 3 months with its multiple applications for so many delicious recipes.
Oh, how absolutely delicious. And we have some of the pink salt in the suitcase. You are a wonder in the kitchen, my friend!
Dear Lizzy,
You are quite a wonder with your recipes too! Look forward to sharing more in 2012!
Bacon salt sounds like a genius idea! I’m a sucker for that salty, meaty bacon taste, but I always find it too greasy. This looks a lot lighter.
Dear kyleen,
A lot of the bacon fat has actually been rendered from the baking process.
Oh my what a heavenly idea. This is the perfect condiment, unless you are vegetarian!. I love the way your blog is looking
Dear Tania,
There is also celery salt for vegetarians and it is prepared in pretty much the same way.
Not gonna lie, you’ve got a pretty serious secret ingredient on your hands! Sounds dangerously delicious.
Dear Joanne,
It’s a very flexible ingredient, and totally agree it’s dangerously delicious too!
What a fab idea!
Dear mycookinghut,
Thanks for dropping by!
Ohh… My… GAWD!!! I was really looking forward to this post after following your tweets about them. Man this is flippin’ awesome. I love the Himalayan Pink Salt product and use it at home as well. Really excited to know I can make this just as easily at home too. Particularly keen to make it with the pasta like you suggested. Thanks heaps!
Dear Winston,
It’s real easy and flexible recipe to make! Hope you will try it.
What a fun recipe and yes I will definitely try it and it would be a fun recipe to teach in a class with so many possibilities. I love bacon but rarely eat it. This would be a way of getting just that hint of flavor on a dish without all the calories and fat. I wonder how long it will last? Do you store yours in the refrigerator?
Thanks for sharing and Happy New Year!
Dear Vicki,
If stored in an air-tight container, it should last at least a couple of months. See my response to Ayden above. Happy cooking!
Bacon salt? My mouth is watering just reading this post!
How long do you think it will keep for?
Dear Celia,
It should last a couple of month in an air-tight container. See my response to Ayden above.
Pairing made in heaven!
Dear Little Corner of Mine,
Most definitely!
Ooooh myyyyyyyy…… There aren’t enough words…
Dear InTolerant Chef
OH MY!
I am making this – tomorrow!
I have the Himalayan pink salt- the peppercorns and I always have bacon!
Thanks, Chopinand- this will make a wonderful hostess gift at my niece’s After the Holidays family party!
Dear Heidi,
This bacon salt really makes a great personal gift! Happy cookin!
mm so many delicious ways to use bacon salt 😀 can’t believe it’s so easy to make! I guess the only issue is over-processing it and having sandy/grainy bacon
Dear Viv,
Actually you want to “under-process” the bacon and salt it so that it’s not too fine like powder because you want the texture to be slightly sandy / grainy.
Love the bacon salt spaghetti! And just think of scallops on a pea puree with bacon salt. Yum!
Dear Martyna,
Yes, I think recipes that are creamy such as pumpkin, cauliflower, leek and potato soups and pea puree would be great with this bacon salt.
wow this looks amazing!!!
Dear Jenny,
Thanks for dropping by.
Finally! Heaven has decided to come down to earth! I can imagine all the possibilities for bacon salt. And also for that packet of himalayan pink salt sitting in my pantry. This is so great! I can’t wait for the weekend when I can make this…. now if I could just stop myself from chomping at the bacon even before I pulverize them.
Oh wow… bacon salt sounds so yummy! I love the suggestions you listed for its use… thanks!
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Hi Chopin, thanks so much for directing me here. What a great post with a terrific response. Yes, this would be perfect with the Brussels sprouts. I will have to try this. And that pasta looks so perfectly cooked and utterly delicious. You’re making me hungry! xx
First of all, thank you for your kind comments on my blog! Secondly, thank you for directing me to this delicious bacon salt recipe. I can’t wait to try it!
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