Smoked, cured & cooked: 40 brilliant bacon bites of wisdom
Choosing the best bacon for every dish
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/fd3d7d98-c01e-49db-a74d-2faa0efbd6c8-shutterstock_584721919.jpg)
WHAT IS: Side or streaky bacon
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/85d46b61-fddc-4ba8-81c1-25f0728b29cd-shutterstock_1140945698.jpg)
COOK IT: Side bacon
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/d6c4a1bf-1b50-4e2d-9553-2242b13e53a3-shutterstock_178877060.jpg)
TRY IT: Bacon roly-polies
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/e292712c-8fe5-4eb9-b8da-d3f295cbea56-marcus+wareing+-+bacon+roly-polies.jpg)
For something meaty, nothing hits the spot like Marcus Wareing's Bacon Roly-Polies; perfect swirls of bacon and cheese wrapped up in pastry.
TRY IT: Bacon and sausage breakfast strata
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/fc02d971-d0f3-4376-bd27-4284e20b3524-bacon+and+sausage+breakfast+strata+image+resized.jpg)
"I didn’t even know what a strata was – a layered casserole in the annals of American cuisine," says cookbook author Michael Ruhlman. "This one rocks. It’s basically a bacon-sausage-onion bread pudding (or side dish – it would be great with a big roasted bird!). I like it as a hearty breakfast when you have lots of mouths to feed." Try his bacon and sausage breakfast strata this weekend.
TRY IT: Bacon-wrapped chicken with leeks and peas
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/5a291de0-01d0-46d3-b257-363b9d5b518c-chickenandpeajanehornby.jpg)
This moist bacon-wrapped chicken dish would work well with cottage bacon. Serve with mashed potato or crusty bread to dip in the sauce.
WHAT IS: Back bacon
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/9b08a5a8-e791-40a3-91ba-cf44adc6491f-cooked-bacon.jpg)
There are different cuts of bacon, just like with any meat. Back bacon is cut from the loin in the middle of the back. It's the most common you’ll see in a fry up, since it’s nice and meaty at the top with not too much fat. It’s sometimes called Canadian bacon by Americans when it's trimmed into rounds, without the backfat.
COOK IT: Back bacon
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/89be6265-6522-4476-b34c-984bb919cd56-griddled-bacon.jpg)
Don’t cook back bacon under the grill, as it doesn’t have much fat on it and it will dry out as the juices run away. Pan fry, or for best results griddle on a griddle pan to get those classic, charred grill marks.
TRY IT: Pretzel bacon grilled cheese with honey mustard
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/cc4ec404-b18a-44ae-adc8-5af275f67b21-fe1afa75-0bd9-4ac6-b0df-639e66d1ec62-pretzel-bacon-grilled-cheese.jpg)
If you fancy adding a little extra sweetness and saltiness to your grilled cheese sandwich, this pretzel bacon grilled cheese with honey mustard will hit the spot.
TRY IT: Honey-cured bacon, Stilton and chocolate sandwich
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/6c2e7eef-2e81-4945-912a-74a9e18b08b1-honeycuredbaconyoung.jpg)
Chocolatier Paul A Young's favourite brunch sandwich is a combination of honey-cured bacon, rich dark chocolate and ripe tangy Stilton. Mouth-watering and satisfying.
WHAT IS: Smoked bacon
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/a9546335-17eb-4021-bd74-3e70b3af8577-cook-thick-slices.jpg)
COOK IT: Smoked bacon
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/4b8b233f-0495-4039-91d1-e5e1b67e11e6-wrapped-chicken.jpg)
TRY IT: Beef fillets with smoked bacon
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/7c108e8a-498b-4f41-832c-d2e548057196-beefartichokejamesmartin.jpg)
James Martin makes a creamy mushroom sauce to serve with luxurious beef fillets and smoky, crispy bacon bits.
WHAT IS: Dry-cured bacon
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/b56840ca-3b4d-40c7-a711-db1a7a06958f-bacon-sandwich.jpg)
COOK IT: Dry-cured bacon
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/ae79b86e-0665-4e40-ba89-c42b3edb0192-bacon-and-chips.jpg)
TRY IT: Smoked bacon cheese scones
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/f12d652a-91f0-4f44-9cf9-40ca037784e1-ed_hollywoodbaconcheddarloaves.jpg)
Toast these smoky bacon cheese scones up for a breakfast or tea time treat.
TRY IT: Dry-cured bacon hash with poached eggs
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/25908b19-e041-4789-88a9-2e88d2003b01-sweet+potato+hash.jpg)
Serve up this crispy, dry-cured bacon with a sweet potato hash and runny poached eggs for breakfast.
WHAT ARE: Lardons
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/0a4da41d-3521-4477-b5fe-d066013b422c-lardons.jpg)
COOK IT: Lardons
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/7cb53cd5-893a-430c-9331-2047491bbcec-sage-and-lardons.jpg)
TRY IT: The Hairy Bikers' superb steak and ale pie
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/73dfe945-58e5-4221-87d4-8869ef133130-hairy+bikers+-+steak+ale+pie.jpg)
Bacon, beef and beer – a classic. No shandy drinkers in sight for this great steak and ale pie from the Hairy Bikers, which is more British than Vera Lynn. Make sure you use bacon and steak that are well marbled with fat for flavour.
TRY IT: Crispy lardons with lentil soup
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/d10bef3b-9f2f-4ce7-8f67-2c40a28aa29d-lardon soup.jpg)
Dig into a bowl of happiness with this filling winter soup, including green lentils, orzo pasta and crispy bits of smoked lardon.
WHAT IS: Pancetta
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/331d183f-f1da-4bc7-8b70-b67efb91d65e-pancetta.jpg)
COOK IT: Pancetta
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/50c53297-0308-4089-bff6-d5897c1ed353-white-pasta.jpg)
TRY IT: Broad bean, courgette and pancetta salad
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/4ed40fbc-ef4f-41ed-acd7-05b1fd00bd8d-broad+bean+and+courgette+salad+image.jpg)
Make this hearty broad bean, courgette and pancetta salad in July and August when broad beans appear. Alternatively, you could use frozen broad beans or substitute them with peas. Chef Angela Hartnett recommends you buy a big chunk of pancetta and chop it up yourself – it stores in the fridge for weeks.
TRY IT: Pancetta and pea pasta
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/5ef2a928-b118-4904-ad71-e5f7499556de-ed_farfallepastagennaro.jpg)
Transform frozen peas into this glorious midweek meal, with crispy pancetta pieces, fresh mint and bowtie farfalle pasta
WHAT IS: Speck
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/90f699c7-3a36-487b-bcc9-bc96a2a5f49c-speck.jpg)
COOK IT: Speck pizza
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/06cc8e8c-ccd4-4f1b-a085-26ce840643a9-spec-pizza.jpg)
Bacon and egg breakfast cups
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/01a6290c-e77b-4524-be63-87a8fe6920e4-breakfast eggs.jpg)
Up your breakfast game with these bacon and egg cups. This recipe uses pancetta, but you can swap in speck for a crispy, meaty finish
WHAT IS: Guanciale or jowl bacon
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/757fbbc5-3ec0-43c3-812c-d34e2f87c00b-shutterstock_1045323277.jpg)
Strictly speaking, guanciale isn’t bacon at all, as it’s fat cut from the cheeks rather than the back, belly or side. But it's known as ‘jowl bacon’ and it’s often substituted with pancetta in pasta dishes when guanciale is hard to find. Guanciale is seasoned, dry cured, and usually spiced with aromatics. It’s most famous in the pasta dish, all’amatriciana, from the town of Amatrice in the middle of Italy.
COOK IT: Guanciale
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/d168193f-e80a-4a94-9fac-8671a4851cdf-shutterstock_1045281592.jpg)
TRY IT: Simple guanciale pasta dishes
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/4b1e5542-b127-49e6-bdbf-1d917e6753de-chilli-pasta.jpg)
WHAT IS: Collar bacon
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/b35b384b-1ac1-4a5a-8379-83ddb2200fa5-cabbage-and-bacon.jpg)
COOK IT: Collar bacon
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/0afad156-13d9-49bd-8016-600890ca9f41-bacon-in-pan.jpg)
TRY IT: Indian-spiced roast
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/ce93d165-f8dd-40fe-bb29-38997c14e44c-spiced glazed ham.jpg)
Try Anjum Anand’s Indian-spiced gammon recipe for a warm, sweet and spicy and richly-flavoured bacon main course. This recipe calls for gammon but it would work beautifully with collar bacon as well; simply substitute it for the same weight of collar bacon (taking the bone into consideration).
WHAT IS: Cottage bacon
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/5b6c1d9f-c95a-4c88-8ba8-952be5717141-bacon-in-fryingpan.jpg)
COOK IT: Cottage bacon
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/be9f6564-fb1b-463e-a861-8ac1dba37cc2-shutterstock_436463005.jpg)
TRY IT: Crispy bacon with mushroom pancakes
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/500f454a-cbc8-472b-af60-790b9f08d8d9-crispy+bacon+with+mushroom+pancakes.jpg)
Swap streaky bacon for cottage bacon to make a heartier, meatier version of chef Brian Turner's crispy bacon with mushroom pancakes.
COOK IT: Bacon-wrapped potatoes
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/f819b744-ddb2-4a06-92d9-f84811b911ab-shutterstock_584721919.jpg)
WHAT IS: Gammon
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/c7936e7d-0ce5-461d-b0d5-2c4b5bae02de-gammon-joint.jpg)
Gammon the bottom piece of a side of bacon, including the hind leg. It is dry-salt or brine cured, and it can be smoked or unsmoked, and sold on or off the bone in steaks or slices. Like bacon, it needs to be cooked, but it’s much more robust so it can boiled as well as grilled.
Note: Don’t confuse gammon and ham. A ham is sold cooked, while gammon is sold raw.
COOK IT: Gammon
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/063b9562-6663-4073-899a-9a1c3b31f6b9-ham-and-pineapple.jpg)
TRY IT: Sticky gammon joint
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/c4f47b2a-e989-47fb-8912-d4c63b792bf7-baked-ham.jpg)
Don’t just keep gammon for Christmas; this glorious chunk of bacon is an economical (and impressive) way to feed a crowd. Try it with this simple honey-glazed recipe.
TRY IT: Streaky bacon cauliflower cheese
![](https://loveincorporated.blob.core.windows.net/contentimages/gallery/46876009-ac17-4c09-9047-26cebdbfba50-sarahmayorcauliflowercheese.jpg)
What’s better than cauliflower cheese? Howsabout cauliflower cheese with crispy bacon in.
Comments
Be the first to comment
Do you want to comment on this article? You need to be signed in for this feature