Mango Jalapeño Applewood smoked Bacon! Part 1
Mango Jalepeño Applewood smoked bacon
I’d be a vegan if veggies were made of bacon. At work the other day I mentioned that we were getting a new smoker for the house. My boss brought up the idea of combining mangos and jalapeños in a bacon marinade. As a beginner pork candy maker, I had to take on the challenge. Previous bacon making focused on dry brining which basically means you rub the pork belly down with salt and seasonings for a few days before the smoke. It was good, but not great. Very salty and not much bacon flavor. I’m not a big fan of the dry method.
Here is my first attempt at a wet brining method. The recipe was simple:
- 4 lbs of fresh pork belly (whole or divided for your brining vessel)
- 1 cup sea salt
- 1 quart of Mango puree
- 4 healthy sized jalapeños (sliced into rounds)
- 1 Mango (chopped)
- 2 Tablespoons crushed black pepper
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 1/2 quart water
Add all ingredients into a pot and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and place pork belly into plastic tubs. Pour your brine over the pork belly ensuring that the meat is covered.
I left the skin on my pork belly during the brine, but I’ve read that you can cut it off for more flavor in the final product. I kept it on so that we could fry them up and have the brine flavor in the crackl’ns.
Let rest in the fridge for at least 3 days. I let mine sit for a week.
Next post… The smoke…
1 commentY R U WATCHIN ME? K THX BAI.
- Rocket
#57 of 365 for the project.
Rocket was watching some birds and was annoyed that I wanted to take her picture.
No commentsIf you see a bandwagon, it’s too late.
All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.
- George Harrison
#55 of 365 for the project.
Whew, what a busy day. Hope everyone had a good one. I’m tired, hungry, and am looking for simple creativity. Here is a quick macro of a lamp-shade next to the bed. I was impressed with the bokeh and the depth of color. Hope you like it as well. Also posting this to HBW, it’s Wednesday somewhere. 
Beauty is whatever gives joy.
- Hugh Nibley
#54 of 365 for the project.
I was at a tea house on 2nd street last night and they had these lights all over the place. They made me happy. Hope everyone is having a good week. 
I’ve seen a look in dogs’ eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts.
I’ve seen a look in dogs’ eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts., originally uploaded by sgarcia.
- John Steinbeck
#53 of 365 for the project.
Such a sweet doggy. He just sat there and licked everyone who went by. Everyone scratched his head and rubbed his ears, and he just loved every minute of it.
No commentsThey say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.
They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself., originally uploaded by sgarcia.
- Andy Warhol
#52 of 365 for the project.
No commentsAnxiety is the hand maiden of creativity.
- Chuck Jones
#51 of 365 for the project.
The tragedy of a wine like this is that you can’t save it. It’s beautiful now, not later and it won’t wait for you.
No commentsIt is not the quantity of the meat, but the cheerfulness of the guests, which makes the feast.
It is not the quantity of the meat, but the cheerfulness of the guests, which makes the feast., originally uploaded by sgarcia.
- Edward Hyde
#49 of 365 for the project.
Allison and I had a small bite at our favorite Tapas place in Santa Monica. These guys really do it right. They have pata negra on the menu that is to die for. Wonderful pork goodness, even for vegetarians.
I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.
- J. Robert Oppenheimer
#48 of 365 for the project.
No no no. He’s just an Ugly Doll. I’m actually posting #48 a second time as I got a bit ahead of myself somehow and posted twice on a single day. I know, I’m a blaspheme and should be forced to restart. Meh, I’m not gonna. Hope everyone enjoys this one as it represents dedication to the project. Stay focused people!
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