Oh, that heavenly bacon. #003:
From the January 2006 issue of Esquire.
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Bacon Tempura!
Deep-Fried Pork Product of the Month
By Ted Allen | Jan 1, 2006
AS WE ALL KNOW, healthy eating is all about moderation. That is why, when I'm enjoying deep-fried bacon, I limit myself strictly to two slices. Per meal. No exceptions.
That's right, bacon tempura: the impossible goodness of pork belly made even more impossibly good with a delicate breading and a bath in sizzling-hot canola. This dish, the handiwork of chef Bill McDaniel, is just one reason the Red Cat is my new favorite restaurant in Manhattan. (This always-packed Chelsea joint has been drawing
particular raves lately, and the last two dinners I've had there have been my most exciting food experiences of the past year.)
But back to the bacon: "It actually started almost as a lark," says the chef. "I was talking with one of our hostesses one day, and she said, 'What's better than bacon?' And I said, joking, 'I don't know that there's anything better than bacon—except, maybe, fried bacon.' The next morning I walked in and I knew what I wanted to make." It's ridiculous to say, but McDaniel's decadent approach can be described only as light. It's fluffy-crispy, probably because he makes the batter with club soda; imagine a perfect french fry with bacon stuffed inside. The two strips rest atop a nutrient-rich salad of grilled corn, sugar snap peas, and chipotle aioli. Says McDaniel: "It was off the menu for a while and people started coming in almost angry that we didn't have it." And rightly so.
Chipotle Aioli
2 egg yolks
juice of 4 limes
4 oz canola oil
1 chipotle, chopped very fine
salt and pepper to taste
Blend yolks and lime juice in a food processor; slowly add oil until thickened. Stir in chopped chipotle, salt, and pepper.
Bacon Tempura
4 egg whites
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/3 cups cold club soda
1/2 gallon canola oil
12 pieces thick-sliced applewood bacon
salt to taste
In a large bowl, whisk egg whites until they form soft peaks. Fold into egg whites the flour and club soda. In a 4-quart pot, heat oil to 425 degrees. Batter bacon slices and carefully drop into oil a few slices at a time. Do not overcrowd oil as it will overflow, and bacon will cook unevenly. Once the bacon is golden brown, remove from oil using a slotted spoon. Lightly salt.
Serve 2 fried slices on top of about 2 oz of a grilled-corn or other seasonal salad garnished with the aioli and 2 lime wedges.
Comments
This recipe has been sent from the future to destroy Sarah Connor...
Posted by: DWC | December 29, 2005 10:33 PM