Summer Burgers with Pineapple Jam and Candied Pineapple Bacon
Ingredients for Chicken or Pork:
2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts or boneless pork chops
1/4 c. Roasted Onion Olive Oil
1/4 c. Pineapple White Balsamic
sea salt and pepper to taste
Ingredients for Pineapple Jam:
1 c. white sugar
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
5 c. fresh pineapple, peeled and cut into chunks
Pineapple White Balsamic, to taste
Candied Pineapple Bacon:
1/2 lb. bacon (8 slices)
1/4 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. Pineapple White Balsamic
Prepare meat by cutting length-wise in half to achieve thin "patties". Pound pieces to achieve even thickness if necessary. Place in a shallow container or ziploc bag with Roasted Onion Olive Oil, Pineapple White Balsamic, salt and pepper. Marinate 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
While meat is marinating, add prepared pineapple chunks to a medium-sized pot. Add sugar and lemon juice and stir to coat. Bring up to simmer using medium-high heat or less, stirring to ensure ingredients do not burn. Do not cover. When sugar has melted and all ingredients are simmering, reduce heat to very low.
Simmer for approximately 30 minutes or until the pineapple is very tender, mixture is thickening and most of liquid has evaporated. Can stir occasionally. Do not cover as mixture must be allowed to reduce. When mixture is nearly done, taste for flavour. If more pineapple flavour is required, add Pineapple White Balsamic to taste and cook for a few more minutes to incorporate.
Remove from heat when mixture is fully softened, thickening and looks "jammy" - mixture will continue to thicken as it cools.
Candy bacon by arranging strips in single layer on aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Place in COOL oven and then turn oven on to 350F. Bake 15 minutes, then brush liberally with Pineapple White Balsamic and sprinkle with sugar. Return to oven and bake approximately 10 minutes longer, or until sugar has dissolved and started to caramelize. Remove from oven. Allow bacon slices to cool in pan or on wire rack.
Cook burger meat as desired and assemble on buns with jam and bacon, plus additional burger accoutrements if desired.
Note: Also try the Pineapple Jam on grilled salmon - as burgers or filets. So delicious!