Seasoning bacon with brown sugar and fragrant cardamom puts this breakfast mainstay way over the top. This recipe also is particularly easy and clean to make, as the bacon is baked in the oven.
BACON WITH BROWN SUGAR AND CARDAMOM
Recipe adapted from Georgeanne Brennan, Elinor Klivans, Jordan Mackay and Charles Pierce's "Williams-Sonoma Breakfast & Brunch," (Oxmoor House, 2008). Start to finish: 45 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
2 pounds thick-sliced lean bacon
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
DIRECTIONS:
Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and another rack in the lowest third. Preheat to 350 degrees. Line the bottom and sides of two rimmed baking sheets with foil.
Arrange the bacon slices in a single layer on the prepared baking sheets.
In a small bowl, toss together the brown sugar, cardamom and pepper. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the bacon.
Place one pan on the upper rack and the other pan on the lower rack. Bake, without turning, for 25 minutes.
Switch the position of the pans, top to bottom and front to back. Continue to bake until dark brown but not quite crisp, 10 to 15 minutes longer.
Using tongs, lift the bacon from the pans, gently shaking off excess drippings. Transfer to paper towels to drain briefly. Arrange the bacon on a warmed platter and serve at once.
Makes 10 to 12 servings.
