Grilled bacon skewers: The unexpected may be the holiday highlight
We're all slowly planning the May holiday. Although I'm not travelling anywhere this year, I'm already looking forward to meeting with friends. They've already been asking if there will be bacon on skewers, just like I grilled last year.
Bacon for the grill may not seem like an obvious choice. Usually, we go for sausages, black pudding, pork shoulder, or chicken fillets. I'm not particularly fond of bacon daily, yet I've developed a taste for its grilled version. It has a fatty consistency, but it's pleasantly crispy on the outside, creating an interesting contrast.
Classic grilled pork neck. Before putting it on the grill, marinate in this mixture
You can use both raw and smoked bacon for grilling. However, the former has a milder flavour and is easy to season properly using a marinade. That's why I opt for raw but choose a relatively lean piece of meat. When there's too much fat, it renders out excessively. The next step is to slice it. They shouldn't be too thin, as they'd burn quickly. Too thick, and they take longer to cook.
Prepare a simple marinade
Once the bacon slices are prepared, I marinate them. This enhances their flavour and also tenderises them. The meat will be more delicate after grilling. The bacon marinade can be tailored to your taste, whether mild or spicy. It's a good idea to use oil, garlic, paprika, or mustard. It's important not to overdo the salt, as bacon is already quite salty. It's best to place the bacon slices in the marinade a day before grilling. I then put the whole lot in the fridge and take it out about an hour before grilling. If I have less time for marinating, I don't refrigerate the bacon.
The bacon will be crispy
I drain the marinated bacon slices from the excess marinade and skewer them. I place them on a well-heated grill. It's important to remember to turn the slices regularly so they cook evenly. Grilling usually takes about 15-25 minutes. The time depends on the thickness of the slices, but the meat should be visibly roasted when it's crispy. Bacon on a skewer from the grill makes a great snack. My friends are already looking forward to it. After all, we don't eat grilled bacon every day.
Bacon on skewers from the grill
Ingredients:
- 900 grams of bacon sliced,
- a skewer for each slice.
For the marinade:
- 125 ml of oil,
- 3 cloves of garlic,
- hot and sweet paprika to taste,
- salt and pepper to taste,
- 1 teaspoon of mustard (optional).
Preparation method:
- Mix all the marinade ingredients, pressing the garlic through a crusher.
- Place the bacon slices in a dish or put them in a ziplock bag. Pour the marinade over them.
- Marinate the bacon overnight in the refrigerator, or for a few hours, depending on how much time you have.
- Skewer the prepared bacon slices and arrange them on trays.
- Grill the bacon on a hot grill for about 15-25 minutes, turning the slices occasionally.
