M: Deep. Fried. Bacon. Have more Southern words ever been spoken? I think on some level we all knew this day was coming. You may have noticed, we do a fair bit of both pan and deep frying around here. And pretty much everything could use some bacon. So it was really just a matter of time before the two would meet in one glorious recipe.
Bacon coated in buttermilk batter and deep fried to golden perfection. It sounds decadent. It is. It sounds like it’s bad for you. I’ll give you that one too. It also seems like one of those things that probably sounds more delicious than it really is. I can’t give you that one. This recipe is fantastic. I shook my head a little when I read the recipe. I shook my head as I cooked it up. How is it I can only nod when I ask myself if I’d like some more?
The submitter refers to this as a New Year’s Day tradition in their household. I don’t know if that means it is a “just once a year” recipe for them. That seems like a good policy, I suppose. But I used mine to construct a BLT so spectacular I may have to exceed that recommended yearly dosage.
Sometimes I will go on a bit here when I like a recipe, hoping to encourage someone who is on the fence to give something new a try. Here’s the thing though. If this sounds good to you, no convincing is required. And if it doesn’t beckon you (even in sinister, guilty tones), I don’t think I’ll get you there. It might be for the best. I mean, it is deep fried bacon.
Recipe: Deep Fried Bacon
Summary: Bacon deep fried in buttermilk batter. What took us so long? From The Southern Foodways Alliance Community Cookbook.
Ingredients
- Oil or Lard, for deep frying
- 1 c Flour
- 1/2 c Milk
- 1/2-2/3 c Buttermilk
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 Lb Sliced Bacon
Instructions
- Pour oil to at least 2 inches depth in a heavy pot and heat to 350 degrees.
- Place 1/2 c flour on a plate.
- Pour milk into a shallow bowl.
- Put remaining 1/2 c flour and pepper in another shallow bowl and stir in enough buttermilk to make a thick batter.
- Working in batches, dust each slice of bacon with flour, dip in milk and coat in batter.
- Let excess batter drip from bacon and lower into pot to fry until golden brown (about 3 minutes). Let oil return to 350 degrees between batches.
- Remove bacon from oil and place on a wire rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet to drain.
- Once all bacon is fried, place baking sheet containing wire rack and bacon into 350 degree oven and cook until crispy (5-7 minutes).
- Serve hot.
