Bacon & Blue Cheese Sliders with Pear Ketchup

This delicious combination is perfect for Dad’s big day! This Sunday, let your dad relax and impress him with these savory sliders. The umami from the bacon and blue cheese blends perfectly with the tangy, inventive pear ketchup. This recipe was developed by Chef John Therres of Renaissance M Street Hotel, Washington, D.C.

Ingredients

Pear Ketchup

2 Anjou USA Pears

2 teaspoons clarified butter or vegetable oil

¼ cup diced sweet onion, like Walla Walla or Vidalia

1 cup clear apple juice or cider

2 to 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

⅛ teaspoon white pepper

Kosher salt to taste

Sliders

12 slices thick-cut bacon, well-chilled or frozen

3 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese

4 small soft rolls, preferably brioche

Directions

To make the pear ketchup, peel and core the pears and cut them into large cubes. Warm the clarified butter or oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until they become translucent. Add the pears and stir to coat with the butter or oil. Add the apple cider and cook over low heat until the liquid is almost completely absorbed. Set aside to cool.

Puree the mixture until completely smooth, and then add 2 tablespoons of vinegar and taste. The ketchup should be tangy, to help balance the fattiness of the bacon and cheese. Add the white pepper and salt to taste.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

To make the sliders, use a food processor to chop the bacon. Keep the slices together and cut the bacon slab into several large chunks. Refrigerate or freeze the chunks until very firm. This will help keep the grind uniform, like ground beef, not mushy. Crumble the blue cheese into the ground bacon and form the mixture into eight 2-inch patties.

Place the patties on a baking sheet or cast iron skillet and cook for 10 minutes. Turn the burgers over and cook another 10 to 15 minutes or until the internal temperature is 170 degrees.

To serve, split the roll, toast if desired and spread one side with the ketchup.

yield: Makes eight sliders

About Brittany

Hi! I’m Brittany Wilmes, program coordinator at Pear Bureau Northwest. As half of the Communications and PR department at the Pear Bureau, I write about pear pop culture for The Pear Dish—sharing everything pear, from fresh recipes to community involvement to fun décor ideas. Have an article or idea to share? Feel free to email me! In addition to blogging, I’m busy sharing the pear love on behalf of the Pear Bureau Northwest…and eating USA Pears!

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