The sweet-savory combo of apples and bacon in this traditional Danish dish will satisfy your snack food craving in a gourmet way.
By Chris Cockren
Okay, I honestly have no idea how to pronounce Æbleflæsk. But the A connected to the E is pretty fancy, isn’t it? What I can tell you, though, is that apple and pork always makes for one heck of a classic flavor combination, no matter what language we’re talking.
No wonder why pork chops and applesauce was my favorite meal as a kid, even if the pork was cooked until it was completed obliterated of any moisture and flavor (remember those good old times when our moms were super concerned about trichinosis?). Leave it to the Danish to take this pork and apple pairing to the next level with…drumroll please…bacon. 
And while we are talking about flavor combinations that pretty much rock our world, when I think apple and pork, especially in the fall (I know it’s technically still summer but my brain switches to fall as soon as the school year begins), you gotta have some sage in the mix.
So let’s review. Apples, bacon, and sage. Oh, and to make those apples even more ridiculous, we’re going to let them cook and get nice and friendly with the bacon drippings.
PrintDanish Apple Pork (Æbleflæsk) Bites
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Yield: 8-10 1x
Description
The sweet-savory combo of apples and bacon in this traditional Danish dish will satisfy your snack food craving in a gourmet way.
Ingredients
- 2 Granny Smith Apples, peeled and diced
- 6–8 slices of Applewood Thick-Sliced Bacon, diced
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage, finely chopped
- 1/2 tablespoon sugar
- Kosher salt
- 1/3 cup water
- Rye Bread
- Chives, finely chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- In a small skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until fat is fully rendered and bacon is crisp. Remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate to drain. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the bacon drippings (fat).
- In a small saucepan, heat the 1 tablespoon of reserved bacon drippings over medium heat. Add apples, sage, sugar, and season with Kosher salt. Cook until apples just begin to soften slightly. Add 1/3 water, reduce heat to a simmer, and cover saucepan. Cook until apples are soft and have broken down slightly, approximately 8-10 minutes. If mixture is too watery, remove lid and cook until it reaches desired consistency.
- Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°F. Cut rye bread in desired shapes (I used both round and square cookie cutters). Place bread on baking sheet and cook in oven until completely toasted, approximately 3 minutes per side.
- Top rye bread toasts with apple mixture, bacon, and chives. Serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Appetiser
I remember the stories min Mor used to tell us. They had several apple trees in the front yard. When food was scarce in the fall, all 8 of my mother’s brothers and sisters were sent out to pick up all the apples that had fallen off the trees. Every one usually had a “slab” of bacon. With the bacon and apples, what a meal. When I was having company one Sunday afternoon, I made this dish and my company thought I was nuts, after all, apples and bacon, fried in a pan. Well, as you know, I was asked to make it again, and again….. Keep posting my favorite “poor man’s meals”. Another favorite is the lettuce, tomato, potato and egg rye bread open face sandwich. All time favorite!
Thanks for sharing
Joan Simonsen