Recipe: Bacon, Lettuce And Pear Sandwich (The BLP)
Prep Time:
10 minutes
Cook Time:
15 minutes
Servings:
2 sandwiches
Ingredients
  • 1 large Asian pear, quartered and cut into ¼-inch-thick slices
  • 1 cup water
  • ⅓ cup rice wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Korean gochugaru, or crushed red pepper flakes
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • One 1-inch piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 4 slices uncooked bacon
  • ¼ head Treviso radicchio, stem cut and leaves separated
  • 3 tablespoons aioli
  • 4 slices pumpernickel bread, toasted
Directions
  1. Make the pickled pears: Place the pear slices in a 1-quart glass jar. In a small saucepan, stir together the water, vinegar, sugar, gochugaru, salt and ginger, and bring to a simmer over medium heat, 3 minutes. Pour the hot pickling liquid over the pears and let cool to room temperature, 30 minutes. Cover and chill until crunchy, at least 1 hour. Make ahead: The pickled pears can be refrigerated up to 1 week.
  2. Make The BLP: In a large sauté pan over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy, turning occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes, and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
  3. Return the sauté pan to high heat. Add the radicchio and cook until the edges start to brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Add to the plate with the bacon.
  4. To make the sandwiches, spread a layer of aioli on each piece of toast, then layer two pieces of the toast with the bacon, Treviso radicchio, frisée and pickled pear slices. Top with the remaining toast and serve.