Trader Joe's Uncured Turkey Bacon -- good substitute for julienned ham

[alkapal]

This is a very good tasting low-fat substitute for ham, and would be terrific in pasta sauces, quiches…anywhere you might use julienned ham

Preparing to make a "bacon", asparagus and onion component for a pasta cheese sauce, I used this "bacon" thusly: I cut across the slices to make small julienned pieces, and heated them in the skillet. I was pleasantly surprised by the tastiness. I don't think it'll crisp up like real bacon (just not enough fat), but nevertheless for my purposes it was perfect. It got a nice caramelized edge, and tasted remarkably like ham.

It is made from turkey thigh meat.

[Bacardi1]

Oh - & even though pricier, D'Artagnan offers "Duck Bacon" & - more interestingly - "Duck Prosciutto". I've tried the bacon, & wasn't that impressed for the price, but plan on ordering their Duck Prosciutto once local melon season is in full swing. It comes in a chunk, so you can either cube it for cooking, or slice it thin for wrapping. Looks & sounds interesting.

[alkapal]

does trader joe's offer that duck bacon? i bought some at a butcher's shop and was thoroughly underwhelmed.

[Bacardi1]

No - I bought it at Wegmans, which carries the D'Artagnon brand. I wasn't overwhelmed with it either, but was just throwing it out there as an option, as some people love it. Food preferences, are & always will be, after all, personal taste. :)

[alkapal]

also, that duck bacon was expensive!

[alkapal]

by the way, the asparagus, caramelized onion and turkey bacon -- with some cream and cream cheese (yes!) (and a touch of mustard and nutmeg) -- was a delicious and simple combination. it would be good with any pasta, but i think a shorter pasta is best here, about the same size as the approximately one inch sized cuts of crunchy-tender asparagus.
~~~~~
as to best pasta shape:

on the other hand, if one were to mince the onion very finely, and caramelize that so it was like a jam, and then used long shaved asparagus, one might use a long julienne cut from the "bacon" lengthwise.

[butterfat]

Yummy, I'm going to try it! Thanks for the idea :)

[alkapal]

the texture is not as soft as ham, so that differs from using turkey "ham" per se.

mr. alka loved it, saying it was as good as using prosciutto (in the dish i made) but at a ¼ the price.

if the bacon is 3.50, then it is more like a 1/7 the price.

would be good on a pizza or onion tart.

[Bacardi1]

I just buy turkey ham - either by the slice or by the 1#-2# chunk (Jennie-O brand). Works terrific in any recipe calling for ham.