Today, March 3rd, is National Canadian Bacon Day in the US, and I couldn’t be more excited to whip up a tantalizing dish with this ingredient: Bacon Pecan Goat Cheese Dip.
First, let me clarify! Canadian bacon is not from Canada, it’s an American food item. I still don’t understand why it’s called like that.
Canadian bacon, also known as back bacon or peameal bacon, is made from pork loin, rather than pork belly like traditional bacon. It is typically leaner and has a slightly different texture and flavor compared to the regular type.
With Canadian bacon, the Bacon Pecan Goat Cheese Dip will have a slightly different flavor and texture compared to traditional baked goat cheese dip. Because the Canadian type is leaner than the traditional one, I need to adjust the seasoning or add a bit more fat (such as olive oil or butter) to compensate for the reduced fat content.
With the savory goodness of Canadian bacon, the crunch of pecans, and the creamy richness of goat cheese, this goat cheese dip recipe promises to be a flavor explosion. It’s one my favorite dips, besides the Dirty Martini Dip. Here’s how to make the Bacon Pecan Goat Cheese Dip:
Bacon Pecan Goat Cheese Dip
Ingredients
- 6 slices of Canadian bacon chopped
- 4 ounces goat cheese softened
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh chives
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped Canadian bacon until crispy. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the softened goat cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, grated Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, chopped chives, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Fold in the chopped pecans into the cheese mixture.
- Transfer the mixture to a small baking dish and spread it out evenly.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until the dip is hot and bubbly.
- Once baked, remove from the oven and sprinkle the crispy bacon on top.
- Garnish with additional chopped chives if desired.
- Serve warm with your favorite crackers, breadsticks, chips, or vegetable sticks.
