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Home » Appetizers » Bacon and Greens Dip with Bubbly #winePW

Bacon and Greens Dip with Bubbly #winePW

Published: Dec 13, 2014 · Modified: Feb 27, 2023 by Cooking Chat · This post may contain affiliate links

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Bubbly for Bacon and Greens Dip. #winepairing

I stumbled onto this pairing. Usually I’m plotting for awhile about what I want to do for the monthly Wine Pairing Weekend event. But this pairing started when I developed a Bacon and Greens Dip recipe to bring on Thanksgiving. Then as I was rounding up a few bottles of wine to bring for the holiday feast, I grabbed a bottle of tasty yet moderately priced sparkling wine that I thought would be a nice way to start out. Low and behold, this bubbly work well with the Bacon and Greens Dip. I recalled that Jeff from Food Wine Click had picked Sparkling Wines and Hors D’oeuvres as  our December #winePW theme, and I realized I had my pairing ready to go!

If you look at my photos closely, you’ll note that we did miss something when preparing this pairing for the blog photo opp. With all the food available on Thanksgiving, there was enough dip leftover to enjoy the next day after we did the photos. But alas, we “had” to pick up another bottle of the bubbly. For the sequel, all the bacon had been incorporated in the dip, so we didn’t have the bacon crumbles on top as in the photo below, taken after I first made the dip. I definitely recommend that touch for the presentation!

Bubbly for Bacon and Greens Dip

I originally made this Bacon and Greens Dip for Thanksgiving, but it certainly lends itself to serving around Christmas and New Year’s. This can start easing in some of those healthy eating habits. The dip features healthy collard greens, and uses lower fat cream cheese and sour cream. Lest you rush too quickly into those New Year’s fitness regimes, there is the indulgence of bacon…though it doesn’t take a lot to add some nice flavor. Recipe details follow the wine pairing description. Speaking of recipe details, the spice details were jotted down from my recall the next day. Feel free to play with the proportions to find the blend that works best for your palate!

Wine Pairing: I may not have carefully plotted out this pairing, but this one builds on a lot of good pairing basics. Sparkling wine is versatile, and is particularly good for cleansing the palate when eating salty foods. There wasn’t a lot of bacon, as I mentioned, but enough to give it a saltiness that was balanced nicely by the bubbly. Creamy foods? Again, sparkling wine is a great answer. Last time I checked, cream cheese qualified as creamy, so bubbly works with that element, too.

OK, time to talk about the bubbly we paired with the Bacon and Greens Dip. I went with the Varichon & Clerc Privilege Blanc de Blancs, made from Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Ugni Blanc and Columbard grapes. The method is similar to that of the Champagne region, but is priced substantially less, hailing from the area between Lyon and Geneva. You can find it for $15 or a bit less.

So how did the pairing work? The dip has some spice, and a bit of saltiness from the bacon. The wine is clean and crisp, with peach fruit, refreshes the palate and gets you ready for that next tasty bite. A winning pairing, and certainly a holiday party friendly bottle of bubbly at this price point.

Bacon and Greens Dip from Cooking Chat.

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Bacon and Greens Dip

Bacon and Greens Dip from Cooking Chat.
Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 2 reviews

Bacon and Greens Dip features collard greens for some nutritional benefit along with tasty bacon. Low-fat cream cheese and sour cream keep this appetizer reasonably healthy.

  • Author: Cooking Chat
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 40 mins
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 to 2 slices bacon
  • 1 onion
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 bunch collard greens, thick stems removed and coarsely chopped
  • ⅓ cup chicken stock
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • pinch red pepper flakes
  • 8 ozs lite cream cheese, removed from fridge 30 minutes before preparing
  • ½ cup low fat sour cream
  • ½ tsp cajun seasoning mix
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • pinch cayenne
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat a large skillet with oil spray on medium high. Add the bacon, cook until crispy on both sides, about 10 minutes. Remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate to cool. When the bacon has cooled, crumble it into bite sized pieces.
  2. Wipe the heavy bacon grease from the skillet, then heat the olive oil on medium. Add the onions, cook until they are soft about 5 minutes.
  3. Gradually stir the collard greens into the skillet, stirring gently to combine with the onion. Add the chicken stock and red pepper flakes, cover, and simmer on medium low for about 15 minutes.
  4. Add the garlic to a food processor and give them a brief whir to mince. Add the cream cheese and sour cream, then pulse the processor again to combine with the garlic.
  5. Use a slotted spoon to scoop the cooked collard greens and onion into the food processor. Reserve a teaspoon or so of the bacon, then put the remainder into the food processor with the greens. Puree until the greens are well combined with the cheese.
  6. Add the cajun spice, cumin and cayenne to the dip. Puree again to incorporate the spices.
  7. To serve, scoop some of the dip into a bowl, and top with the reserved bacon bit. Serve with pita chips…and sparkling wine, if you are so inclined!

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @CookingChatWine on Instagram and hashtag it #CookingChat

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Bacon and Greens Dip Recipe from Cooking Chat.

#WinePW Wine Pairing Weekend Holiday Entertaining!
December is holiday festive party time! Our job this month is to create some great sparkling wine and appetizer pairings. If you see this early enough, please join us December 13th at 11 a.m. Easter time, 10 a.m. Central Time.

Sparkling Wine and Appetizer Pairings
Here are the ideas available from our group for you. Try something new this year!
Bacon and Greens Dip with Bubbly by Cooking Chat
Piedmont Sparkling Nebbiolo & Pungent Anchovy Green Sauce by foodwineclick
Segura Viudas Aria Cava with Oysters and Spanish Tapas by Confessions of a Culinary Diva
Butterflied Spicy Prawns and Treveri Sparkling Wine by Wild 4 Washington Wine
A Seasonal Nibbles Duet + Pear Valley Vineyard’s Frizzante Muscat by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Appetizers served with a Sparkling Wine by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Cranberry Brie Biscuit Bites and Sparkling Muscat by Curious Cuisiniere
Moscato with Fresh Fruit Almond Cake and Zabaglione by Vino Travels — An Italian Wine Blog
Domaine Meriwether Sparkling Wine and Make Ahead Spanakopita by Tasting Pour
Wine and Dine: Anna de Cordoniu Brut NV and Herbed Parmesan Crisps by Grape Experiences
Italian Sparkling Wine: Bubbly & Bacon #winePW by Girls Gotta Drink
The Holidays Sparkle on #WinePW by Rockin Red Blog
Butternut and Bubbly
by It’s Okay to Eat the Cupcake
Smoked Salmon and Potato Chip Appetizer with Louis Roederer Champagne by ENOFYLZ

Don’t forget to our Twitter chat today, December 13th at 11 a.m. Eastern Time, 10 a.m. Central Time. We’ll be talking about our tips and tricks for the best holiday wine pairings. We’d love to have you join us!

And, be sure to mark your calendars for January’s Wine Pairing Weekend, hosted by Christy at Confessions of a Culinary Diva. We’ll be sharing “New Wine Resolutions – Wine or Region you want to explore in 2015. Join in the #WinePW 8 conversation on Saturday January 10!

bacon and greens dip.

 

Varichon & Clerc Privilege Blanc de Blancs, paired with Cooking Chat Bacon & Greens Dip for #winePW

« Porcini Mushroom Risotto with a Nebbiolo
Awesome Avocado Steak Tacos #SundaySupper »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sarah Ozimek

    December 13, 2014 at 6:44 am

    This dip sounds amazing! Great tip about bubbly cleansing the palate, makes a lot of sense why this pairing would be a wonderful one for appetizers.

    Reply
    • Cooking Chat

      December 13, 2014 at 7:02 am

      Thanks Sarah, bubbly is so refreshing!

      Reply
  2. Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm

    December 13, 2014 at 9:00 am

    Your dip sounds lovely and I love Blanc de Blancs. Have not tried this winery yet so I will have to look it up.

    Reply
  3. Valerie Quintanilla

    December 13, 2014 at 10:07 am

    I’m adding this to my bacon recipe list – to go with sparkling, naturally! I’ll have to start a link roll in my Bubbles & Bacon blog post.

    Ciao ciao!

    Reply
  4. Jennifer Martin (Vino Travels)

    December 13, 2014 at 10:25 am

    Sounds like an easy but delicious recipe to prepare and I can see the sparkling wine adding a refreshing quality to this appetizer. Nice job!

    Reply
  5. Camilla @ Culinary Adventures

    December 13, 2014 at 11:04 am

    Did you say ‘bacon’? Yep, I’m in!!

    Reply
  6. Martin D. Redmond

    December 13, 2014 at 3:19 pm

    Your dip looks great David! And that bubbly sounds great too…I’ll have to see if I can track that down. It’s nice to have sparkling wine at various price points!

    Reply
    • Cooking Chat

      December 13, 2014 at 6:25 pm

      Thanks Martin! You sure have been enjoying some great bubbly your way of late I see, but yes, this one is a nice value.

      Reply
  7. Michelle Williams

    December 14, 2014 at 2:37 pm

    Sounds delicious David. I must make this dip and serve with bubbles. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Cooking Chat

      December 14, 2014 at 4:36 pm

      Thanks Michelle, I’m sure you have some good bubbles in mind!

      Reply
  8. William Pollard

    December 17, 2014 at 2:01 pm

    Well I never…collared greens in a dip! Love all the ingredients. Great recipe and well suited to my palate. Love your choice in sparkling French wine too. Will have to track it down. Cheers!

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Cooking Chat

      December 18, 2014 at 5:08 am

      Thanks, like to get creative here! Working on an ecookbook with a focus on greens so am using them for a lot of things.

      Reply
  9. Thalia @ butter and brioche

    December 19, 2014 at 3:47 pm

    Definitely craving this delicious bacon and greens dip right now after seeing the images. It is such a perfect holiday appetizer too!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Cooking Chat

      December 20, 2014 at 5:19 am

      Thanks Thalia, it is a nice option for the holidays!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Piedmont Sparkling Nebbiolo & a Pungent Anchovy Green Sauce #WinePW | foodwineclick says:
    December 13, 2014 at 8:32 am

    […] from our group for you.  Try something new this year! Bacon and Greens Dip with Bubbly by Cooking Chat Piedmont Sparkling Nebbiolo & Pungent Anchovy Green Sauce by foodwineclick Segura Viudas Aria […]

    Reply
  2. Italian Sparkling Wine: Bubbles & Bacon #winePW - GirlsGottaDrinkGirlsGottaDrink says:
    December 13, 2014 at 9:54 am

    […] available from our group for you. Try something new this year! Bacon and Greens Dip with Bubbly by Cooking Chat Piedmont Sparkling Nebbiolo & Pungent Anchovy Green Sauce by foodwineclick Segura Viudas Aria […]

    Reply
  3. Christy Majors – Wine Pairing Weekend: Segura Viudas Aria Cava with Oysters and Spanish Tapas says:
    December 13, 2014 at 10:33 am

    […] and Greens Dip with Bubbly by Cooking Chat Piedmont Sparkling Nebbiolo & Pungent Anchovy Green Sauce by foodwineclick Segura Viudas Aria […]

    Reply
  4. Cranberry Brie Biscuit Bites and Sparkling Muscat #winePW 7 • Curious Cuisiniere says:
    December 14, 2014 at 5:00 am

    […] available from our group for you. Try something new this year! Bacon and Greens Dip with Bubbly by Cooking Chat Piedmont Sparkling Nebbiolo & Pungent Anchovy Green Sauce by foodwineclick Segura Viudas Aria […]

    Reply
  5. Sparkling Wine and Appetizer Pairings #winePW 7 Roundup | Wine Pairing Weekend says:
    December 22, 2014 at 6:05 am

    […] and Greens Dip with Bubbly by Cooking Chat Piedmont Sparkling Nebbiolo & Pungent Anchovy Green Sauce by foodwineclick Segura Viudas Aria […]

    Reply
  6. Muhammara Spicy Red Pepper Dip - Cooking Chat says:
    December 27, 2014 at 6:55 am

    […] Looking for other healthy dips to take along to a party? Try my Spicy Eggplant Dip, or indulge in a bit of bacon while eating your greens with this recipe. […]

    Reply
  7. 20 Pairings for Sparkling Wine - Cooking Chat says:
    December 30, 2014 at 6:47 am

    […] and Greens Dip with Bubbly by Cooking Chat Piedmont Sparkling Nebbiolo & Pungent Anchovy Green Sauce by foodwineclick Segura Viudas Aria […]

    Reply
  8. Spicy Green Onion Dip - Cooking Chat says:
    January 21, 2015 at 5:56 am

    […] will quickly make this old standby, then bring something different along with it, such as this Bacon and Greens Dip. The majority of my extended family and friends like some spice, so they are always quick to dive […]

    Reply
  9. 7 Super Easy Appetizers for #GameDay - Cooking Chat says:
    January 29, 2015 at 7:03 am

    […] Bacon and Greens Dip It didn’t seem right to put together a football game day spread without including some bacon! Here bacon combines with light cream cheese along with some healthy greens, so there is still some healthful aspects to this one. And so tasty (but what would you expect, with bacon involved?). […]

    Reply
  10. Ziti with Bacon and Greens #SundaySupper - Cooking Chat says:
    July 19, 2015 at 5:46 am

    […] greens and cooking them with a bit of bacon, there’s a lot you can do with it! See my Bacon and Greens Dip for another example of this […]

    Reply

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Hi there! I'm David. I love creating tasty, (mostly) healthy recipes, finding great wine pairings, and sharing good food with family and friends. learn more about me!

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