Super-App! - Onion Bacon Gruyere Dip

What do we want?  Cheesy dip!  When do we want it?  Pretty much every waking moment!!! Wouldn't you agree?   Of course you would.  I'm supremely confident in this.  The cheesy dip I shall share with you is not your typical dip.  For example, the word "velveeta" will not be featured in this recipe.  Don't stop reading yet!  I'm not above shoving my face full of tasty Rotel dip featuring this processed log of cheese-like wonder.  However, we're talking about REAL cheese here.  REALLY GOOD cheese. Slightly expensive (but TOTALLY worth it) cheese.

Commence the learning portion!  Gruyère (which sounds like grew-yare) is in the Swiss cheese family and is a harder cheese made from cow's milk.   It grates and melts beautifully, which makes it perfect for our upcoming purposes.  In your grocery store, you'll usually find it in a small block in the "fancy cheese" section near the deli.  It also tastes really freakin' good. 

Slices of perfection...click here to find out more about this super cheese!

On to the dip!  Oven to 400 (hot stuff, baby!)  We'll need 4oz of this yummy cheese grated up to start.  Set it to the side for a moment while we prep our other amazing ingredients.  You see, cheese is not the only star of this appetizer...we've also got carmelized onions and bacon goin' on!  So much goodness...I can hardly contain myself!! 

Melt a tsp of butter and 1 tsp of olive oil in a skillet and add one finely chopped onion.  Let it saute in there for at least 20 minutes. Stir the onion around occasionally just to keep it from sticking/burning.  We're going for that beautiful caramel/golden color.  Once you're there, remove the pan from the heat and let the onion cool. 

 

While it's cooling, saute your bacon until crisp.  This recipe calls for 5 strips but I only had 3 today (bacon emergency!)  Maybe you should do 6 strips so you can eat one...that's what I would do!  Once crisp, remove the bacon from the pan and drain on a paper towel.

Bacon and its new BFF gruyere

 

Crumble it into a large bowl, add the cooled onions, and add 3/4 of the cheese you grated earlier.  At this point, I considered eating it all.  3 of my favorite things in one bowl?!  Crazy...just crazy.  I resisted the urge to prematurely eat my grub and added 1/2 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, and 1 tbsp chopped fresh chives to the bowl.  A spinkle of pepper...several stirs with a spatula, and my dip was ready to be transferred to my Pyrex dish for baking.

 

Just added the bacon...aww yea!

 

Safely inside the baking dish, sprinkle on the remaining cheese. 

 

Pop that sucker in the oven for 20 agonizing minutes.  When it's bubbling, golden, and melty, remove it from the oven and sprinkle on a few more chopped chive bits as garnish.  Oh man, this is so good!  It's also as hot as molten lava so you might want to let it cool for a minute, if you can resist.  If you can't, then feel free to burn your tongue, ya dummy!  

 

I like to serve this on toasted baguette slices, though pita chips or even tortilla chips would work nicely.  Or just eat it with a spoon.  Because you're an adult and you CAN!

 

Try it.  You'll like it.

-Sam

Onion Bacon Gruyere Dip

1 tsp butter

1 tsp olive oil

4 oz Gruyère cheese, shredded

1 large onion, chopped

5 slices bacon

2 tbsp chopped fresh chives

1/2 cup canola mayonnaise

1/2 cup fat-free sour cream

 

Preheat oven to 400.

Shred the Gruyere and set aside for now.  Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat. Melt 1 tsp of butter and add oil.  Reduce heat to low, add onion to pan, and sauté for 20 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally.  Place aside to cool.

Saute bacon in a large pan until crisp.  Drain and crumble.

Combine ¾ of the shredded cheese, caramelized onion, chives, mayo, crumbled bacon, and sour cream in a bowl.  Transfer the mixture to an oven proof baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes, until browned and bubbling.

Serve with toasted baguette slices.