Celebrate the Winter Solstice with this hot, cheesy sausage and swiss chard dip.
A Yuletide Feast
As the shortest day and longest night of the year approaches, we gather with friends and loved ones to celebrate Yule and welcome the winter season. Celebrated across many cultures, the Winter Solstice holds a dear place in the hearts of many. With warm candle light, garlands of evergreen, and a flaming Yule log, celebrate this Yuletide season with a lavish winter feast. Join us in raising a glass of cheer as welcome the coming of the light!
A spicy, cheesy dip
A warm and cozy baked cheese dip, packed with spicy sausage and tender winter greens, is the perfect winter appetizer. Hardy Swiss chard is sautéed and blended with several cheeses in this twist on a classic baked dip. Serve with crunchy, homemade garlic crostini for a punch of garlicky flavour.
Ingredients
Sausage: I used a spicy Italian sausage for this recipe. Use your favourite spicy fresh sausage meat instead.
Swiss chard: This recipe uses both the stems and leaves. Finely dice the stems and thinly shred the leaves.
Cheese: This cheesy dip has several different kinds of cheese. Softened cream cheese is blended with the sausage and chard while both mozzarella and parmesan are mixed into the creamy filling and spread on top of the dip.
How to Make Spicy Sausage and Swiss Chard Dip
Make the garlic crostini
Turn the oven broiler on high. In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, garlic, garlic powder, basil, kosher salt, chili flakes, and pepper. Thinly slice the baguette on a bias and arrange on a baking sheet. Brush one side of the baguette slices with the garlic butter.
Broil for 3 to 4 minutes until golden brown. Flip the slices and brush the other side with the garlic butter. Broil again for 3 to 4 minutes until the bottoms are golden brown. Transfer the garlic crostini to a rack to cool. Set aside.
Prep the ingredients
In a non-stick skillet, sauté the sausage until fully cooked. Drain the sausage and set aside. In another skillet, heat the olive oil and butter over medium high heat. Add the chard stems and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until tender. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute. Add the chard leaves and cook just until wilted. Transfer to a bowl and set aside to cool
In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise. Whisk together until smooth. Add the cooked sausage and chard along with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese. Stir to combine.
Bake the dip
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Transfer the dip to an oven safe dish. Top with the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the dip is bubbly, heated through, and the cheese is golden on top.
Serve the Spicy Sausage and Swiss Chard Dip
Serve the warm dip with the garlic crostini. Alternatively, serve this dip with tortilla chips. Enjoy!
