Ingredients:

  • 1 cup (150 g) High-quality, traditional flavour beef jerky
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) Olive oil or vegetable oil
  • 1 medium shallot, finely minced (or 1/4 cup finely minced yellow onion)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 blocks (16 oz / 450 g) Full-fat cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup (240 g) Full-fat sour cream
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) Whole milk (optional, to adjust consistency)
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) Smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) Onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon (3 g) Fine sea salt (taste before adding more)
  • 1/4 teaspoon (1 g) Freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1/4 cup (10 g) Fresh chives, finely chopped, divided

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Jerky: Roughly tear the beef jerky into 1-inch pieces. Place the jerky pieces into a food processor. Pulse several times until the jerky is finely ground into a coarse meal, resembling coarse breadcrumbs. Do not over-process into a paste. Set aside.
  2. Build the Flavour Aromatics: Heat the oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add the minced shallots (or onion) and sauté gently until soft and translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the Worcestershire sauce. Let the mixture cool slightly (about 5 minutes).
  3. Mix the Creamy Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Blend until completely smooth and homogeneous. If the dip is too thick, add the milk, one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches a desired, easily scoopable consistency.
  4. Combine and Chill: Fold the cooled sautéed aromatics and the ground jerky meal into the cream cheese base. Add half of the fresh chopped chives and mix until everything is evenly incorporated. Transfer the dip mixture to an airtight container and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours, preferably 4 hours or overnight. This rest period is crucial for flavor infusion.
  5. Serve: Before serving, allow the dip to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes to soften slightly. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish generously with the remaining fresh chives.