225 g (8 ox) lean streaky bacon, rinded
225 g (8 ox) low fat soft cheese
150 ml (1/4 pint) soured cream
2 gherkins, chopped
salt and pepper
15-30 ml (1-2 tbsp) mayonnaise
chopped fresh parsley, to garnish
potato crisps or celery, carrot and pepper sticks, to serve
1. Line a large ovenproof plate with several sheets of absorbent kitchen paper, lay the bacon rashers in a single layer on the paper and cover them with another layer of paper. Microwave on HIGH for 5-6 minutes until the bacon is cooked. Remove the bacon from the oven, quickly remove the paper and allow the bacon to cool.
2. Finely chop the bacon. Put the cheese in an ovenproof glass bowl and microwave on HIGH for 30 seconds – 1 minute until it is soft. Mix in the soured cream, gherkins and bacon. Season well with salt and pepper, and finally fold in the mayonnaise.
3. Spoon the dip into a serving bowl and garnish it with the parsley. Stand the bowl in the centre of a large plate and surround the bowl with crisps or the vegetable sticks for dipping.
Serves 6—8.