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The Perfect Appetizer with Wine: Sweet Potatoes and Bacon Jam

Rachael White
Stressing over what wine to pair with holiday food? Relax and check out these wines pairing ideas featuring sweet potatoes served with bacon jam and wine that can be shipped to your door.
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Course Appetizer
Servings 30 bites

Ingredients
  

  • 2 large or 3 medium sweet potatoes you'll want enough to make 30 medallions
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 lb bacon gluten free if needed, otherwise just look for thick cut, meaty bacon
  • 1 head of garlic sliced in half across its equator, drizzled with olive oil and wrapped in foil)
  • 1 medium red onion sliced
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons wine Chardonnay or Pinot Noir both taste great
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • creme fraîche or sour cream
  • thyme rosemary or chives for garnish (thyme is my favorite)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into medallions about 1/2 inch thick. Arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Brush the medallions with olive oil on both sides. Bake until just tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
  • Keep the oven heated to 400. Arrange the bacon on a baking sheet lined with foil. On another baking sheet lined with parchment, arrange the onion slices and the head of garlic. Put the bacon on a rack in the top third of the oven and the onion and garlic on the bottom third. Cook for 25 minutes, switching the pans halfway through. If the onions start to get too browned, remove them from the pan but keep the garlic in until it is soft and the cloves easily pop out of their skin.
  • Put the cooked bacon and the onions in a blender. Squeeze the garlic cloves into the blender as well. Pulse until everything is about the same size and the mixture is nearly spreadable. Add the black pepper, maple syrup and the wine to the blender and pulse again a couple of times to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.
  • Spoon 1 teaspoon of the jam onto each sweet potato medallion and place on a serving platter. Top with a teaspoon of creme fraîche or sour cream and garnish with your choice of herb. Grind additional black pepper over the medallions if desired.