Benedictine Spread is a local Kentucky Springtime Favorite, served on sandwiches at almost every Kentucky Derby Party. It is delicious in our Jalapeño Poppers with Benedictine Spread Recipe.
Jalapeño Poppers with Benedictine Spread
Benedictine Spread is a Kentucky Favorite made from cream cheese, cucumber, and onion and colored, traditionally, with a dash of green food coloring.
Benedictine was created in the early part of the 20th century by Jennie C. Benedict, a popular caterer and restaurateur in Louisville. It was originally, and still is, used for making cucumber sandwiches. But in recent years it has been used as a dip that tops chips and crackers and comes spread on sandwiches with extras like mayonnaise, bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes.
Although benedictine is rarely seen in restaurants outside the state of Kentucky, it has been written about in articles in national publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post and Garden and Gun and Saveur Magazines, and also reported about on multimedia outlets such as the Food Network and NPR.
And now it tastes great in a Jalapeño Popper. 😉
Note – The Benedictine spread melts very easily and seems to expand when cooked. So it is going to run out of the jalapeños. To make up for this be sure to be very generous with the spread when filling each jalapeño. Also, the best way to cook them, so you don’t lose a bit of this delicious spread, is in individual serving dishes that will contain the melted spread – and look good doing it! (See the photos above and below.)
About the Recipes
One thing you will notice immediately is that most of our recipes do not have quantities listed for the ingredients. This is by design.
Jalapeños come in many different sizes and shapes (often depending upon the time of year). Their size, the cut you choose (see below) and your own personal tastes will determine how much cream cheese, bacon or other ingredients you put into each pepper. Use your tastes and be sure to experiment a bit.
You will also notice that most directions call for cooking the poppers in an oven. This is because that is the easiest and quickest way for most of us to cook and enjoy jalapeño poppers year round. But if you want to grill, smoke or cook your poppers any other way – Almost every recipe we have will work. We will let you know if it won’t.
How to Cut and Clean Jalapeños for Poppers (With Pictures)
Click the links below to how to make any style Jalapeño Popper cut.
Jalapeño Poppers with Benedictine Spread Recipe
Benedictine Spread is a local Kentucky Springtime Favorite, served on sandwiches at almost every Kentucky Derby Party. It is delicious in our Jalapeño Poppers with Benedictine Spread Recipe.
Ingredients (See Box Above, "IMPORTANT - About Our Recipes" for Information about Quantities)
- Jalapeño Peppers
- Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper to taste
- Benedictine Spread see above, store bought (if you live in Kentucky or get extremely lucky at your local supermarket) or homemade (It is easy. See the recipe below.)
- Onions or Shallots chopped fine
- Hot Sauce or Spicy BBQ Sauce of choice, store bought or homemade (See below for links to some good recipes to make at home. Chili’s Honey-Chipotle Sauce is especially good on these), to drizzle and to dip
- Bacon thinly sliced, to wrap
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cut the jalapeños into a canoe cut. (Click link above to see how to do a Canoe Cut.)
- Sprinkle insides of cut jalapeños lightly with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Place the jalapeños on a cookie sheet. Place sheet in preheated oven. Cook for about 10 minutes. (Skip this step if you prefer your finished jalapeños to be more raw and crunchy.)
- Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly so you can handle them.
- Add Benedictine spread to each jalapeño. Be generous.
- Sprinkle with chopped onions or shallots.
- Drizzle with a small amount of hot sauce or spicy BBQ sauce.
- Wrap each jalapeño TIGHTLY with bacon. Use a toothpick to secure bacon, if you like.
- Place 1 or more jalapeños into individual oven-safe serving dishes. Place dishes on clean cookie sheet. Place back in oven.
- Cook, watching closely, until Benedictine spread is hot and bubbling, or bacon is done, about 15 - 20 minutes. Check to make sure jalapeños and bacon are done to your liking. If not, place back in oven for more time.
- Remove from oven when done.
- Serve with hot sauce or spicy BBQ sauce, to dip.
Benedictine Spread Recipe
This recipe comes from Emma Lou’s Café, in Louisville’s Highlands neighborhood (sadly, now closed) and creates a light, fresh tasting spread.
Ingredients (See Box Above, "IMPORTANT - About Our Recipes" for Information about Quantities)
- 1 1/2 Cucumbers
- 1/2 small White Onion
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon White Pepper
- 24 ounces 3 cups Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 - 3 drops Green Food Color optional (This is traditional, to make the spread more resemble the cucumber it is made from, but seldom used today. Personally I wouldn't - and didn't - include it in my spread.)
Instructions
- Peel and slice the cucumbers lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and discard. Cut into large pieces.
- In a food processor, puree the cucumber and onion together. Squeeze out excess liquid with a cheesecloth or by pressing the mixture through a fine sieve with a spatula.
- Combine cucumber and onion with other ingredients, either by hand or using the paddle attachment on an electric mixer.
- Keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Dipping Sauce Recipes:
Click on any Name below for the Recipe
- Chili’s Honey-Chipotle Sauce Recipe – Make our Chili’s Honey-Chipotle Sauce Recipe at home tonight for your family. With our Secret Restaurant Recipe your Honey-Chipotle Sauce will taste just like Chili’s.
Related Recipes:
Click on any Name below for the Recipe
- BBQ Bacon Cheese Bomb Recipe – This is an insanely good party treat — Meat and cheese wrapped in bacon and slathered with BBQ sauce. On a stick. INSANE!
- …More Delicious Recipes Coming Soon
Here are a Few More Recipes You Will Love:
Click on any Name below for the Recipe
- Applebee’s Wonton Tacos – Make these Applebee’s Favorite appetizers at home. Spicy chicken-stuffed wonton shells with slaw and cilantro.
- King’s Hawaiian BBQ Meatball Sliders Recipe – Bite-sized sliders that are packed with flavor! Bacon, BBQ sauce, and grilled onions, on a King’s Hawaiian roll.
- …More Delicious Recipes Coming Soon
Jalapeño Poppers with Benedictine Spread Recipe is original. Benedictine Recipe is adapted from a recipe from Emma Lou’s Café, Louisville (closed) by way of the Garden and Gun Magazine Website. Additional Information Courtesy of Wikipedia and is used by permission.
