Description
Irresistible roasted stuffed dates elevate simple ingredients into a luxurious Mediterranean-inspired appetizer. Creamy cheese, crunchy nuts, and smoky bacon create a delightful flavor symphony you cannot resist tasting.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 20 Medjool dates, pitted
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 4 ounces (113 grams) goat cheese (optional)
Optional Protein/Savory:
- 10 slices bacon, cut in half
Optional Nuts and Sweeteners:
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) chopped pecans or walnuts
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) honey or maple syrup
Finishing Touch:
- Balsamic glaze, for drizzling
Instructions
- Warm the culinary workspace to a toasty 375F (190C), ensuring the oven reaches optimal temperature for roasting.
- Delicately slice dates lengthwise, creating a gentle pocket and carefully extracting any existing pits.
- Craft a luxurious filling by blending cream cheese and goat cheese into a smooth, creamy consistency, incorporating a touch of honey or maple syrup for enhanced flavor profile.
- Generously nestle the prepared cheese mixture into each date’s newly created pocket, ensuring a lavish and complete fill.
- For those desiring a savory twist, carefully envelop each stuffed date with a half slice of bacon, securing the delicate package with a slender toothpick.
- Meticulously arrange the prepared date parcels on a lined baking sheet, positioning them seam-side down to maintain structural integrity.
- Roast within the preheated oven for approximately 15-20 minutes, monitoring until the bacon transforms into a crisp golden texture and the dates caramelize to perfection.
- Once removed from the oven, elevate the flavor profile by elegantly drizzling a rich balsamic glaze across the finished delicacies before presenting to eager guests.
Notes
- Opt for Medjool dates for their plump, soft texture and rich caramel-like sweetness, which works best for stuffing.
- Choose full-fat cream cheese for a more luxurious and creamy filling that melts beautifully inside the dates.
- Experiment with alternative protein wrappings like prosciutto or turkey bacon for different dietary preferences or flavor profiles.
- For a vegetarian version, skip the bacon and sprinkle toasted nuts or seeds on top for added crunch and protein.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 10
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg