What do nearly all tapas restaurants have in common? Bacon Wrapped Dates! Usually stuffed with almonds, they are the perfect nuggets of salty wrapped around sweet. Each bite is intensely flavored, exuding a smokey aroma. These morsels are worthy of that cliche label, “match made in heaven.”
Every time I go out for tapas with the girls, they order the bacon wrapped dates, without fail and usually order seconds. If you’ve somehow missed this delicious treat, head out to Alta, Pipa, Boqueria, Sala 19, or make it yourself. It’s laughably easy!
The recipe is a small portion but it’s easy to understand how to multiply it by 2, 3, 4, or 20 for a large party. You can do all the stuffing and wrapping ahead of time and cook them when you need. You can even brown them as guests are arriving and having a glass of wine. It will smell insanely good in your kitchen.
As an extra throw-in, I like to throw asparagus into that lovely bacon grease oozing out onto the pan. Mmm…
Bacon Wrapped Dates
~3 appetizer pieces
- 3 dried Medjool dates
- 9 almonds (preferably Marcona)
- 3 strips bacon
Instructions –
1. Slice date open lengthwise on one side. Remove the pit. Repeat with the other dates.
2. Fill the empty cavities of the dates with the almonds.
3. Close the dates back up by just pushing the sides together. Wrap a slice of bacon around each date and place them seam side down.
4. Heat a small flat pan, preferably cast iron, on medium heat. Place the bacon wrapped dates, seam side down on the pan until the the bottoms are golden and the seam is sealed.
5. Turn the bacon wrapped dates and brown all the other sides. Serve immediately or hold in a warm oven if you are serving in 10 to 15 minutes.
How fabulous this looks! I have also had the dates stuffed with blue cheese,then wrapped in bacon, and let me tell you…that is also a delight! 😉
Sarah, I would so try that right now if I could eat blue cheese (preggers).
Devils on horseback! Love this, simple and so tasty!
pigpigscorner, I had never heard of them called that. Funny.
These look good, but they would be even better stuffed with goat cheese.
Wow yum! I’ve never had bacon-wrapped dates but how I love bacon-wrapped prunes! Fantastic! These look so delicious!
Great idea. I will make this real soon.
Love this! For a quick snack, I’ll use Sunsweet Pitted Dates. Cut each slice of bacon in thirds, wrap around a date (stuffed or not stuffed), and secure with toothpick. Then bake at 350-400 degrees in toaster oven on baking rack, so the little devils don’t sit in their own grease, for 20-30 minutes. I usually flip them over at the 15 minute mark. Just keep an eye on them after 20 minutes or so. Yummy!
I made stuffed dates at Christmas for an appetizer but I used cream cheese and an almond for the stuffing…amazing is the closest I can come to how they were. And easy to do since they baked in the oven….