Description
Medjool dates filled with blue cheese and wrapped in crisp bacon create a mouthwatering appetizer perfect for gatherings. Guests will savor each salty-sweet bite of this simple yet elegant Spanish-inspired delicacy you can prepare in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (12 oz / 340 g) package pitted Medjool dates
- 1 (4 oz / 113 g) log goat cheese, softened to room temperature
- ⅓ cup very finely chopped walnuts
- 2 tsp minced fresh rosemary
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp orange zest plus 2 tsp fresh orange juice (from 1 navel orange)
- 3 tbsps extra-virgin olive oil
- Drizzle of hot honey (optional)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 375ºF (190ºC) and lightly grease a baking dish to ensure smooth roasting.
- Date Preparation: Carefully slice Medjool dates lengthwise, creating a delicate pocket without fully separating them for cheese filling.
- Cheese and Walnut Topping: Gently stuff dates with goat cheese, then craft a fragrant mixture by combining chopped walnuts, finely minced rosemary, orange zest, orange juice, ground cinnamon, sea salt, and olive oil.
- Assembly and Roasting: Arrange cheese-filled dates in a single layer, generously coat with the walnut mixture, and roast in the preheated oven for 15 minutes until the topping turns golden and the dates are thoroughly warmed.
- Serving: Allow the roasted dates to rest for 5 minutes, then transfer to a serving platter. Optionally, drizzle with hot honey to enhance the dish’s flavor complexity and add a spicy-sweet finish.
Notes
- Prep Perfectly: Split dates carefully without cutting completely through to create a clean pocket for cheese filling.
- Cheese Technique: Use soft goat cheese at room temperature for smooth, easy spreading inside dates.
- Topping Trick: Toast walnuts briefly before chopping to enhance their nutty flavor and aromatic profile.
- Serving Suggestion: Allow dates to rest after roasting to let flavors meld and prevent burning your mouth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 159
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 122 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg