Goats Cheese Stuffed Dates
A delightful combination of sweet and savory flavors, these Goats Cheese Stuffed Dates are perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the stuffing
- 250 g goats cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp rosemary finely diced
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- Zest of 1 orange
- salt and pepper to taste
For the main ingredients
- 20 dates fresh
- 250 g bacon diced
- 40 g walnuts roughly chopped
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C / 350 degrees F.
- Using a sharp knife, slice the dates lengthways and remove the seed. Be careful not to split the dates in half. Discard the seeds and set the dates aside.
Cooking
- In a cold pan, add the bacon. Turn the heat to high and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the walnuts, two-thirds of the rosemary, maple syrup, and brown sugar to the pan with the bacon. Cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the bacon is crispy and the mixture has a jammy consistency.
- In a food processor, combine the goats cheese, two-thirds of the orange zest, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Blend until smooth and well combined.
- Stuff the dates with roughly a teaspoon of the goats cheese mixture and lay them onto a baking tray or into a baking dish.
- Sprinkle the candied walnuts and bacon mixture all over the stuffed dates.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle over the remaining rosemary and orange zest and serve immediately.
Notes
Serve warm for the best flavor, garnished with extra rosemary or orange zest. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.