I Want a Date

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A few weeks back I happened to be looking through September’s issue of Food and Wine Magazine, as I was searching for inspiration for a fall themed dinner. I came across this great recipe for chorizo-filled dates wrapped in bacon — I had to try it.

I’ve wanted to make this recipe for some time now but have not really had a reason to (like one needs a reason to wrap anything in bacon.) However, a friend of mine invited me to a presidential debate party last Friday and all the guests were required to a bring a bottle or food. I was at a loss on what I could make until I saw this; it was great. Prunes and dates are both drupes (thanks wiki) so I figured it was a perfect tribute, McCain was going to get eaten alive by Obama so it seemed fitting that I make these.

I didn’t follow the recipe exactly as indicated in F&W because this was a gay debate party and all dishes had to be free of fats.

Recipe post jump

-Remove the casing of two low fat Italian turkey sausage and cut into small enough chunks to fill the dates.

-Slice the medjool dates down the middle, but only half way so not to cut in half.  Remove the seed and stuff in the sausage.

-Take a slice of the reduced fat turkey bacon and wrap around the date, using a toothpick to secure the bacon in place.

-Sauteed in evoo for about ten to fifteen minutes, until the bacon is a golden brown. To ensure that the sausage is fully cooked I placed it in the oven for ten minutes on 350 degrees, but any longer might dry them out.

This recipe required only two sausages, twenty dates and a packet of bacon.

The flavours were amazing. The juices from the date really infused with the sausage to give a great savoury-sweet taste to it and they are super gooey which gives a great texture. And at 2.5g of fat per piece you can eat as many as you like, but one guest of the party did remind me of something invaluable; “If you wrap anything in bacon it shouldn’t be low fat”.

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More Bacon: Recipes, raves and other bacon bits in Endless Bacon.

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16 comments

  • Jon October 1, 2008  

    Chorizo is quite possibly one of my favorite foods.

    Nothing beats the real thing, but I’m sure this was still delicious.

  • JoeHoya October 1, 2008  

    These do sound amazing. Having just been reacquainted with the delicious mascarpone-stuffed and sea salt-sprinkled dates at Komi, I’m thinking it’s time to start working dates into my cooking at home.

  • Brian October 1, 2008  

    These were outstanding! Definitely the hit of the party.

  • Maidelitala October 1, 2008  

    A pig-filled article during the Days of Awe = Blatant pandering to goyim.
    🙂

  • Britannia October 1, 2008  

    Oh wait, I think you all misunderstood my post. I really do want a date!!

  • JoeHoya October 1, 2008  

    Maidelitala – nothing tref about this post! The bacon and the sausage Brit used are both turkey.

    It does raise the question, though: if bacon is the culinary equivalent of a swear-word, what the fudge is turkey bacon?

  • Maidelitala October 1, 2008  

    So noted. However (!) I wonder if imitation bacon should be considered kosher. I mean, isn’t it just a modern way of getting around the age-old prohibitions?
    turkey bacon = gosh-darn; darn it all to heck; fuuuu-dgecicle; arse; biznitch?

  • gansie October 2, 2008  

    fuuuu-dgecicle — reference to a christmas story?!?!

  • Maidelitala October 2, 2008  

    I had to look up a christmas story to know what you were talking about. I thought you were talking about charles dickens… I was very confused.

  • Paula from Only Cookware October 4, 2008  

    I love dates. I always have some in the cupboard for when I need something sweet to eat.

    Obviously you served these cold?? Are they intentionally made to serve cold or are they better when just cooked and hot out of the oven?

  • Britannia October 4, 2008  

    I served these warm, straight from the oven. Much better warm than cold. But either or will work.

  • Alexandra August 21, 2009  

    I like just the bacon wrapped around a seedless prune, and then you put it to fry until the bacon is cooked. Now I’m hungry! I love bacon!

  • Romona June 6, 2011  

    Love this. Never thought bacon and date together!

    Thanks for sharing,
    Romona
    Publisher, kitchencarts360

  • Natalie October 4, 2011  

    Never would I ever think of pairing dates and bacon together. So happy for the internet and its abundant source of information! I tried this recipe and it was more than a hit! All my friends loved it.

  • chef dan December 11, 2014  

    oooo! these look delicious!! have you tried using spicy sausage to blend sweet+spicy together? i’m gonna have to try that!

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