Chorizo Filled Dates Recipes

BACON WRAPPED DATES STUFFED WITH CHORIZO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet tray with silicone baking mat or parchment.
• Make an incision on one side of each date and insert a block of chorizo. Squeeze the date shut in your hand to secure. Wrap each date with a bacon strip and secure with a toothpick. Place all the dates on the prepared sheet tray. Roast the dates in the oven until the bacon on top is starting to crisp, 5 to 6 minutes. Turn the dates over and repeat the process.
• Remove the dates from the oven and brush both sides with the maple syrup. Return the dates to the oven until the dates are really crackly and sticky, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve hot.

BACON-WRAPPED DATES STUFFED WITH CHORIZO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
• Make an incision on one side of each date and insert a block of chorizo. Squeeze the date shut in your hand to secure. Wrap each date with a bacon strip and secure with a toothpick. Place all the dates on the prepared baking sheet on their sides. Roast the dates in the oven until the bacon on top is starting to crisp, 5 to 6 minutes. Turn the dates over and repeat the process, baking until the bacon is almost completely cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes more.
• Remove the dates from the oven and brush both sides with the maple syrup. Return the dates to the oven until the dates are really crackly and sticky, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve warm.

CHORIZO-STUFFED DATES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the pit from each date with your fingers. Slip the sausage out of its casings and stuff each date with an almond-size piece (each will be about 1/2 ounce) of chorizo. Add 1/2 inch of water to a small baking pan and place the dates in a single layer stuffed-side up in the pan. Bake until the chorizo is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Lift the dates out of the pan and top each with hot pepper jelly, if using.

DATES STUFFED WITH CHORIZO AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Using a small, sharp knife, cut a lengthwise slit in each date, from the top to the bottom, and remove the pit.
• Pull off the casing from the chorizo. Cut the chorizo and cheese each into 30 thin strips that will fit inside the dates.
• Insert a strip of chorizo and a strip of cheese into each date and press the slit closed.
• Arrange the dates on a serving platter. The platter can be covered and left at room temperature for several hours before serving.
• Serve the appetizers with or without toothpicks.

BACON WRAPPED CHORIZO STUFFED DATES

Steps:

• Using a scissors, cut one side of each date open and stuff with a scant teaspoon of chorizo.
• Wrap the stuffed date with bacon and secure with a toothpick.
• Place on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake in 400 degree oven for about 15-18 minutes.
• Watch closely as the bottoms can burn easily due to the natural sugars in the dates.
• Makes about 45 pieces.

CHORIZO STUFFED DATES WRAPPED IN BACON IN RED PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sauce: Place a heavy-bottomed saucepot over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add a film of olive oil followed by the garlic and shallots with a large pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften and become aromatic, about 3 minutes. Then add the piquillo peppers and tomatoes. Stir until everything is combined and bring the mixture up to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until all the flavors combine and the sauce reduces slightly, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and add the sherry vinegar. After 30 minutes, puree the sauce until smooth if you prefer (see Cook's Note) or leave a little bit chunky.
• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• While the sauce is cooking, prepare the dates: Make a slit down one side of each date. Stuff the date with the chorizo and then close the incision. Wrap with a piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick where the seams meet. Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake until the bacon on one side is crispy, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and remove the picks.
• Pour the red pepper sauce into a shallow baking dish and arrange the dates on top, soggy-side up. Place back in the oven, uncovered, until the bacon on top is crisp, another 10 minutes or so. Remove from the oven and serve the crispy dates with some sauce spooned around and on top.

CHORIZO-FILLED DATES

Steps:

• Cook chorizo in heavy small skillet over medium heat until browned and cooked through, stirring frequently and breaking up lumps with spoon, about 5 minutes. Drain off fat; transfer sausage to small bowl. Add parsley; stir to combine. Cool.
• Working with one date at a time, cut slit along top of date. Gently pry open date and remove pit, leaving pocket. Stuff pocket with 1 scant tablespoon chorizo mixture. Wrap 1 bacon piece around each date, overlapping ends slightly; fasten ends with toothpick.
• Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add dates, toothpick-side down, and cook without moving until bacon browns, about 5 minutes. Continue to cook until bacon is brown on all sides, turning dates occasionally, about 6 minutes longer. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Remove toothpicks. Serve warm.