Easy Appetizer Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Dates
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If you need a quick, healthy and easy appetizer recipe, try this one for bacon-wrapped dates. Everyone loves bacon-wrapped dates. They also make a great snack — and they’ll keep in the fridge for days. (But I doubt you’ll end up with any left.)
This is an exremely easy appetizer recipe. The bacon-wrapped dates only take about 10 minutes to prep — then 15-20 minutes in the oven. You can have these bacon-wrapped dates ready in less than half an hour.
I suggest only buying nitrate-free bacon, ideally from a farm or producer you trust. I usually buy my bacon from Rocky Canyon Farm here in Los Angeles. They don’t feed their pigs soy, it’s not genetically modified, and they don’t use hormones or antibiotics. And all their bacon and sausage is nitrate-free.
Why Nitrate-Free? There’s a lot of research out there that suggests that processed meats containing nitrates cause cancer. Read this article, Consumer Warning: Processed Meats Cause Cancer, which says that “Processed meat consumption results in 67% increase in pancreatic cancer risk.” I think that’s reason enough to spend a few extra bucks on the nitrate-free variety.
Ingredients:
1 package (8 oz) nitrate-free bacon
1 pound dates (organic if possible)
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut the bacon slices in half.
3. Pit the dates with your fingers or with a paring knife.
4. Wrap each date with a half a slice of bacon. Use toothpicks if necessary.
5. Set on a baking dish, ideally one with high sides, so the bacon grease doesn’t spill all over your oven when it melts.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the bacon gets crispy.
7. Remove from oven and transfer the bacon-wrapped dates to a serving platter.
Note: Make sure you save that perfectly good bacon grease — pour it into a cast iron skillet and use it for something else!
This post is a part of Kitchen Tip Tuesdays at Tammy’s Recipes, Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays at Blessed With Grace and Blissfully Domestic. Visit Tammy’s Recipes, Blessed With Grace, and Blissfully Domestic for more recipes and kitchen tips.
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06/04/2009 at 6:43 pm Permalink
Even better… add a bit of peanut butter in the date then wrap them in bacon… sounds weird but it’s SO GOOD! That is one of our favorite snacks/appetizers!
Teri H’s last blog post..Homemade Peanut Butter!
06/04/2009 at 6:46 pm Permalink
Oooh, Teri that sounds so yummy.
I have also heard of stuffing the bacon-wrapped dates with bleu cheese or Parmesan or garlic slivers or almonds.
I bet quince paste would be delicious too.
06/04/2009 at 7:27 pm Permalink
You had me at “wrapped in bacon”.
07/04/2009 at 4:50 am Permalink
My sister made these for her wedding reception and they were a huge hit. She piped cream cheese inside. Yum!
07/04/2009 at 4:57 am Permalink
Oh my goodness that sounds so good!
I’m going to try it w/ almonds and goat cheese first…
Renee’s last blog post..Best PMS Question Ever…
07/04/2009 at 5:18 am Permalink
There’s a place up here that does dates wrapped in prosciutto and stuffed with lemon curd and it’s so good. The saltiness of the cured meat is a perfect foil for the sweetness of the date.
Jenny’s last blog post..10 Reasons NOT to Give Up Red Meat
07/04/2009 at 6:20 am Permalink
As Homer Simpson is so fond of saying, “Mmmm, bacon.” Hard to go wrong with sweet, smoky and salty in the same bite!
Local Nourishment’s last blog post..Cherry Pecan Salad
07/04/2009 at 6:36 am Permalink
I am so glad you joined us and linked up to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday. I love this recipe for bacon wrapped dates. You can NEVER go wrong with bacon. Right? Also, thanks for all the great info on nitrate free bacon. I haven’t really thought about it. Thanks for bringing the subject to me. I hope you will join us again, very soon!
Lisa@Blessedwithgrace’s last blog post..Tempt My Tummy Tuesday…
07/04/2009 at 12:42 pm Permalink
Ann Marie,
Thank you for emailing me and inviting me to email you back with questions.
I’m not sure I got through; I sent two within the last few weeks and haven’t heard back from you….do you remember receiving them?
Thanks,
Beth
07/04/2009 at 7:29 pm Permalink
I saw your link on Blissfully Domestic, and I’m glad I stopped by. I would never think to do this. Thanks for the recipe.
07/04/2009 at 7:40 pm Permalink
So after reading your site this morning I had to make these for lunch! They were so good and with a salad they made quite a meal. Thanks for the great recipe
07/04/2009 at 9:49 pm Permalink
This looks good, salty and sweet always go good together.
Brenda’s last blog post..Dog, Cat, Rat for Wordful Wednesday
08/04/2009 at 8:27 pm Permalink
My husband would LOVE these. Thanks for sharing.
Kimi @ The Nourishing Gourmet’s last blog post..Nourishing Nettle Soup
08/04/2009 at 11:42 pm Permalink
I’ve never heard of these. Sounds interesting.
Jerri’s last blog post..Review for List2Shop.com
11/04/2009 at 5:22 pm Permalink
Thanks for reminding me about this, I have had them made with dates cut in 1/2, filled with goat cheese and wrapped in bacon…so good!
14/04/2009 at 7:16 am Permalink
I just posted about this recipe. They were a hit! Thanks for sharing!
Kimi @ The Nourishing Gourmet’s last blog post..Two Great Bacon Recipes: Bacon Wrapped Dates, and Bacon Mayo
01/11/2009 at 8:49 am Permalink
Great recipie, but to make it really amazing, stuff the date with some cajun andouille sausage…mmmm….
01/01/2010 at 2:04 pm Permalink
Great minds think alike! I did a similar post in August:
http://www.leftoverqueen.com/2009/08/11/cheddar-cheese-stuffed-bacon-wrapped-dateson-a-salad-with-balsamic-glaze
Stuff them with some cheese and they are really rockin’!
Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen´s last blog ..Your Favorite Posts of 2009!
12/06/2010 at 8:14 pm Permalink
I ate these in Decatur GA at a new Spanish restaurant, the Iberian Pig, and loved them! Home now, I looked up the recipe and am headed to the store to make these little delicious delights. Thanks for sharing.