I first tasted these fabulous sweet and savory morsels in New York City while visiting my daughter a few years back. After a morning of shopping we went to this great little tapas restaurant located on the bottom floor of the ABC Home Store – we sat at a big communal table and ordered these as an appetizer before our lunch... I came home and tried my best to recreate the dates I had in New York and this is what I came up with... Whenever I make these little bites as part of an appetizer party guests love them and keep asking me for more.
The Recipe
BACON WRAPPED DATES
SERVED ON BELGIAN ENDIVE WITH BLUE CHEESE AIOLI
Makes 24 pieces
- 12 Slices Bacon about half cooked and drained of fat......
- 24 pitted dates
- 24 whole roasted almonds
24 Belgian endive leaves - Separated, washed and dried. I use two different colors to make the presentation really pretty - You can also get these in a package from Trader Joe's in the produce section - they come three endive to a package, usually two green and one red.
Stuff dates with an almond - Wrap with 1/2 slice par-cooked limp bacon and secure with a tooth pick. You can do a day ahead.
Blue Cheese Aioli
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 1 tbls. Snipped chives
- Pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients together - Can be done the day before.
Just before serving - Bake dates in a 350 degree oven until the bacon is crisp. Approx 8-10 minutes... Take out of oven and drain on paper towels. Take toothpicks out of the dates.
Place a small dollop of Blue Cheese Aioli on the wide end of the endive leave and place the date on top of that.
Place on a platter and serve warm..........
