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Photo Credit: Steve Nestor
By Steve Nestor
What is your go-to appetizer when hosting a party at your house? Mine is chicken wings. My guests expect and look forward to the chicken wings. But sometimes I like to mix things up and surprise them with something new.
Here is an appetizer that is sweet, salty, savory, and speedy to make. If you are looking for a quick and delicious appetizer, I have just the thing: bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with blue cheese.
How to Make Bacon-Wrapped Dates
Here is how it all comes together. I used Medjool dates. I started by slicing down the side of each date and removing the pit. I then stuffed each date with a slice of blue cheese.
I cut the bacon in half and spread the slices out on the cutting board.
The Barbecue University Bacon Trick
One trick I learned when I was a student at Barbecue University is to use your hands to stretch out each slice of bacon to make it longer when wrapping food. Stretching out the bacon allows you to overlap the original edge of the bacon.
Next, I wrapped each date with a slice of bacon and secured it with a toothpick. I placed them in the refrigerator to help the bacon stick to the dates.
Photo Credit: Steve Nestor
Griddling the Bacon-Wrapped Dates
I wanted the bacon to get crispy without burning, so I set up the Wildfire drop-in griddle over medium heat. I removed the toothpicks and placed the bacon-wrapped dates on the griddle seam-side down to sear them closed.
The dates grilled for 2 minutes on each side, for a total of 8 minutes. I finished the bacon-wrapped dates with hot honey for some kick.
Photo Credit: Steve Nestor
The bacon was crispy and salty, the dates were warm and sweet, and the blue cheese created a creamy center. The spice from the hot honey balanced the sweetness of the dates and the richness of the blue cheese. Each bite provided a burst of flavors and textures.
Ingredients
- 10 Medjool dates
- 10 slices or pieces blue cheese
- 5 slices bacon, cut in half crosswise
- Hot honey, for finishing
Instructions
- Slice down the side of each date and remove the pit.
- Stuff each date with a slice of blue cheese.
- Cut the bacon slices in half and spread them out on a cutting board. Using your hands, gently stretch each piece of bacon to make it longer.
- Wrap each date with a piece of bacon, overlapping the bacon slightly, and secure it with a toothpick.
- Place the wrapped dates in the refrigerator to help the bacon adhere to the dates.
- Set up the Wildfire drop-in griddle over medium heat.
- Remove the toothpicks and place the bacon-wrapped dates on the griddle seam-side down to sear the bacon closed.
- Griddle for about 2 minutes on each side, about 8 minutes total, or until the bacon is crisp.
- Transfer the dates to a serving plate and finish with hot honey.
Photo Credit: Steve Nestor
A big thank you to Wildfire Outdoor Living for sponsoring this cook.
Wildfire Outdoor Living is an Arizona-based company specializing in high-performance gas grills and premium outdoor kitchen solutions. Wildfire brings a commitment to cutting-edge technology and industry-leading innovation. Their 304 stainless steel design, illuminated LED knobs, cast stainless steel burners, and laser-cut stainless steel cooking grates create products designed to provide peak performance. They also allow you to customize your outdoor kitchen with designer-finish knobs and handles to meet the growing demand for designer outdoor kitchens.
The drop-in griddle will turn your Wildfire gas grill into a full-fledged kitchen for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can enjoy pancakes and bacon for breakfast, smash burgers for lunch, or stir-fry for dinner, all on the drop-in griddle.
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