Bacon Wrapped Dates W Red Pepper Sauce Recipes

TAPAS: BACON WRAPPED DATES AND SWEET RED BELL PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Soak round toothpicks in water for 15 minutes, this will prevent burning when baking.
• RED PEPPER SAUCE:.
• Place garlic cloves w/ peels on a baking dish and bake for 15 minutes.
• Rub pepper and onion with olive oil.
• After baking the garlic cloves for 15 minutes, add the red bell pepper and onion to the baking sheet and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until tender and roasted. It may take a bit longer.
• Squeeze the roasted garlic out of it's paper into a blender along with the roasted onion and bell pepper. *use a blender or small food processor.
• Blend until smooth. Slowly add olive oil until blended. * you may use more or less.
• Add salt.
• Slowly add half and half until creamy while blending.
• Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Warm in the microwave before serving.
• BACON WRAPPED DATES:.
• Cut bacon strips in half (making them 1/2 as long approximately 3").
• Microwave the strips for 2 minutes.
• Wrap each date with a 1/2 strip of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
• Spray a 4 sided cookie sheet with nonstick spray.
• Place all prepared dates in the cookie sheet.
• NOTE: If you have mini muffin pan, suspend the bacon wrapped date over each opening and the bacon fat will drip off into the muffin pan. This is my preferred method.
• Bake for approximately 15 minutes, turning once. *Important to turn.
• After turning, continue baking for an additional 10 minutes or until bacon brown and crispy or as desired.
• BAKING TIME may vary. Just be sure to watch carefully.
• Serve with sweet red pepper sauce for dipping or puddle the sauce on a plate and place the wrapped dates in the sauce.
• Note: Everything can be prepared and baked ahead of time and served later. Just warm through in the microwave for about 30 seconds.

BACON-WRAPPED DATES

Steps:

• Using scissors, cut each slice of bacon in half crosswise at a diagonal, like cutting ribbon. (This will help secure the bacon to the date.) Starting at the straight end of the bacon, roll the bacon around the dates. Tuck the point under the wrapped bacon to secure. Place seam side down on a baking sheet.
• Place in the oven, and heat the oven to 400 degrees. Cook for 10 minutes, then flip and cook until golden brown all over, another 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of your bacon.
• Season with black pepper (if desired), then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to crisp and cool slightly.

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.