Chorizo Stuffed Dates With Piquillo Pepper Sauce Recipes

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-STUFFED DATES WITH PIQUILLO PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and shallots and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add peppers and tomatoes and cook on low heat for about 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until the liquid in the sauce has mostly evaporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Let sauce cool slightly, then transfer to a blender and process until smooth. Thin with warm water to reach desired consistency if necessary. You want a thick sauce but not so thick that it mounds on the plate.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Stuff dates with chorizo, using about 1/2 tablespoon of chorizo per date. Cut bacon slices in half lengthwise and wrap a slice around each date.
• Place stuffed dates on a small baking sheet and bake 15 minutes, or until chorizo is cooked through. Turn broiler to high and broil for 2 to 4 minutes, or until bacon is dark brown and crisp.
• Spread sauce on each plate and place 3 dates on top. Serve warm.

PIQUILLO PEPPERS STUFFED WITH CHORIZO AND MANCHEGO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a large saute pan set over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and chorizo. Cook until well browned, 7 to 8 minutes, breaking up the chorizo with the back of a wooden spoon as it cooks. Add the garlic, carrots, celery, shallots, salt, pepper and chile flakes, and saute until the onions become translucent, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a large mixing bowl to cool slightly. Add half of the Manchego, the breadcrumbs, half of the parsley and the cream cheese. Stir well to mix everything evenly. Using a medium spoon, carefully stuff each of the piquillo peppers with the filling. Arrange the stuffed peppers on a baking sheet and sprinkle with remaining Manchego. Bake in the center of the oven until the cheese melts and is slightly bubbly around the edges, 6 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a platter and garnish with the remaining chopped parsley to serve.

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.

STUFFED PIQUILLO PEPPERS WITH CHORIZO AND MANCHEGO

Steps:

• Coat a saute pan, over medium heat, with olive oil. Add the onion, season with salt, to taste, and toss in the crushed red pepper. Saute the onions until they are soft and very aromatic, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 2 to 3 more minutes. Stir in the chorizo and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the bread crumbs. Let the mixture cool. When cool, add the Manchego and parsley. Taste and adjust the seasoning, if needed.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Stuff the peppers with the filling and arrange them on a sheet pan. If there is extra stuffing, press a little on top of each of the peppers. Put the peppers in the oven to warm through, about 8 minutes.
• While the peppers are in the oven, combine the arugula, almonds and scallions in a large bowl. Dress the salad with sherry vinegar, big fat finishing oil and salt, to taste. Check for seasoning and divide the salad between 4 serving plates.
• Remove the peppers from the oven and arrange 2 peppers on each salad. Serve while the peppers are warm.