Pancetta Wrapped Dates Stuffed With Manchego Cheese And Mint Recipes

CHEESE-STUFFED DATES WITH PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together the cheeses and basil and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Gently pull the dates apart and stuff with about 1/2 teaspoon of the cheese mixture. Close the dates around the filling. Wrap a piece of prosciutto around each date and secure with a toothpick.
• Arrange the stuffed dates on a platter and serve.

PANCETTA-WRAPPED DATES STUFFED WITH MANCHEGO CHEESE AND MINT

Steps:

• Cut small slice off 1 short end of each date and discard. Using tweezers or needle-nose pliers, carefully remove pits from dates through small opening; discard pits. Place 1 mint leaf across opening of 1 date, covering cavity. Using 1 cheese strip, push mint leaf and cheese into date cavity. Using fingers, pinch date opening closed. Repeat with remaining dates, mint leaves, and cheese strips. Wrap 3 pancetta slices securely around each date, enclosing date completely. Place pancetta-wrapped dates on baking sheet, spacing slightly apart. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake dates uncovered until pancetta is crisp and bottoms of dates caramelize, about 30 minutes. Using tongs, transfer dates to platter and serve warm.
• A Spanish cheese made from sheep's milk; sold at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores.

BACON WRAPPED DATES STUFFED WITH MANCHEGO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Make an incision on one side of each date and insert a block of Manchego. 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 a sheet tray lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Roast the dates in the oven until the bacon on top is starting to crisp, 5 to 6 minutes. Turn the dates over and cook the other side until the bacon crisps.
• Remove the dates from the oven and brush both sides with maple syrup. Return the dates to the oven until they are really crackly and sticky, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve hot.

BACON WRAPPED DATES STUFFED WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Slice dates in half, and open them up. Pinch off pieces of blue cheese, and place them into the center of the dates. Close the halves of the dates, and wrap a half-slice of bacon around the outside. Secure each one with a toothpick. Arrange in a baking dish or on a baking sheet with sides to catch any grease.
• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the bacon is crisp. Turn dates over after the first 20 minutes for even cooking.