Goats cheese stuffed dates
A decadent snack for pre drinks or pre Christmas dinner.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 20 dates
- 250 g bacon diced
- 40 g walnuts roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon rosemary finely diced
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 250 g goats cheese
- 1 orange zest
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees C / 350 degrees F
- Using a sharp knife, slice the dates lengthways and remove the seed. Ensure you do not split the dates in half. Discard of the seeds and set the dates to the side.
- In a cold pan, add the bacon. Turn the heat to high and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the walnuts, two thirds of the rosemary, maple syrup and brown sugar to the pan with the bacon and cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the bacon is crispy and you have a jammy consistency.
- In a food processor, combine the goats cheese, two thirds of the orange zest, olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Blend until smooth and well combined.
- Stuff the dates with roughly a teaspoon of the goats cheese mixture and lay them onto a baking tray or into a baking dish. Sprinkle the candied walnuts and bacon mixture all over. Bake for 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle over the remaining rosemary and orange zest and serve immediately.
