Bacon Wrapped Dates with Manchego, Romesco Sauce

6 steps · 45 min total

1. 01

   Prepare Baking Sheet

   Preheat your oven to 400°F.

   Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, then set a metal cooling rack on top. This setup helps the bacon crisp up evenly.

2. 02

   Pit the Dates

   Using a small paring knife, make a shallow slice lengthwise into each date, just enough to expose the pit. Gently slide your finger in to pop out the pit and discard it, leaving the date mostly intact.
3. 03

   Cut Manchego

   Cut the Manchego cheese into small pieces, roughly the size of the date pits you just removed, so they'll fit snugly inside each date.
4. 04

   Stuff and Wrap Dates

   Lay a strip of bacon on your cutting board and slice it into three equal sections. Take one of these sections.

   Stuff a piece of Manchego into each pitted date. Then, wrap a bacon section around the cheese-stuffed date, making sure the seam is on the bottom. Place the wrapped date seam-side down on the prepared cooling rack. Repeat with all remaining dates.

5. 05

   Bake Dates

   Grind fresh black pepper over the top of the bacon-wrapped dates. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the bacon is deeply golden and crisp.
6. 06

   Serve

   Serve the warm dates with a side of Romesco sauce for dipping, or drizzle a little honey over them for an extra touch of sweetness.