created by: Chef John Cskor for Almond Board of California
description:
This tasty appetizer combines the rich flavors of goat cheese, dates and bacon with toasted almonds for an ideal appetizer. Serve with Almond Romesco Sauce for an even richer variation!
servings 12
1/2 cup almond paste
1/4 cup goat cheese
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted and slightly crushed
12 large Medjool dates, pitted
4 strips premium bacon, center cut, well chilled
12 toothpicks
Preheat the oven to 450°F. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together almond paste, goat cheese and toasted crushed almonds. Let mixture sit at room temperature.
Fill a small pastry bag with a small circle tip with the almond mixture and forcefully press almond cheese filling into the whole pitted dates.
Cut bacon, sliced into thirds, creating 12 small even strips. Wrap each slice of bacon around each of the almond filled dates and secure with a toothpick. Place bacon-wrapped dates on a baking sheet with raised edge and bake for 10 minutes until crisp and brown, turning each date at 8 minutes or so.
Serve on a nice platter with optional Romesco dipping sauce.
