Date Night

Remember back around our wedding anniversary post, we mentioned our date night to a local bistro and the amazing stuffed date appetizer we enjoyed? Well, we finally recreated our own version and, spoiler alert, we’ve made it several times over the past few weeks. It’s that good.

The restaurant version featured dates stuffed with blue cheese, wrapped with bacon and drizzled with a balsamic reduction. Our version is Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates with a Balsamic Reduction. It made for a great light dinner one evening, a side dish to another meal and most recently an appetizer for a backyard dinner party with friends. It has fast become a staple – easy and delicious, and those types of meals are always going to win big here.

We started by pitting our dates.

Next we grabbed our ice wine syrup from Canada (Honey also works well – we tried that in the first version.).

We combined a bit of the syrup with our goat cheese and freshly minced rosemary.

Then we stuffed each of the dates with the goat cheese and wrapped them with a strip of prosciutto.

Mike tossed the dates onto the grill for us (We tried smoking them at our dinner party too – also fantastic!) and got them nice and crispy.

Finally, we served the warm dates with a drizzle of balsamic reduction. C’est magnifique!

Okay, can you tell I love these little things? They are so good and romantic, I’m busting out in French! Seriously, I could pop them all day long. Easily 4 spoons.

Mike couldn’t get enough either. He said this was a serious 4 spoon recipe. The tangy goat cheese with a hint of sweetness, the combination of dates and prosciutto and then the bite of the balsamic vinegar…it’s a flavor party!

Now despite our enthusiasm, the kids were a bit less excited about the dates. Mr. N tried one each time we made them. By the third time he said that they were 2-1/2 spoons (The prosciutto got 4 spoons from him.). So I think he’s coming around. They are growing on him.

As for Miss A, well despite her favorite condiment in the world adorning the dates, she wasn’t too impressed. She wouldn’t really give us a spoon rating, rather she would make a disgusted face, then burst into a smile and say, “The bacon is 4 spoons!” Always the optimist, this little one! She can find the silver lining in anything.

Have a great weekend everyone. We’re off to enjoy some more summer fun before it’s back to school. We’ll see you next week with our dinner party meal (Mike busted out the smoker again.). Until then, here’s to silver linings!

Print this recipe: Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates and a Balsamic Reduction

54 thoughts on “Date Night”

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  11. Yasmine says:
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    Stuffed dates are SO addictive! I’m Muslim, and we’re now into the last few days of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting (from sunrise to sunset). Dates are traditionally eaten at iftar, the breaking of the fast, and in the morning meal just before starting the fast as well. Medjool dates are my favorite — so big and juicy! I lovelovelove stuffing medjool dates with cream cheese, then adding pecans (or walnuts) on top. Delicious!

    Am not a huge fan of goat cheese, and have a container sitting in the fridge that I don’t know what to do with, so thankyou for the idea of mixing goat cheese and honey. I’ll be trying this out! (and will probably stuff some more dates for tonight’s iftar as well =))

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    • Kristy says:
      Reply

      Thank you so much for sharing Yasmine! I’m going to read this to the kids in the morning. We love learning about various traditions. I hope that you enjoy the dates! We had some medjool dates for one of the times we made this – they were fantastic! Definitely bigger and juicier. 🙂 And I’m thinking the next time we make these (which will be soon no doubt) I’m going to add some nuts too. Happy Ramadan. 🙂

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  12. Charles says:
    Reply

    Hi Kristy, you know, I’ve never been able to quite get on board with dates, they always seemed a bit squishy for my tastes, but I’d be with Miss. A – all about the “bacon” here. I love prosciutto – all crispy and grilled up, and oozing with the cheese in the middle – yum!

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    • Kristy says:
      Reply

      This was the first time I had dates, outside of a date bread. They are a bit squishy, but with this combo of ingredients I just adored them. Now, I haven’t brought myself to try one on its own yet though. 😉

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  15. Asmita (@FoodieAsmita) says:
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    I would never have thought of stuffing the dates with goat cheese and then wrapping them with prosciutto. I love the salty and sweet combination. I have lots of dates, will go and get prosciutto first thing in the morning and try this out. Yummy!

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    • Kristy says:
      Reply

      The ice wine syrup is super sweet, so it doesn’t take much more than a tablespoon or two in recipes. We’ve used it in a variety of dishes – it’s been a blast and sooooo good! 🙂

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  19. spicegirlfla says:
    Reply

    C’est magnifique! Indeed Kristy! This is so how I love to cook! Finding those special, simply ideas and working them into a season of meals! They are so sexy and romantic….I hope I fnd an Atlanta guy soon to try these on for! In the meantime, my son and I will have to enjoy !

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  20. Nami | Just One Cookbook says:
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    Oh my gosh, this looks delicious! I have prosciutto but don’t have dates! I can see why you got addicted to this… must be delicious with balsamic reduction. Hmm yummy!

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  21. ChgoJohn says:
    Reply

    These sound so good, Kristy. What a great combo of flavors but the crispy prosciutto is what sold me on them. I’d have to seat myself across the room from them or it would be embarrassing relatively quickly. I hope you guys find a great way to close out the Summer.

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  25. Eva Taylor says:
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    What a great variation on Devils on Horseback (bacon wrapped dates). I’m tempted to try the blue cheese version you had at the restaurant. I once had a friend tell me after one of our parties that he only realized how many of these delightful morsels he ate was when he got home and emptied his pockets from all the toothpicks he collected! He said he downed about 20 of them; they ate that addictive! I can hardly wait to try your variation.

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  28. Kelly @ Inspired Edibles says:
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    Date Night? What’s that?? 😉 – magnifique certain! These date bundles look incredible – love that you did them on the grill and that balsamic drizzle… wow!! They look resto style gorgeous and I can well imagine the celebration of flavours – there’s a party going on in my mouth and it’s only 7 am! We have friends coming to the lake next weekend; I wonder if I can pull these puppies off… I’m seriously tempted! Thanks Guys.

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  29. hotlyspiced says:
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    I do remember these from your anniversary post. You’ve made them look so good I’m definitely going to have to try these. I think they look amazing and the flavour must be incredible. Have a lovely weekend Kristy xx

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  31. Three Well Beings says:
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    My husband and I both really like dates! This is just a must for entertaining. If you have the time I’d love to hear how you prefer to stuff them! Do you just use a spoon? I can’t picture what you’d actually do? LOL! Can you tell my inexperience? LOL! D

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    • Yasmine says:
      Reply

      Three Well Beings,
      I’ve always stuffed dates using a butter knife. It’s simple and easy, and works better than a spoon! =) Just put a glob of cheese on the butter knife and swipe it through the inside of the date opening. If you’ve used enough cheese, the ‘glob’ will be enough to fill the entire cavity, otherwise just add more.

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      • Kristy says:
        Reply

        A knife would be a great tool to use. I wasn’t nearly as clever…just used my fingers (with clean hands of course!). A spoon was way too difficult to fit in without making a huge mess. 😉

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