CHORIZO-FILLED DATES WRAPPED IN BACON

Makes 24         Time: 20 minutes

Once in a while, I look back into recipe files/books/magzines and see something I remember loving. I ran across this one recently, a Food & Wine recipe from 1985 from Spanish cookbook author Penelope Casas.

Ingredients

• 1 small Spanish chorizo sausage (about 2 ounces), casing removed
• 24 Medjool dates, pitted
• 12 slices of bacon, halved crosswise

Method

1. Slice the chorizo crosswise in thirds. Halve each piece lengthwise, then cut each half into 4 lengthwise strips to make a total of 24 small sticks.
2. Tuck a chorizo stick into each date and pinch the dates closed. Wrap a strip of bacon around each date and secure with a toothpick (in a way that allows you to sauté them later).
3. Place the wrapped dates in a large skillet, seam sides down, and sauté, turning until the bacon is browned on all sides, about 10 minutes.
4. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.

July 2022