I would have never thought to pair dates with blue cheese, but my wife and I discovered these on a trip to the now defunct Bin 555. I had forgot about them until one day flipping through my copy of Weber’s Time to Grill, I rediscovered them.
This is a simple (I say that, but my wife always prepares them), but impressive appetizer.
Glaze
1 cup balsamic vinegar 1⁄2 cup granulated sugar
Dates
3 ounces soft blue cheese 1⁄2 cup finely chopped pecans 24 medjool dates
Here is how to make them:
In small sauce pan combine the vinegar and sugar. Bring to simmer and cook until mixture coats the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes, stiring occationally. Set aside.
In a small bowl mash the blue cheese and pecans together with a fork. Make a slice the length of each date and pull out the pit. Stuff each date with about 1 teaspoon of the cheese mixutre, pressing it closed as much as possible.
Place dates on grill pan and cook over direct medium heat until heated through. This usually take a couple of minutes.
Arrange on platter and let them cool for 10 minutes. Serve them with the glaze.
Here is a shot of them prepped and ready for the grill:
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And here is what is left of them after I was able to drag myself away from them long enough get my camera:
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