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Chorizo-Grilled Dates

Chorizo Grilled Dates

I’ve grilled bacon-wrapped dates and prunes a hundred times, but it never occurred to me to stuff them with chorizo sausage like Micael Soares does. The Portuguese-born Quebecer runs a lively Portuguese bistro called Cervejaria in Boucherville near Montreal. Soares blasts you with porky goodness from both sides, stuffing the dates with chorizo and grilling them wrapped in bacon—a panoply of sweet, salty, garlicky, and spicy flavors.

Chorizo-Grilled Dates Recipe


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Chorizo-Grilled Dates

Recipe Notes

  • Advance Prep: 15 minutes
  • Grill Time: 4 to 6 minutes
  • Yield: Makes 24, enough to serve 6 to 8 as a starter
  • Method: Direct grilling
  • Equipment: Can be grilled over charcoal, wood, or gas. You also need toothpicks.

Ingredients

  • 24 pitted Medjool dates or other soft sweet dates
  • 3 ounces dry-cured Spanish-style chorizo sausage, cut into 16 almond-size pieces
  • 8 strips of bacon, gently stretched lengthwise and each cut crosswise into thirds
  • Vegetable oil for oiling the grill grate

Recipe Steps

1: Stuff each date with a sliver of chorizo. Wrap each date crosswise in bacon, securing the bacon with a toothpick.

2: Set up your grill for direct grilling and heat to medium-high. Brush or scrape the grill grate clean and oil it well. Be sure to have a fire-free safety zone.

3: Arrange the dates on the grate and grill until sizzling and browned on the outside and hot in the center, 2 to 3 minutes per side; 4 to 6 minutes in all. If flare-ups occur (and they usually do when you grill bacon), simply move the dates to the fire-free section of the grill until the flames die down.

4: Transfer the dates to paper towels to drain, then arrange on a plate or platter and serve while still sizzling hot.

Recipe Tips

INSIDER TIP: This is the sort of finger food that lends itself to dozens of variations. Use prunes in place of dates, or Gorgonzola cheese in place of chorizo. Wrap the dates in pancetta, prosciutto, or speck instead of bacon. You get the idea.

Chorizo-Grilled Dates: Frequently Asked Questions

What do chorizo-grilled dates taste like?
Chorizo-grilled dates are sweet, salty, smoky, and slightly spicy. The soft sweetness of the dates balances the savory chorizo and crisp bacon.
What kind of chorizo should I use?
Use a dry-cured Spanish-style chorizo for this recipe. It is firm enough to cut into small pieces and holds up well inside the dates during grilling.
Can I make bacon-wrapped dates on a gas grill?
Yes. These dates can be grilled over gas, charcoal, or wood. Keep a cooler, fire-free zone ready in case the bacon causes flare-ups.
How do I keep the dates from burning?
Grill them over medium-high heat and move them to a fire-free section of the grill if flare-ups happen. Turning them as they cook also helps the bacon brown evenly without scorching.
Can I make chorizo-grilled dates ahead of time?
These are best served hot off the grill, when the bacon is still crisp and the dates are warm. You can stuff and wrap them ahead of time, then grill them just before serving.

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