Hot Date (a Manchego stuffed date with prosciutto)

Hot Date  (a Manchego stuffed date with prosciutto)

You will love serving up a Hot Date!  A Manchego stuffed and roasted date with prosciutto. – right out of the oven.  This Prosciutto wrapped date is an appetizer recipe you will want to keep handy.  Especially, since the sweetness of the dates and the salty prosciutto make an irresistible snack you’ll love.

Hot Date Dad Jokes

I used to date a guy who was lactose intolerant.  We broke up because he couldn’t take my cheesy jokes!

I agreed to a first date after my husband gave me a bottle of tonic water.  He  Schwepped me off my feet!

I used to date an FBI agent.. It didn’t work.  I now call him my Fed-ex!

When I heard that oxygen and magnesium were dating…I was like OMg.

I have no problem getting dates online.  I also have great luck with pistachios, cashews and almonds.

Maybe you’re Sassy too?

Click here to see our fun Wine bag collection

Manchego is a secret ingredient.  What is Manchego Cheese?

Manchego is a cheese made in the La Mancha region of Spain from sheep milk. It is aged between 60 days and 2 years. Manchego has a firm consistency and buttery texture, often containing small, uneven air pockets.

It is a semi-soft pale yellow cheese.  Manchego has a grassy aroma and a fruity, nutty, and tangy bite. It’s high fat content, up to 57%, contributes to its rich flavor.  If you haven’t tried Manchego, it is the bomb!

More on Manchego Cheese

We covered the cheese…How about the dates?

Are Dates Healthy?

H#ll Yes!  Dates contain several vitamins and minerals, in addition to fiber and antioxidants.  A date has fiber, Protein, Potassium, Magnesium, Copper, Manganese, Iron, and B6.  Watch out though, they are high in calories since they are dried fruit.

What do I need to know about Dates?

Dates are considered an ancient fruit and cultivation dates back approximately 8000 years.  Medjool dates are the most commonly grown and available. Large and plump, they have a maple-sweet flavor and luxurious texture.  Most recipes call for dried dates, which are wrinkly in texture.

Dates should be kept in an air-tight container and can be stored at room temperature or refrigerated for up to 6 months.  Refrigeration will extend their shelf-life.  Dried dates can be frozen for up to 1 year.

What are Medjool dates?

Medjool dates are one varietal out of hundreds of varieties of dates.  They have a sweet, caramel taste and chewy texture.  Medjool dates were originally eaten by royalty and thought to prevent fatigue.  Originally cultivated in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Morocco, the Medjool Date Palm has been thriving in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Florida, Texas, and Louisiana, and even in states as east as South Carolina.

Medjool dates are an excellent source of nutrition. Recent studies have shown that you may benefit from stimulation of the immune system, reduced inflammation, and improved hormone regulation.

Are Dates the same as Prunes?

Dates and prunes(dried plums) are usually consumed dried and look similar, but are completely different fruit.  Dates are sweeter and usually smaller than prunes.  They are both highly nutritious, but dates are sweeter and higher in carbohydrates and calories.

How are Dates different than Figs?

• Fresh figs are usually golden to deep purple in color, while dried dates are usually deep brown
• Dates are oval and wrinkled, while figs are more round and plump
• You may notice that dried dates are also stickier than dried figs
• Dates have a lower glycemic index, more fiber, potassium, copper, magnesium, and vitamins B5, B6. By comparison, figs are lower in carbohydrates, and calories, but richer in vitamins C, K, and A

Hot Date (a Manchego stuffed and date with prosciutto)

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5 from 51 votes

Hot Date

a Manchego stuffed date with prosciutto

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Dates, Hot Dates, Manchego, Prosciutto wrapped dates

Yield: 24

Equipment

• 1 Sheet pan

Materials

• 24 Small Medjool Dates
• ⅓ Pound Manchego Cheese
• 3 oz Prosciutto
• Balsamic Vinegar Glaze

Instructions

• Cut Manchego cheese into small pieces
• Take each slice of Prosciutto, and cut in half lengthwise
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
• Chose the smaller dates
• Cut a slit large enough to remove the seed
• Remove the seed
• Insert the cheese into the date
• Wrap the Prosciutto around stuffed date
  
• Place on a greased baking sheet
• Bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes
• Turn the dates and bake another 5 minutes
• Let cool
• Serve with a thin drizzle of Balsamic glaze

Aphrodesi’hacks

• Smaller dates are best for the proportions of this recipe- Little bites of wonderful!
• Cut a small slit in the date to remove the pit.
• Wrapped dates stuffed with Manchego are the ultimate- but if you don’t have Manchego, goat cheese, blue cheese, or gorgonzola also make tasty stuffed dates.
• Wrap your dates tightly with the Prosciutto. Put them on a baking sheet and bake.   Your ‘Hot Date’ tapas are ready when the Prosciutto around the date is crispy on the outside.
• Remove from the oven, and let cool slightly.  Insert toothpicks and transfer to a beautiful tray for easy serving.  Your guests will love- Tastes amazing
• Beautiful for a Holiday platter

Perfect Pairing

Hot Date and Honey Dew Me- they do seem to go together?

Needing a little special attention?  We know what’s #1 on your Honey Dew list!  Enjoy A honey Dew flavored Midori Margarita- A blend of fresh, sweet and tart – a vacation in your cocktail glass.   Drink and enjoy.