It’s December which means people host or go to Holiday Parties left and right. Â It’s always nice to have a few good recipes on hand that are easy and quick to make.
I love the combination of sweet and salty in this recipe. The inspiration for this post came from a  very delicious appetizer my friend Sharon made a while back when we were at her house for a gathering.
Sharon had stuffed dates with Goat Cheese and Prosciutto. They were simply delicious and I could not stop eating them. So I had a thought: “How do I “Persianize these?”  This recipe is pretty much super easy and quick to make.
Ingredients for 9 dates
1/2 lb dates
2 oz
4 slices of prosciutto (optional)
I suggest purchasing the type of dates that are meaty and soft. I asked for half a pound of dates which came out to 9 dates.
Slice the side of each date length wise. Remove pits from each date.
Stuff each date with as much feta cheese as you can shove in there. That’s it! Your appetizer is now ready for plating!
If you are a prosciutto lover you can certainly add some to each date as well. All you have to do is roll half a slice of Prosciutto and place it in each date. I have to be honest though, as much as I love Prosciutto, I thought that the date and feta combination was far superior taste wise than with the addition of Prosciutto.
December 10, 2011
The feta-stuffed dates sound like perfection to me. Even though my Mother’s family was Italian, I can’t remember that I’ve ever eaten prosciutto. There’s a wonderful international market about an hour south of us that I’ll try for both the dates and the prosciutto.
My husband and I love many of the cuisines of the Middle East, so I’m slowly learning to make some dishes myself.
It’s been a treat exploring your blog because I’ve learned not just recipes, but the traditions of individual dishes and of Persian hospitality as well. Eventually, I hope to do meals for groups of our friends. Many of them have never had the opportunity to taste foods of the Middle East. I’ll share the customs I’m learning, along with music and art that I’ve been slowly collecting.
So I’ll be here often. Thank you for all you’re sharing!
March 29, 2012
Looks good! You used fresh dates, yes? I think this would be good with dried dates as well – what do you think? Either way, what an easy, no-cook appetizer.
March 30, 2012
Mary, I used I dried ones. I don’t think I have ever had fresh dates before….
April 3, 2012
Ha! Was in my little turkish grocery here in toms river, nj the other day and noticed dates on the counter in plastic containers….. turns out there are two different types of “dried” one slightly dried and one really dried. Both taste good with the feta!
September 22, 2013
salaam:
My mother used to do a variation of this, way back when. I saw another variation at a reception. I modified both and posted it on my facebook a while ago. Here it is:
1 pound of large dates
1/2 cup of almond flour
1/2 cup of cream cheese
4 large dates
as many whole almonds as necessary
put all of the ingredients in a blender until you have a uniform past.
Cut open each date
fill each with the paste
put one whole almonds in each.
Enjoy