Photo: Leigh Loftus
This weekend was my friend Rachel’s bachelorette weekend. She did something that I think every bride should do and planned her bridal shower and bachelorette festivities for the same night so that her out of town friends wouldn’t have to travel twice. Seriously, all brides-to-be should take cue from Rachel.
She also won me over when her two primary requests for the evening included champagne & karaoke.
I’m just saying.
Naturally, I was tasked with planning a menu and making appetizers for the pre-party, a task that I think we all know I enjoyed immensely. Sometimes when I entertain I like to stick to a theme of sorts – or at least try to keep the flavors consistent – and this would have been an easy one since Rachel is a most-of-the-time vegan.
Though I did whip up a couple of vegan recipes (like Thai spring rolls and these chocolate cupcakes from Brown Eyed Baker) I decided that we also needed some good old-fashioned cheese. In addition to a few different types of cheese and crackers I made these stuffed dates that I’ve seen all over the internet but think their original origin is Martha Stewart.
I decided to make them at the very last minute – they’re so, so easy that you can do that. Yes. At 4:00pm when your guests are coming at 7:00pm you can decide to add an elegant dish to your table. Whenever I’ve made these, its been to serve as a finger food, but if you were hosting a formal dinner party these would be perfect to pass around during cocktails.
Photo: Leigh Loftus
- 5 ounces soft goat cheese
- ¼ cup shelled salted pistachios, coarsely chopped
- 16 plump, soft dried dates (preferably Medjool), pitted and cut in half lengthwise
- In a small bowl, combine goat cheese and pistachios. You don't need a food processor or anything fancy: just a small bowl and a wooden spoon. When finished, set aside.
- Arrange dates, cut side up, on a platter. Using a small spoon and your fingers, fill each date with about half a teaspoon of the filling. Depending on the size of your dates you can use more or less filling. If you'd like, garnish with additional chopped pistachios and drizzle with honey. Makes 32 pieces.
77 Comments
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February 5, 2017 at 12:30 am[…] simple, fresh seasonal flavors. As an appetizer, opt for simple pairings like parmesan almonds, goat cheese stuffed dates or a simple mint and pea pesto […]
Sawsan@chef in disguise
August 26, 2011 at 2:41 pmI love dates but this is a totally new twist and I love it..thank you for linking back to this amazing recipe Maris
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August 10, 2011 at 8:42 pm[…] fresh seasonal flavors. As an appetizer, opt for simple pairings like parmesan puff pastry twists, goat cheese stuffed dates or a simple mint and pea pesto crostini. If you’re pairing the wine with a meal, look for […]
The Healthy Apple
April 29, 2011 at 6:30 pmLove this post; what a fabulous recipe and I love the photos. You are so creative…I love stuffed dates and this is such a splendid idea for an appetizer! Thanks so much for sharing; enjoy your weekend!
erin
April 22, 2011 at 4:07 pmpistachios (yes!), dates (yes!), cheese (yes!)…no need to say more. 🙂
Rosa
April 22, 2011 at 9:47 amWhat a wonderful appetizer idea! I love that great combination.
Cheers,
Rosa
Simply Life
April 22, 2011 at 12:16 amOh I LOVE this idea – these look so full of flavor!
Jennifer (Savor)
April 22, 2011 at 2:27 amYou are tempting me to try dates – I don’t think I have eaten them in 15 years.
Shannon
April 21, 2011 at 5:53 pmwow, these look phenomenal!!
elizabeth / sophisticated pie
April 21, 2011 at 4:08 pmthese look divine! Hope you had a great girls weekend!!
Tracy
April 20, 2011 at 8:24 pmI love goat cheese and I love dates…so I don’t really think it gets better than this!
Kate@Diethood.com
April 20, 2011 at 8:22 pmGoat cheese paired with pistachios?! YUM!! And then stuffed in dates … oh my worrrrrd!
Beth @ DiningAndDishing
April 20, 2011 at 3:26 pmI am so in love with dates as an appetizer. The savory/sweet combo just works so well with them! Yours look beautiful :).
Andrea@HighLowFoodDrink.com
April 20, 2011 at 2:38 pmGreat idea! I love to entertain and am always on the lookout for quick snacks to make. These dates would be perfect for a wine tasting party or cheese plate!
Audrey Ellen
April 20, 2011 at 1:34 pmWhat a fun idea for an appetizer!
(or snack anytime from the fridge…)
brandi
April 20, 2011 at 12:40 pmjust delicious. I love pistachios with goat cheese!
pigpigscorner
April 20, 2011 at 10:15 amLove the flavour combo, will keep this in mind for future parties!
NancyC
April 20, 2011 at 3:36 amThose sound great! I think I’ll make them when I have out-of-town guests next month!
Baking Serendipity
April 20, 2011 at 2:50 amLove this appetizer! Perfect for a girls night 🙂
Olga @ MangoTomato
April 20, 2011 at 1:48 amI’ve usually done these with hard cheese or nuts and then wrapped in bacon and baked, but your version looks really good too! Love goat cheese.
Reeni
April 20, 2011 at 1:47 amI never had pistachios with dates! I love, love, love it! I bet they were a hit!
Gen
April 20, 2011 at 12:04 amThat sounds so, so good!!!! 😀 Thanks for sharing the recipe!!!!!
Angela
April 20, 2011 at 12:00 amThis is such a beautiful and easy dish. I am in.
Winnie
April 19, 2011 at 11:07 pmWow those look incredibly easy and delicious!!!
Maria @ Scandifoodie
April 19, 2011 at 5:50 pmI love this! I’ve had dates with goat cheese and walnuts before but the pistachio sounds like a delicious choice!
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc.
April 19, 2011 at 10:39 pmyum these look great!
Kalynskitchen
April 19, 2011 at 9:04 pmWow, this sounds like a wonderful appetizer!
Suzy Eats
April 19, 2011 at 8:36 pmThis is such a great idea! I am going to make it this sunday for easter. Love goat cheese and dates.
Lauren@LittleYellowKitchen
April 19, 2011 at 5:02 pmThese are so cute. I think the dates that have been in my fridge for 2 months have a purpose now!
Lentil Breakdown
April 19, 2011 at 3:12 pmI’m available for a date with one of your appetizers anytime!
sarah
April 19, 2011 at 2:34 pmI’m seeing pistachios pop up everywhere, I’m going to take that as a sign from above. These look so delicious! I have just the event for these. Perfect! Thank you!
MegSmith @ Cooking.In.College
April 19, 2011 at 2:10 pmThat is such a good idea, Rachel sounds like a very efficient bride!
Those dates look so wonderful, they are gorgeous. I love goat cheese, nuts, and fruit together. A perfect fancy addition to what I am assuming was a fantastic party!
Kristen
April 19, 2011 at 12:25 pmThat is very thoughtful of the bride to be to have you all over the same weekend! Sounds like she has a good head on her shoulders 😉
Wonderful recipe… I have some goat cheese I need to create something with. This looks like fantastic inspiration!
chopinandmysaucepan
April 19, 2011 at 11:53 amThey remind me of oysters mornay which is my all time favourite way to eat oysters apart from slurping those suckers fresh! Yum!
Blond Duck
April 19, 2011 at 11:02 amHappy Tuesday!
Monet
April 19, 2011 at 4:48 amSo easy…yet such amazing flavors! Thank you for sharing with me today. Your creations and your appreciation for good food and a full life are inspiring. And thank you for your kind words on my own blog…they made me smile. I hope you have a bountiful week!
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April 19, 2011 at 3:10 am[…] Yummy scrummy in my tummy bookmarks: Feta crumble II: Electric boogaloo @ The Second Pancake Pistachio goat cheese stuffed dates @ In Good Taste Chana masala @ The Second Pancake Blue cheese butter @ The Second […]
Christina @ Sweet Pea's Kitchen
April 19, 2011 at 2:27 amThese sound great! So quick, easy and delicious! 🙂
Reyna
April 19, 2011 at 2:08 amI agree about having both parties at the same time! Much more efficient for the guests!
Nichole
April 19, 2011 at 1:52 amA whole new meaning to the term, date night. WOW! too many awesome tastes in this recipe. Delish!
velva
April 19, 2011 at 12:38 amI think your friend Rachel was spot on- good advice for all brides-to-be
Your appetizer of stuffed dates hits the nail too. This looks delightfully delicious. Very nice.
Velva
Susan
April 18, 2011 at 11:07 pmThose look so delicious! I love dates and pistachios but I’d have to substitute another cheese – just quirky me 🙂
Juliana
April 18, 2011 at 10:26 pmWow MAris, these little appetizers not only sound delicious, they look wonderful…I love the combination of the flavors and textures…have a great week ahead 🙂
camille
April 18, 2011 at 9:47 pmI just love that you said “need should.” My inner sociolinguist is squeaking with joy (she’s very small, so she squeaks).
Katie
April 18, 2011 at 9:20 pmPut goat cheese on anything and I’m there!
Julie
April 18, 2011 at 8:00 pmthey look really great!
Nadia
April 18, 2011 at 7:36 pmI love stuffed dates, especially with cheese. These are a lovely appetizer for a party. Your friend sounds lovely, hope she had a wonderful wedding. 🙂
Betty @ scrambled hen fruit
April 18, 2011 at 7:24 pmSweet, salty, creamy, crunchy…this hits them all! These little nibbles sound delicious! 🙂
Pudding Pie Lane
April 18, 2011 at 7:04 pmCheese, nuts and dates are a classic combination, I love the twist with goats cheese! I hope you enjoyed the bachelorette weekend and there was cheese not just of the edible variety 🙂
Roz
April 18, 2011 at 1:46 pmHoly smokes, those look incredible. So simple, yet so delicious. Congrats to your friend Rachel! Have a great day Maris!!
Caitlyn
April 18, 2011 at 6:30 pmOh my goodness, congratulations to Rachel! These look absolutely delicious and I want to make them for my carnivore of a husband. Hope you guys had a blast!
Penny
April 18, 2011 at 1:20 pmWhat an interesting combination of foods! I bet they taste wonderful – and I am going to find out tomorrow!
Penny
Blond Duck
April 18, 2011 at 6:18 pmI’ll trade you a plate of these for French Toast!
Kathleen
April 18, 2011 at 5:17 pmThis look perfect! I think I’m going to make this for a party I have in 2 weeks! Thanks for sharing 😉
emily (a nutritionist eats)
April 18, 2011 at 5:12 pmYum, these look great!
By the way, I scheduled my shower and bach party for the same afternoon/evening. 🙂
Mary
April 18, 2011 at 5:05 pmThese sound fantastic. The combination is not one I would have thought of, but in retrospect it really sounds delicious. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary
Kelly
April 18, 2011 at 4:49 pmIs there anything that is not better with goat cheese. I would say not. And pistachios are a great marriage as well. These sound heavenly.
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective
April 18, 2011 at 4:31 pmI love the idea of the pistachios with goat cheese. Sounds like heaven!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking
April 18, 2011 at 3:58 pmNow this is one easy and elegant appetizer! Right up my alley. What a great combo of subtle sweet-salty flavors in this finger food, Maris! You are so creative and really know how to put the right flavors together. Thanks for sharing!
Kate
April 18, 2011 at 3:55 pmThese look o-so-tasty! I love goat cheese on anything so you had me sold before I heard the rest of the recipe! Adding salty pistachios and serving them inside a sweet date sounds like the perfect combo! Also, I had a friend do the exact same thing regarding her shower and bachelorette – genius!
Rachel W.
April 18, 2011 at 1:49 pmJust to let you all know, we were so well fed that we cancelled our dinner reservations and instead just ate Maris’ apps. AND, my vegan-tendencies were out the window after about 2 glasses of champagne. These dates are one of my favorite things that Maris has ever made! MAKE THEM! And thanks, Maris, for being the HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTESS!
bellini
April 18, 2011 at 1:06 pmPS, I just realized that you will be in Washingtin DC at Eat, Wrie Retreat. I won a sponsorshop from Canadian Beef:D I will see you there:D
bellini
April 18, 2011 at 12:22 pmI am not sure that I could be vegan and be required to give up cheese and delicious appetizers like these dates Maris:D
Three-Cookies
April 18, 2011 at 12:13 pmUnusual and interesting, sweet, salty, crunchy and delicious:)
Jessica
April 18, 2011 at 12:04 pmI keep getting messed up on your posting schedule because I just saw 2 posts that I love but didn’t see when you first put them up. Anyway, I love dates and I have never stuffed them- really because I never thought about it. I always put them in salads or breads or even pasta sometimes. I like to roast them in a sea salt marinade. Now i am babbling. Love this recipe and will definitely be trying it SOON!
A Plum By Any Other Name
April 18, 2011 at 11:35 amDates + pistachios = a happy marriage. I hope the same for your friend.
I love pistachios, I recently made pistachio ice cream and was thinking how good it would be with a fig dessert … I don’t know how I let the date escape me! Sounds delicious.
Erica
April 18, 2011 at 11:29 amHope you guys had a blast celebrating the upcoming wedding! And I agree- bachelorette parties & bridal showers should totally be the same weekend- it only makes sense. These stuffed dates sound totally unique. I love all of the flavors you put in, so I’m sure I’d be a huge fan
Blond Duck
April 18, 2011 at 11:18 amI could make a dinner out of those.
daryl
April 18, 2011 at 7:48 amThese look so amazing. I bet they were a hit! Congratulations to Rachel <3
Little Inbox
April 18, 2011 at 7:38 amDate stuffed with goat cheese, hmm…this is something new to me. 😛
Amanda
April 18, 2011 at 4:37 amThose look and sound decadent! I will definitely be adding that to my repertoire.
Shaina
April 18, 2011 at 4:28 amThese sound so easy and impressive, Maris. They’d be perfect for the family Easter, too.
Nicole@HeatOvenTo350
April 18, 2011 at 3:24 amWhat a great idea for an elegant finger food. Congrats to your friend on her upcoming wedding.
Sarah Caron
April 18, 2011 at 2:52 amOooh, what a delicious looking appetizer. And I love the idea of planning the bachelorette and bridal shower on the same evening.
Bee
April 18, 2011 at 2:51 amOMG. These look AMAZING. I used to think I hated pistachios, and my mom would unknowingly put them in my stocking every year. When I finally told her, I discovered soon after how lovely the little nuts were. She now has forgotten that I LIKE them, and I long for them to return to my stocking each year.
Sukaina
April 18, 2011 at 2:49 amI have never heard of cheese stuffed dates and I live in the region that is the biggest procucer of dates! I think it’s a fabulous idea for a finegr food and very versatile too!