Ideas for Serving Dates

Filled and Wrapped: Dates have a long pit or seed, which, when removed, leaves a nice cavity just right for stuffing with cheese or nuts. Blue cheese, goat cheese, triple cream and cream cheese are all good choices, as are walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts.

The filled dates can also be wrapped with bacon or prosciutto and then broiled or grilled.

Salads: Combine grated carrots, crumbled blue cheese and dates in a salad dressed with walnut oil and sherry vinegar, and add chopped, toasted walnuts to garnish.

Make a salad of layered orange slices, dot with chopped dates, drizzle with olive oil and garnish with toasted pistachios.

Braised: Make a favorite braised lamb recipe, erring on the spicy side with some ginger and cinnamon among the flavorings, and add chopped dates. Just before serving, when the meat is so tender it can be cut with a fork, stir in a dozen or so whole pitted dates.