Feta-Parmesan Roasted Stuffed Dates with Honey-Walnut Herb Crunch Recipe
These Feta-Parmesan Roasted Stuffed Dates with Honey-Walnut Herb Crunch are a luxurious and flavorful appetizer combining sweet medjool dates stuffed with honey-coated feta, baked to perfection and topped with a crunchy, aromatic walnut, herb, and parmesan mixture. Perfect for parties or elegant gatherings, they marry sweet, salty, and savory notes in every bite.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12-14 stuffed dates 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Topping
- 1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary
- 2 tablespoons scallions, chopped
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley or arugula
- 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- To taste black pepper
Main Ingredients
- 10 ounces medjool dates, pitted and sliced open on one side
- For drizzling: honey
- 3 ounces feta cheese, sliced into 1-inch pieces
- 3/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for roasting the stuffed dates.
- Prepare Topping: In a mixing bowl, combine finely chopped walnuts, rosemary, scallions, parsley or arugula, olive oil, honey, orange zest, salt, and black pepper. Stir well until all ingredients are evenly mixed. Set this flavorful topping aside.
- Prepare Honey and Parmesan: Pour honey into a small bowl for dipping, and place the shredded parmesan cheese on a plate for coating the feta.
- Coat Feta: Take each piece of feta cheese and dip it into the honey, then roll it in the shredded parmesan until well coated. This process adds a sweet and savory crust to the cheese.
- Stuff Dates: Insert one honey-Parmesan-coated feta piece inside each pitted date, filling the cavity created by slicing them open.
- Arrange Dates: Place all the stuffed dates neatly into a casserole dish or baking pan, spacing them evenly.
- Add Topping: Sprinkle the prepared walnut and herb mixture evenly over the top of the stuffed dates, ensuring each date gets some crunchy topping.
- Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the dates are warmed through and the topping turns golden and fragrant.
- Drizzle Honey: After removing from the oven, immediately drizzle additional honey over the warm dates to enhance sweetness and shine.
- Serve: Serve the stuffed dates warm as an elegant appetizer or snack, optionally accompanied by extra honey for dipping.
Notes
- Use medjool dates for their size and natural sweetness.
- Parsley can be substituted with arugula for a slightly peppery flavor.
- Feta can be replaced with halloumi or goat cheese for a different texture and taste.
- Ensure feta pieces fit inside the dates without breaking them.
- Serve warm immediately for best flavor and texture.
- Can be prepared ahead; assemble and refrigerate, then bake just before serving.
Keywords: stuffed dates, feta, parmesan, roasted dates, appetizer, honey walnut topping, Mediterranean appetizer, baked stuffed dates
