Happy October, Wonderlanders! Our new book of the month, in honor of Halloween, is The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux! I remember reading it in college and loving all the drama, intrigue, and interesting themes. Plus, the spooky nature of the Phantom makes this book a perfect choice for October.
One of my favorite themes in the book (and maybe the most common) is the concept of angels and demons. I’ve always thought of the Phantom and Raoul’s battle for Christine as symbolic of the battle between Heaven and Hell over the human soul. I’m not sure if this is the intended interpretation or not, but either way I wanted to include an homage to this theme in my menu. Which brings me to Devils on Horseback!
I heard the recipe name tossed around several years ago and looked it up out of curiosity. As it turns out, Devils on Horseback is a fancy name for a dish many of us know and love: BACON. WRAPPED. DATES.
* resists the urge to squeal *
I’m not exaggerating when I say I’m CRAZY about bacon wrapped dates The Mister and I once spent a whole party hanging out by the oven as we waited for tray after tray of bacon wrapped dates to come out, snagging as many as we could before the hostess (my sister) took them away to serve to other, less obsessed guests. So when I saw that I had an opportunity to make them for this menu, I was like UM YES THIS IS HAPPENING.
I asked my sister for the recipe she uses, which turned out to be super easy: wrap dates and bake. But then I kinda accidentally wound up making my own version. First, my grocery store was out of pitted dates, so I had to buy the ones with the pit still inside, which are bigger than the pitted variety, even after you take the pit out (don’t ask me why). So when I wrapped them, they were good, but the bacon/date ratio wasn’t quite right to me. Then I was like, “Hey, there’s no rule that says you can’t use TWO pieces of bacon, right?”
So I double-wrapped my jumbo dates, added 10-15 minutes to the cook time, and voilà! Datey, bacony goodness. I’m pretty sure you could lure the Phantom himself out of his shadowy life beneath the opera house with just a plate of these beauties.
Just make sure you save some for yourself before he eats them all. 😉
“I knew my Erik too well to feel at all comfortable jumping into his house. I knew what he had made of a certain palace at Mazenderan. From being the most honest building conceivable, he soon turned it into a house of the very devil, where you could not utter a word but it was overheard or repeated by an echo. With his trap-doors the monster was responsible for endless tragedies of all kinds”.
— The Phantom of the Opera
INGREDIENTS:
- 12 strips of bacon (regular, not thick-cut)
- 1 12-oz package of whole Medjool dates with pits (approximately 18 dates)…And that’s seriously it. You can secure them with toothpicks if you want, but they don’t really need. Maybe use toothpicks if you’re planning to transfer them to different plates multiple times (be sure to soak the toothpicks in water before using so they don’t burn in the oven).
Makes approximately 18 bacon wrapped dates
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Preheat oven 350°. Line a baking sheet with tinfoil and set aside. Cut a slit down the side of each date and ease out the pit with the end of your knife (don’t worry about ruining the date; this isn’t a delicate procedure).
- Slice your bacon into thirds. Wrap one piece around each date with the seam on top. Wrap another piece over the top of each date, with the seam on the bottom.
- Place your bacon wrapped dates in rows on the baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes or until the bacon is crisp. Allow to rest on top of the stove for 10 minutes.
- Serve warm to the mysterious inhabitant of the catacombs under the Paris Opera House!
Need more bacon? Of course you do. 😉
Bacon Roses from Romeo and Juliet
Honey Bacon Cornbread from Tom Sawyer
The Dauntless Burger from Divergent
Calcifer’s Sweet and Spicy Candied Bacon from Howl’s Moving Castle
Related
FAQs
Angels on horseback are bacon-wrapped oysters, while devils on horseback are bacon-wrapped dates or prunes, often the fruit is stuffed.
What are devils on horseback made of? ›
Devils on horseback are a hot appetizer or small savoury dish of dried fruit stuffed with such ingredients as cheese or nuts, wrapped in bacon, prosciutto or pancetta. The traditional form of the dish is made with a pitted date and bacon, but prunes are also used, usually steeped in brandy or some other liqueur.
Can you eat devils on horseback cold? ›
Devils on horseback are prunes wrapped with bacon, served hot or at room temperature as a savoury starter or canapé.
Where did bacon-wrapped dates come from? ›
While this appetizer was en vogue in the 1970s and 1980s, it has never gone out of style. In fact, it dates back to Victorian England, when bacon-wrapped oysters or prunes (also known as angels or devils on horseback) were eaten before or after a meal.
What is the difference between angels on horseback and devils on horseback? ›
A Victorian hors d'œuvre that has died a death in recent decades; an angel on horseback is simply an oyster wrapped in bacon and grilled; a devil is a tea-soaked prune treated the same way.
Why are they called devils on horseback? ›
The origins of the name are mysterious, and perhaps derived from the dish's diabolical shades of black and red. Or as a play on angels on horseback, which is oysters wrapped in bacon, or anges a cheval, a French dish. Add stilton to the stuffing or use dates in place of prunes as variations on the theme.
What is food wrapped in bacon called? ›
Popular bacon-wrapped dishes include angels on horseback, devils on horseback, and pigs in blankets. Bacon has long been used for barding roasts, especially game birds.
When were devils on horseback invented? ›
What were once markers of sophistication, devils on horseback have fallen out of favour. But the evocatively named dish of toothpick-skewered, bacon-wrapped prunes has a history stretching back to the 19th century.
What fruit goes with bacon? ›
Bacon Bundles (Little Bacon Appetizers)
- Bacon – regular slices, not thick cut.
- One of these fruits or any combination of them: pears, apples, fresh or canned pineapple, dates.
Although they may look similar and are both dried, dates and prunes are totally different fruits. In fact, prunes are actually dried plums (but not all plums can become prunes), and they originate in Asia. In comparison to dates, they're a lot darker in colour and stickier in texture.
You can use prunes and dates interchangeably. Prunes and dates, like other varieties of dried fruits (raisins, figs, apricots) can be used as an alternative to each other. But know that prunes are more recommended to eat as a snack, while dates are more preferred to use in baking.
What's the best way to cook scallops wrapped in bacon? ›
Set a rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Season the scallops with salt and pepper and wrap each in 1 slice of bacon, securing it with a toothpick. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and drizzle with the butter. Roast for 18 to 20 minutes, until the bacon and scallops are cooked through.
Can you reheat bacon-wrapped dates? ›
Can bacon wrapped dates be reheated? Bacon-wrapped dates are best served warm, when the dates are soft and the bacon is crisp. You can make a day ahead and bake before serving, or bake a few hours ahead and reheat in a 350-degree oven for about six minutes.
What fruit did dates come from? ›
The date fruit has a long and storied history, playing a significant role for many cultures, religions, and cuisines since ancient times. Throughout their nearly 6000-years of cultivation, date palm trees (plant name phoenix dactylifera) have grown in what is now the Middle East and North Africa.
What year was the bacon craze? ›
The movement has been traced to the late 1990s when high-protein foods became a more prominent diet focus due in part to the Atkins diet. Since then, bacon-focused events and gatherings celebrating the food have been reported and bacon-related exploits have been featured in the media.
What are angels on horseback made of? ›
Angels on horseback is a hot hors d'œuvre or savoury made of oysters wrapped with bacon. The dish, when served atop breads, can also be a canapé. Angels on horseback skewered and grilled. The dish is typically prepared by rolling shucked oysters in bacon and baking them in an oven.
How many calories are in devils on horseback? ›
Nutrition Facts
Per Serving: 67 calories; fat 4g; saturated fat 1g; protein 3g; carbohydrates 6g; fiber 1g; cholesterol 9mg; sodium 172mg.
How do you make bacon wrapped dates Alton Brown? ›
Stuff each date with 2 to 3 pieces of water chestnut and wrap with a piece of bacon. Place the wrapped dates on the rack, bacon ends down, and gently press to anchor. Bake until the bacon is brown and crispy, about 15 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.
