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
Place wrapped dates into the prepared baking dish. If desired, sprinkle a little more brown sugar over the bundles. Bake in the preheated oven until the bacon is brown and crisp, 15 to 25 minutes. Allow to cool for about 15 minutes before serving; serve warm or at room temperature.
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.
Why are they called devils on horseback? ›
The name devils on horseback was chosen as a counterpart to angels on horseback (bacon wrapped oysters), which preceded them on the culinary scene. A substantial amount of cayenne pepper was called for in the original Devils on Horseback recipe, which made them devilishly hot. Hence the name.
What is the difference between prunes and 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.
What is the difference between angels on horseback and devils on horseback? ›
Angels on horseback and devils on horseback are closely related, but also quite different. Both are bite-sized snacks that first became known in 19th century Britain. Angels on horseback are bacon-wrapped oysters, while devils on horseback are bacon-wrapped dates or prunes, often the fruit is stuffed.
What goes well with bacon wrapped dates? ›
Nuts are nice because they give some crunch. You could also drizzle them with truffle honey for a luxurious touch. Any kind of spicy chutney works great too. The bacon-wrapped dates are a great addition to any co*cktail party and they pair especially well with wine.
Should bacon wrapped dates be served warm? ›
They're best when they're served warm, but you don't have to keep them warm for the duration of your party. They also taste good lukewarm or at room temp. Bacon wrapped dates can safely sit at room temperature for a maximum of 2 hours.
How long do dates last? ›
Dates should be kept in an air-tight container and can be stored at room temperature or refrigerated up to 6 months, and frozen for up to 1 year. If purchasing dates in bulk meets your personal needs, you may opt to refrigerate or freeze any excess dates.
What is the meaning of devils on horseback in English? ›
noun. /ˌdevlz ɒn ˈhɔːsbæk/ /ˌdevlz ɑːn ˈhɔːrsbæk/ [plural] (British English) a dish made with prunes wrapped in bacon and then cooked, usually served at the end of a meal or at a party.
Why do Americans say horseback? ›
To say that you traveled by horseback makes it explicit that the horse was under you and not in front of you. Although grammar is essentially an understanding of the patterns underlying a language, it does not follow that every feature of a language is logical.
But around one third of its horses were used as riding animals. Soldiers who fought on horseback were known as cavalry.
What are angels on horseback made of? ›
Angels on horseback, or oysters wrapped in bacon, is a classic oyster dish that is very common on the East Coast and is often seen as a wedding appetizer on Long Island in New York. With only three ingredients in the prep list – bacon, oysters and a squirt of lemon juice—this dish couldn't be easier to prepare.
What is devils on horseback wiki? ›
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 prunes be substituted for dates? ›
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.
