CRISPY BACON WRAPPED DATES WITH LEMON-BASIL CREMA

Crispy Bacon Wrapped Dates with Lemon-Basil Crema image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Time 1h45m

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 tablespoons sour cream, room temperature
1 tablespoon mascarpone, room temperature
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
12 Medjool dates
2 links hot Italian sausage, casings removed
6 slices bacon (about 4 ounces), cut crosswise in half

Steps:

For the crema: Whisk together the sour cream, mascarpone, lemon zest, lemon juice, basil and salt. Cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors marry.
For the dates: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Make a small lengthwise slit down the center of each date. Remove the pits and open the dates slightly; make sure they stay intact. Stuff each date with 1 teaspoon of the sausage. Close the dates up and around the sausage¿they won't close completely¿leaving some of the sausage exposed. Wrap each date in a piece of bacon and place on a baking sheet.
Bake for 8 minutes. Flip the dates, and bake until the bacon is crisp, another 8 to 10 minutes. Serve warm, with the crema on the side.