Savoury Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates (Vegetarian)
These savoury goat cheese stuffed dates are topped with pistachios, walnuts, thyme, and honey! They’re SUCH a quick, easy, and delicious appetizer recipe to serve at your next get together. Recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free.
Looking for a quick and easy appetizer idea to serve at your next gathering? These dates stuffed with goat cheese and nuts are just what you need!
This savoury stuffed date recipe is only 6 simple ingredients, all of which pack in a ton of nutrition benefits. This appetizer is not only delicious, but healthy too!
Even better? There’s no real cooking involved and these take only 20 minutes to make!
I hope you love them as much as I do 🙂
Want more appetizer ideas? Check out my roundup of 10+ easy appetizer recipes for more inspiration!
Ingredients Needed
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this stuffed dates recipe:
- medjool dates (I find these a lot more moist and juicy compared to other date varieties)
- goat cheese
- raw pistachios and/or walnuts
- thyme (fresh or dried, but fresh is a bit prettier for serving)
- honey
How To Make Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates
This is seriously one of the easiest appetizers you can make! It’s just a few steps and zero cooking time involved.
To start, take a pairing knife and slice medjool dates in half lengthwise.
Remove the pit and set dates aside.
Once all dates are pitted, take a regular knife and smear a small amount of goat cheese into each date half.
Then, press either walnuts or pistachios into the goat cheese. Use 1-2 nuts per date, depending on size.
Serve dates on a plate or tray. Lightly drizzle some honey overtop, and sprinkle them with fresh thyme.
That’s it!
Recipe Modifications & Variations
I love this particular combination of ingredients, but there are many ways that you can enjoy these savoury stuffed dates!
If you don’t like goat cheese, try a different kind of cheese. Dates pair well with brie, blue cheese, or ricotta.
Instead of honey, you could also try drizzling these dates with a balsamic reduction.
Instead of thyme, you can try sprinkling another herb on top, such as rosemary.
Feel free to also try these with another type of nut, like almonds or pecans!
How To Store Stuffed Dates
While the ingredients will be safe to eat if stored in the refrigerator, stuffed dates are best enjoyed fresh and at room temperature!
If you’d like to make them ahead of time, I would recommend pitting and stuffing the dates with the goat cheese only. Store these in an airtight container in the fridge, then remove and add the nuts, thyme, and honey within an hour of serving.
Are Stuffed Dates Healthy?
You bet! These savoury stuffed dates are packed with simple, nutritious ingredients. Check out some of their nutrition facts below.
Medjool Date Nutrition:
- rich in dietary fibre (2 dates provide over 3 grams)
- a source of essential micronutrients like potassium, magnesium, copper, manganese, iron, and vitamin B6
- a source of antioxidants like flavonoids, carotenoids, and phenolic acid
- like other dried fruit, they’re a concentrated source of natural sugar and are not a low sugar food
- despite their high sugar content, they also pack in a ton of nutrition benefits and can be enjoyed in moderation!
- the protein, fibre, and fat content of the other ingredients in this recipe will lessen the impact of dates on blood sugar
Goat Cheese Nutrition:
- a one-ounce serving of goat cheese provides 6 grams of complete protein and 8 grams of fat
- a good source of micronutrients, like calcium and phosphorous (important for bone health), vitamin A, riboflavin, and iron.
- some individuals who are lactose intolerant may actually find that they tolerate goat milk products, since they are naturally lower in lactose!
Walnut Nutrition:
- rich in heart-healthy unsaturated fats, including omega-3s.
- walnuts are the only nut that contains significant amounts of ALA, the precursor to the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.
- omega-3 is anti-inflammatory and highly beneficial for the health of our heart and brain.
- a decent source of protein and dietary fibre
- rich in micronutrients like vitamin B6, E, folate, copper, phosphorus, and manganese.
Pistachio Nutrition:
- a good source of fibre, with a 1-ounce serving providing 3 grams
- a source of plant-based protein, with 6 grams per 1 ounce serving
- rich in heart-healthy unsaturated fats
- a good source of micronutrients, like copper, vitamin B6, thiamine, manganese, phosphorus, and potassium
More Healthy Appetizer Recipes
- Roasted Goat Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers
- Whipped Feta With Balsamic Roasted Strawberries
- Savoury Spiced Nuts (Roasted)
- Baked Feta With Tomatoes & Peppers
- Pear & Brie Cheese Salad Skewers
Did you give this Savoury Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates Recipe a try? Let me know by leaving a comment and recipe rating below!
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Get the Recipe: Savoury Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates (Vegetarian)
Ingredients
- 15 med-large medjool dates
- 1/2 cup goat cheese
- 1/4 cup raw walnuts
- 2 Tbsp raw pistachios
- 1 tsp honey (to drizzle)
- 1 Tbsp fresh thyme, stems removed
Instructions
- Using a pairing knife, slice medjool dates in half lengthwise. Remove the pit and set dates aside.
- Once all dates are pitted, take a regular knife and smear a small amount of goat cheese into each date half.
- Then, press either walnuts and/or pistachios into the goat cheese. Use 1-2 nuts per date, depending on size.
- Serve dates on a plate or tray. Lightly drizzle some honey overtop, and sprinkle them with fresh thyme.
Notes
- If you don’t like goat cheese, try a different kind of cheese. Dates pair well with brie, blue cheese, or ricotta.
- Instead of honey, you could also try drizzling these dates with a balsamic reduction.
- Instead of thyme, you can try sprinkling another herb on top, such as rosemary.
- Feel free to also try these with another type of nut, like almonds or pecans!
Nutrition
As a dietitian, I create recipes with whole food ingredients that provide the nutrients needed for optimal health. My nutrition philosophy does not focus on numbers; however, I understand that this information can be helpful.
Do note that the nutrition info provided is an estimate and I cannot guarantee correctness of the displayed values. These numbers will differ depending on brands used, recipe modifications, and amount eaten. If you require specific nutrition information due to medical reasons, please consult with your dietitian or physician.
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12 Comments on “Savoury Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates (Vegetarian)”
I made this the other night for me and my boyfriend and it was delicious AND super simple to make! I plan on making this as an appetizer for a future party!
Hi Ashley!! Thank you so much for sharing this! I’m so happy you and your boyfriend enjoyed these. I hope they make a great appetizer at a future party – and hopefully that can take place sooner than later haha 🙂
Wow! These are so good! I wanted an easy afternoon kind of a balanced snack, and these were it. Just made a few.. The walnut crunch + sour goat’s + sweet date is a great combo. Thanks!
Hi Erin!! Ah so happy to hear you enjoyed these!!! Such a great little snack to have :). Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
I made these for a Christmas party because I was looking for a simple recipe that didn’t require cooking or baking. I’m a mom of a one year old so I don’t have time on my side! These dates were easy to assemble and absolutely delicious, and were well-received at the party! Thanks for another great recipe, Carrie!
Hi Deidra! Thank you so much for sharing your experience!! So happy you and your guests enjoyed these and that you found them easy to make. That’s the best!! Hope you have a lovely Christmas <3
Made these with fresh dates from a local farm stand. Makes a HUGE difference if you can use fresh dates. I actually mixed only 4 oz. of goat cheese and fresh thyme (from my garden) together before stuffing the dates and sprinkled more thyme on top at the end. I used balsamic reduction instead of honey because dates were so sweet on their own and I loved the added flavor. Brought these to a party and they were all gone quite quickly. Thank you for the delicious recipe.
Hi Diane! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. I’m so happy to hear you and your party enjoyed these!! Agreed – would make such a diff to get fresh dates :). From your local farm sounds soo delicious!!!
Made these for an appetizer at Christmas, and they were a hit! I had to make more the next day to go with our leftovers. Love the flavor and texture combo and how easy these are to make. Thanks for sharing this delish recipe, Carrie!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, Kate! It’s so appreciated. I’m so happy to hear that these were a hit at your Christmas dinner!! And that more were requested the next day :). I hope you have a lovely start to the new year!
Would I be ok to use other dates and not medjool for this recipe?
Hi A! That should work fine! I’d just aim to use ones that are nice and soft 🙂