Sandwiched
201216-127677-Date-Stilton-Pear-PRIMARY.jpg

[Photographs: Maria Del Mar Sacasa]

Note: Be sure to use dates that are plump and soft.

About the author: María del Mar Sacasa is a recipe developer, food stylist, and author of the food blog High Heels & Frijoles. Behind her girly façade lurks a truck driver's appetite. Read about her cravings and suffer through her occasional rants on Twitter @HHandFrijoles and Pinterest.

Every recipe we publish is tested, tasted, and Serious Eats-approved by our staff. Never miss a recipe again by following @SeriousRecipes on Twitter!

About This Recipe

Yield: Makes 4 sandwiches
Active time: 30 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Special equipment: large skillet, slotted spoon, pastry brush, spatula

Ingredients

  • 8 slices thick cut bacon, coarsely chopped
  • 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 12 Medjool dates
  • 1 Asian pear, scrubbed, cored, and sliced into 20 wedges
  • 8 ounces Stilton or other blue cheese
  • 4 (6-inch) pieces baguette, split in half lengthwise

Procedures

  1. Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp and golden, about 8 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer to paper towel-lined plate. Pour rendered fat into bowl; reserve.

  2. Spread cut side of each bottom half of bread with 1 teaspoon mustard. With fingers, remove and discard pits from dates. Press 3 dates onto bread (over mustard), spreading lightly with fingertips. Divide bacon evenly among bread pieces, sprinkling over dates. Arrange 5 pear slices over bacon, then top with 2 ounces Stilton.

  3. Press remaining 4 baguette pieces onto cheese, then, brush both sides of each sandwich with reserved bacon fat. Cook sandwiches over medium heat in now empty skillet, pressing down with spatula, until cheese begins to melt and bread is golden, about 4 minutes per side. Serve. Alternatively, press sandwiches in a panini press until toasted and heated through. Sere.