Elvis on horseback was served at a short lived restaurant called St. Charles Exchange. It and she crab soup stick in the memory of my one and only visit. We were surprised when it closed, because it wasn’t for lack of good food. Years later I still can’t get it out of my head.
Evolution of Things on Horseback
Bacon wrapped oysters, called Angels on Horseback were extremely popular in the 19th century. Oyster bed pollution drove the price sky high and restaurants were forced to seek alternatives. They used dates and the evolutionary process continued when cheese and almonds became part of the recipes. It dawned on them a new, catchy name was needed and with imagination bursting at the seams, they coined Devils on Horseback. Hear me now and believe me later, but that’s the true story.
So How did Elvis Get Involved?
A chef in Lou-uh-vull, Kentucky got the itch to keep tinkering, so he stuffed the dates with peanut butter and added banana bourbon vinaigrette. What was his inspiration? Elvis Presley’s favorite peanut butter and banana sandwich. Elvis on Horseback was born.
And just one more thing…
Elvis loved riding his favorite quarter horse Rising Sun on his Graceland estate. My first horse ride was on a quarter horse in Nebraska. That and our good looks are two things we had in common.
Let’s Make Elvis on Horseback!
Slice open and remove the date pits.
Fill the centers with peanut butter.
Close the dates and wrap them tightly with a piece of bacon secured by a water-soaked wooden toothpick.
Baked Elvis on Horseback drizzled in banana vinaigrette, garnished with peanuts and chives. Print
Elvis on Horseback
Bacon wrapped dates stuffed with peanut butter in a banana vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1–2 dates per person
- 1/2 slice of bacon per date
- Smooth or crunchy peanut butter
- Banana bourbon vinaigrette
- Cocktail peanuts – garnish
- Chives – garnish
Banana Bourbon Vinaigrette
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 oz bourbon
- 1/4 cup traditional balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup pulp-free orange juice
- 1 TBL blond miso paste
- 1 pinch ground white pepper
Instructions
Banana Vinaigrette
- Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and process until it is a smooth mixture, then set aside and reserve
Elvis on Horseback
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees
- Soak toothpicks in water
- Slice dates, remove the pit from each date and fill with peanut butter
- Tightly wrap each date with half a bacon strip and secure with a wooden water soaked toothpick
- Place them in a baking dish, baste with banana bourbon vinaigrette and bake for 20-25 minutes, turning them after 10-15 minutes to cook both sides
- Plate with vinaigrette, peanuts and chives