They are also available via mail order from some growers and may be found at specialty stores and, often, Middle Eastern markets. They may record accomplishments that make us proud – a first marathon, or first article published. If you’re using the smaller deglet noor dates, you’ll need to use more! Fresh dates are plump and dark brown with a glossy sheen. (Many thanks to Sunsweet for sponsoring this post! If you've never had a freshly harvested date, they are worth seeking out for their insanely sweet, caramel-like taste and—this is where they differ most from dried dates—their soft, downright luscious texture. These chewy, sweet fruits are available in several varieties and are sold both fresh and dried. Bring the water to boil. As they sit, the dates will continue to dry out and their sugars will slowly come to the surface, creating white spots that are sugar, not mold. 2) Stuff dates with nuts or cheese and enjoy them as an afternoon snack. For longer storage, or to maintain their freshness, store the dates in the refrigerator packed in a glass or plastic container or zip-top bag. Although dates are super sweet it doesn't mean that they're bad for you—on the contrary. Dates are among the sweetest fruits in the world. So don't miss it! 4) Use dates in place of raisins for oatmeal-date cookies. If you are lucky enough to find the Barhi date (it is too fragile to ship), it is best to eat these round dates out of hand as they are the sweetest and softest. Mohamed RM, Fageer AS, Eltayeb MM, Mohamed ahmed IA. Boil water in a saucepan and add the chopped dates to it and let it cook for 5 minutes. So, if a recipe calls for 1/2 cup of maple syrup, I’d recommend using 1 cup of date paste. )Continue Reading In a large bowl, cream together 1/2 cup butter and 3/4 cup white sugar until light and fluffy. Dates are sweet and rich with a chewy, sticky texture. Place just the amount of dates you plan to use in a bowl, then cover with boiling water to fully submerge the fruit. When it comes to dates, we may initially think of baked goods, but an interesting hors d'oeuvre, such as devils on horseback (dates stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon) and Moroccan specialties like a chicken tagine with dates and honey are also wonderful ways to enjoy this fruit. Add baking soda, mix well and switch off the heat. Just … By using The Spruce Eats, you accept our, Julia Hoersch/Picture Press / Getty Images, Why Dates Are Traditionally Eaten When Breaking Ramadan Fast, The Ramadan Tradition of Breaking a Fast With Dates, Essential Ingredients in Moroccan Cooking, 6 Moroccan Chicken Dishes for Special Occasions and Company Dinners. https://www.faskitchen.com/dates-cake-recipe-make-simple-date-cake Dates can be softened by steaming them for about 10 minutes over boiling water or placing them on a baking sheet covered with a wet towel then keeping them warm in the oven for 15 minutes. An award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients. They may mark a romantic meeting, or some other sweet occasion in life. Oatmeal Date Cookies that are chewy and soft in the center but crispy on the edges! In a mixing bowl of a stand-in mixer, cream the butter, … Fresh dates are delicious eaten just as they are, with a cup of coffee or mug of tea alongside to cut the sweetness. Chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and mineral extractability of Sudanese date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits, Dietary intakes and biomarker patterns of folate, vitamin B, and vitamin B can be associated with cognitive impairment by hypermethylation of redox-related genes NUDT15 and TXNRD1, Easy ways to boost fiber in your daily diet. Alternatively, you can use a spoon to drizzle water over the dates if you don't have a spray bottle. Of course, dessert recipes abound utilizing the date's natural sweetness. This video shows you how to make delicious date cake. Portion them out into small containers before freezing—they will thaw beautifully and retain their sweetness. Place the dates in a saucepan and cover with water. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in television writing/producing and a Master of Arts Management in entertainment media management, both from Columbia College. The vanilla pudding mix will add moisture to the cookies, so they stay soft and last longer. Native to the Middle East, dates are fruits of the date palm tree and look somewhat like giant raisins, but have a much sweeter taste and smoother texture. The … In the U.S., however, the most commonly available dates are Medjool and Deglet Noor. Easy ways to boost fiber in your daily diet. The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Avoid dates that have crystallized sugar on their skins (a little whiteness is okay, but not actual crystals), since that means they are not quite as fresh as you might like. Since palm trees grow best in the desert, the U.S. crop of dates is grown in the deserts of California and Arizona. Repeat with the rest of your dates. Because the sugar becomes more concentrated as the fruit dries, dried dates are much sweeter than fresh, and have a tougher, chewier texture. Farmers' markets in Southern California and Arizona may have fresh dates when they're in season. You can also blend them into a smoothie—they just need to be soaked in hot water for 10 minutes to reconstitute first. Deglet Noor dates have amber-colored skin and a more elongated shape. Set your taste-buds reeling with delight with this enticingly delicious Date Filling. Also, you might find it hard to believe, how easy it is to make this Date Filling. They are not as sweet or moist as Medjool dates but have a softer caramel-like taste. Dates can be softened by steaming them for about 10 minutes over boiling water or placing them on a baking sheet covered with a wet towel then keeping them warm in the oven for 15 minutes. Dried dates can also be eaten as is as a snack, or you can chop and toss into salads or sprinkle on top of hot oatmeal. Simply slice the date lengthwise and the pit will easily pop out. Step 2 Cut a slit into each If you can’t find tart kumquats or prefer a fruit that’s a bit … A Web Experience brought to you by LEAFtv, Eat Drink Be Merry Magazine: Royal Medjool Dates. I love this recipe, I hope you like it too. They have a moist texture and a sweet taste. Dates can be eaten out of hand or used as a topping for sweet and savory dishes, and they can also be incorporated into salads and pureed into sauces. Dates will last up to one month when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Dietary intakes and biomarker patterns of folate, vitamin B, and vitamin B can be associated with cognitive impairment by hypermethylation of redox-related genes NUDT15 and TXNRD1. You may be surprised to find a wide range of recipes featuring dates, both fresh and dried. When you bring Medjool dates home from the store they're soft, pliable and easy to process. 3 65 Super Easy Finger Foods to Make for Any Party From chips and dip to one-bite apps, finger foods are the perfect way to kick off a party. Her work includes writing city profiles for Groupon. Step 1 Mix cream cheese and Gorgonzola cheese together in a bowl. Certain varieties, such as Medjool, are more expensive than others because their harvest is more labor intensive. Steam the dates for about 3 to 5 minutes, covered, until they have sufficiently remoistened to your liking and any sugar crystals on the surface have dissolved. Clin Epigenetics. Let the dates soak for about 10 minutes, then and then strain the fruit and discard the water. Before any type of preparation, though, you first need to remove the pits. Depending on where you live, you may also come across names such as Barhi, Dayri, Halawy, Khadrawy, Thoory, and Zahidi. After they’ve soaked, scoop out at least 1/4 cup of the soaking water and then drain the dates. https://www.buzzfeed.com/ahmedaliakbar/date-recipes-for-eid Follow this easy process to make your own jar: Soak dates in hot water to soften them. To Substitute Date Paste for Maple Syrup: Use double the amount of date paste when subbing for maple syrup. Medjool dates are actually harvested from the date palm, cleaned, sorted and packaged right away. Because they are drier and smaller than other dates they make for a great snack or as a sweet addition to bread or a meal. If you are looking for an alternative to sugar, you can actually turn the dates into a "sugar" by simply roasting and then pulverizing them. Fresh dates, if kept in an airtight container, stay fresh for up to 8 months if kept refrigerated, or for up to year in the freezer. She also writes screenplays and won the S. Randolph Playwriting Award in 2004. Soak your Medjool Dates in Warm Water until your Dates are tender/soft Remove your Dates from the soaking water Remove the seeds by Hand – make sure to get all of them! Soft dates may be those we recall not because they fall into the traditional category of dates to remember – but because they hold special meaning. A dry date simply contains less moisture than a soft date. Include vanilla pudding in the dough. The fruit will be more plump, juicy, and soft. Medjool dates range from brown to black in color and are large in size. The water should reach just below the basket. Dates can help balance blood sugar levels because they have a low glycemic impact. This fruit also contains different types of antioxidants, which help protect the body's cells, depending on the variety and whether they are fresh or dried. They are high in magnesium, which may help reduce blood pressure, and contain a B vitamin that may help boost memory and learning.. 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