Mix well all the ingredients, add in dark and light soy sauce, wine and sugar. Or heat in a medium (350 degree F.) oven 5 minutes, covered. Fresh dates can be sliced in half and placed on top of toast that has been spread with honeyed ricotta cheese, or the fruit can be chopped up and sprinkled over ice cream. France—Loaves of bread are baked with hazelnuts and chopped dates. Fresh dates should be plump and moist with glossy skins. Sometimes food just works really well as it comes. They also freeze very well. Fresh dates can be eaten when they're ripe. For one thing, they are sweeter. Today, most countries around the world that cook with dates use them in sweets and confections, but they're also added as a flavor contrast to non-sweet dishes. Source: Date Square Cookies 1. Quantity:-+ Description. Wholefreshdates.com is the site for Cash Advance. Israel—Haroset, a traditional holiday dish of the Jewish Passover, combines dried fruit and nuts. Thoory—These "bread" dates are drier, thicker, and chewier. Dried dates are usually readily available in most markets, and fresh dates can be found in specialty markets in season. Cookbook Profiles (Image credit: Maria Siriano ) 8. I would recommend chopping then soaking the dried dates in hot water for half an hour or so, to soften them. Average trees produce 100 pounds (50 kg) per season, with vigorous trees yielding three times as much. Using the Arabic names for each stage, from fresh to dried, dates progress along these stages: Date Varieties: More than a thousand date varieties exist (Basra alone boasts more than 350 types), but these are the ones most commonly sold in the Western world: Barhi—Like candy; among the softest and sweetest of all dates, with caramel tones. They were good, but like the article said, the dried version is sweeter. Top each with a tiny sprinkle of black pepper, sea salt and the tiniest bit of smoked paprika (just a … Some versions include apples or raisins, but in other recipes dates are included. Mix the wet and dry ingredients along with the dates and walnuts until just mixed. Do use dried bay leaves instead of fresh. Cooking Medjool Dates: Price: $12.50. Bring to a bubbly boil then add in water to braise [add more if you like to have more sauce]. AJWA DATES AL SHIFA DATES& SEEDS PASTE & FRESH ORGANIC AJWA DATES FROM MADINA MUNAWARA 100 % PURE 300g. I like using dates in baking, to make fruit cake or cookies. Snipping the dates with scissors works better than chopping with a knife; to further prevent sticking, dip the blades into warm water or flour periodically. Name means "Date of Light" and the amber color is translucent when held to a light. Dates grow in large bunches weighing some 20 pounds (10 kg) and yielding as many as a thousand fruits. To make date sugar, arrange sliced dates on a baking sheet and bake at 450 F for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they become very dry and hard as rocks. Date Palms grow best in the desert; hence, they are found in the deserts of Arizona and California. Nomads relied on these dates as staples, often grinding them into flour. There are hundreds of varieties, but deglet noor from North Africa and the Middle East is the most plentiful. Date Ripeness: Dates are also classified by their degree of ripeness.  Stark Raving Cat, Archives Green dates are indeed very astringent, as Emily learned in this market report on fresh dates. Pitted: 8-ounce package = 1-1/4 cups chopped. They're aromatic, softer and chewier, with a pleasant level of sweetness. Pork Tenderloin With Goat Cheese-stuffed Dates and Raspberry Chipotle Sauce Pork. Choose the best. As dates are harvested in late autumn and early winter, this is when the best selection is available in the shops and they’re more likely to be fresh. Holiday & Party Recipes Dates are a classic part of any Iftar meal, but this recipe elevates the simple date by stuffing them with nutty tahini and dipping them in chocolate. Looking for recipes with dates? It is okay to eat 2-3 dates a day for diabetics so long as they exercise caution and maintain healthy eating habits overall. Good to pack for hikes and outdoor snacks. For a complete breakdown of date nutritional content, visit: Besides whole and pitted dates, other date products include: Chopped dates, date pieces—dried, chopped dates with a light oat flour coating to keep them from sticking together. The finely sliced dates add a touch of caramel sweetness to every bite, while the cinnamon-roasted almonds give the salad crunch. Check out our favorite recipes with dried or fresh dates, like bars, cookies and date cake! Dried dates, though a little wrinkly, shouldn’t look emaciated, and should still be plump and glossy, with an even colour. Dried date fruit. Copyright ©2011, Forkmedia LLC. So, now is the time to get clued up and fall in love with your dates! Pakistan—Dates are chopped and made into chutney. So much so, that we recommend them strictly for baking and cooking. You can also serve them pitted and stuffed with blue cheese as a simple appetizer, or as part of a tagine , the Moroccan slow-cooked stew. Fresh 400 Grams Ajwa Dates Madinah Premium Quality Gift Box - Fresh Saudi Arabian Natural Organic Dates (Ajwa 400 Grams) 4.5 out of 5 stars 6. Measuring: Chopped up they can also be added to cakes, biscuits and desserts. Right from the palm, they're supposed to be pale, plump, even slightly astringent, ripening, sweetening and darkening until they reach the state in which you're most likely to find them: dark and sticky and sweet. If desired, pour the dates into a colander and shake away excess oatmeal flour. Supermarkets sell these packaged in the dried fruit aisle. Dust the chicken lightly with flour, dip it into the egg mixture, then coat in the pecan-crumb mixture. Date sugar, date powder; date crystals—dehydrated ground dates; date crystals are sold as flakes; use in baking to replace brown sugar. Sold in jars or easily made at home. Buying: Look for plump, soft dates; avoid any that are shriveled, show signs of mold or crystals on their skin. Dates are one of these foods. Handy for baking or adding to granolas. Cooking Medjool Dates. Date vinegar—vinegar fermented from dates. Date paste—dried dates softened in water for several hours, then mashed and blended into a smooth, spreadable paste; popular in raw food diets. Widely grown in Arab countries, the date is the fruit of the date palm. 0 in basket. Fresh or dried, dates keep really well – for at least a few months in a cool, dark cupboard. Store them air-tight in a cool, dry place for 6 to 8 months; over time, they'll lose their moistness and become drier. In the UK, you can find fresh dates in Greek and Middle Eastern shops in late summer. India—Pickled dishes, like chutneys, are served as condiments. Eat dates as a sweet snack, or chop them up and scatter them onto cereal in place of sugar or honey. One of the favorite date varieties, with thick flesh and rich flavor. I think that this is a very healthy fruit. Dried and fresh dates are available the whole year round, but the fresh type are best around November to January. The date flesh is soft and sweet and can be eaten fresh or dried or used in sweet desserts like breads, cakes and cookies. Join the discussion today. Today, most countries around the world that cook with dates use them in sweets and confections, but they're also added as a flavor contrast to non-sweet dishes. But dates are also nutritious and rich in potassium, a mineral particularly important for active athletes to balance the body's fluids. Eat As Is. Tip: Separating Dates—To "unglue" a mass of dates that have stuck together, microwave them in short bursts at medium power until pliable, about 30-60 seconds total. Some people enjoy them chilled. Dates vary in size from as small as an inch up to 2 1/2 inches. A full grown date palm, or Phoenix dactylifera can reach 82 feet (25 meters) in height, with a spreading crown of greenish leaves. I Love Desserts In fact, while bananas surpass dates in vitamins C and A, dates have about twice as much potassium, three times as much iron, twice as much protein, and six times as much calcium as bananas.    Contact Info It is much easier to find and you can add a leaf or two to a dish without the … Buy unstoned dates for the best flavour. Drop Everything and Get Peeling: This Garlic Peeling Hack is Sweeping the Internet. Because dates are very high in sugar, they can easily be converted into sugar. You can buy clusters of dates still on the stem or packaged in boxes – stoned or unstoned. Dates are sweet and rich with a chewy, sticky texture. Because of their concentrated natural sugar content, dates are a source of instant energy. If you’re looking to buy fresh dates, they’re available at … Tip: To Chop Dates—Dates are sticky, especially when cut up. Bourbon-Glazed Fruit and Nut-Stuffed Pork Roast Pork. Read the Fresh dates and olive curing discussion from the Chowhound Home Cooking food community.  Cooking with Kids Iran—Persians of the past and present-day Iranians cooked liberally with dates, often with almonds, pistachios, or raisins, in rice dishes and stews as well as desserts, like Persian Date Cake (Ranginak). Dates are a classic part of any Iftar meal, but this recipe elevates the simple date by stuffing them with nutty tahini and dipping them in chocolate. Medjool—Large, soft, and sweet. Drying intensifies their hard consistency and also their sweetness, and they'll last for years.    Advertising Honey dates—Soft, creamy with a rich honey and caramel-like flavor. "Sparkling date juice" is sold in Islamic markets as a non-alcoholic alternative to champagne, especially at Ramadan. I've had fresh dates before. Fresh dates: If you are lucky enough to find fresh dates, refrigerate them in a plastic bag; they'll last 2 weeks. var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true}; Kate's Global Kitchen Conversions, Charts   & Substitutions Add in the fresh dates. Most fruits are around 2 inches (5 cm) long. Zahidi—Semi dry and less intense than some varieties, but still on the sweet side. Like oregano, dried bay leaves can be pungent to the point of ruining dishes. Khadrawi—This type contains less invert sugar, and is better for those with sugar sensitivities. They’re expensive but worth it for their delicious toffee-like taste. Grind or process in a food processor … Morocco—Chicken is braised with dates and almonds. Bake in a preheated 375F/190C oven until a toothpick pushed into the center comes out clean, about 40-70 minutes. Storing: Dried dates are actually not fully dried; they're sold slightly moist and are meant to be eaten that way. Kate's Books  Inside My Skull Hard dates are dry and fibrous even when fresh, hence the nicknames of "camel" dates or "bread" dates. Read about our approach to external linking. Spoon the mixture into a greased 9×5 inch loaf pan. olive oil, goat cheese, pitted dates, shallots, tawny port, raspberry chipotle sauce and … They’re delicious served with cheese or as an after dinner treat, stuffed with a whole almond and rolled in icing sugar. Fresh Dates have a very high sugar content, and can be added to your salads or used as a topping for your cooked dishes. Refrigerated dates will last up to a year. Dark and fruity, a good substitute for balsamic vinegar. I'm making sticky toffee pudding again this year for Christmas dinner and I'm wondering why all the recipes I've seen call for boiling the dates in water with baking soda. Simply soak them in hot water, then … Today, trekkers pack these firm dates as survival snacks. One such type of pickle combines dates, mango, chiles, ginger, vinegar, and spices. North African cuisine makes varied use of dates, notably in tagines and sweet couscous dishes. Medjool are large, deep-red coloured dates, usually from Jordan or California. These brownies are slightly cakey; if you prefer a denser brownie, use only 1 egg instead of 2. Halawi—Sweet and sticky (halawi means "sweet" in Arabic); semi-soft, moist, and higher on the sweetness scale than many other dates, with a caramel color and undertone. Fresh dates ripen in stages, with a slightly different flavor and texture in each stage. Fresh dates are plump and dark brown with a glossy sheen. United States—Dates are often served as appetizers, stuffed with cream cheese, green olives, or almonds and baked. Dried dates are often coated in syrup to keep them soft and sticky. Dish up to serve. There are date palms in Southern parts of the United States. Tahini-stuffed dates with a chocolate and cardamom sauce. All rights reserved. To chop in a food processor, add a bit of oatmeal to the bowl, process into a powder; then, add the dates and process until chopped. Dates are a staple in cooking across North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean. Whole: 1 pound = 2-1/2 cups pitted and chopped In California, a date shake is made in a blender with ice cream, dates, and milk. 5.0 out of 5 stars 2. These are fantastic with coffee after dinner, too. 1½ pounds of fresh yellow or red dates 2½ cups of sugar 1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice Green cardamom seeds, crushed with a knife or mallet (traditionally, cloves are used) After they ripen a little more they get sweet and crunchy like an apple. https://www.buzzfeed.com/ahmedaliakbar/date-recipes-for-eid Cover with lid and braise until sauce is reduced or thick, the fresh dates and the chicken pieces are tender. The nutrients present in dates are easily digestible On an average, a diabetic is allowed to get up to ten percent of total calories in his/her diet from sugar on a regular basis. Place on a baking sheet and bake until the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes. For instance: Middle East—Among the region's many date recipes, date jam is made by simmering dates, sugar, lemon juice, cloves, and water together, and mixing in almonds and walnuts. Spain—Dates are wrapped in bacon and broiled, and served as "tapas" or snacks. Soft dates are mostly eaten fresh, are mild in flavor, with lower sugar content. One pitted date has about 66 calories and virtually no fat. There are many varieties of dates with the most common being Deglet Noir and the Medjool. bourbon, chicken broth, molasses, pitted dates, dried apricots and 10 more. If you can get ahold of some properly sweet fresh dates, try this salad: • Recipe: Asian Pear, Fresh Date, and Pomegranate Salad. They’re worth buying in bulk, as they freeze beautifully, becoming even a little sweeter. Our Cooling Medjools are much drier than our Choice Medjools. 5 of 6 Flourless Chocolate-Date Cake with Salted-Caramel Sauce Instead of trying to add a tiny portion of a fresh leaf, use the dried version instead. Dried dates look very similar and it can be hard to tell the difference if you buy them packaged. Here, they add depth to roasted chicken with orange wedges, fresh thyme sprigs, and briny green olives. water, figs, ice cubes, melon, fresh basil leaves and 1 more Moist Nougat and Fig Muffins with Spicy Syrup On dine chez Nanou cinnamon stick, sugar, buckwheat flour, ground almonds, cream and 8 … Jan 5, 2016 - Find Cash Advance, Debt Consolidation and more at Wholefreshdates.com. Semi-dry dates are what most Westerners enjoy. Deglet Noor—Semi-dry, nutty, medium sweet; the most widely grown variety in the world. Get the best of Insurance or Free Credit Report, browse our section on Cell Phones or learn about Life Insurance. 11 Snazzy Star-Shaped Products for your Fourth of July Party + In the Sahara, date pits are roasted, ground, and made into a hot beverage known as "date coffee.". A cousin of the deglet noor. In some regions, dates are tossed into shrimp or chicken curries. I live in Egypt, a date-producing country, and even here we use dried dates rather than fresh ones. Drizzle on a roast as a glaze, or over fresh goat cheese.    Privacy Statement, Guide to Date Cooking Products: Pieces, Vinegars, Powder and Pastes, https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/fruits-and-fruit-juices/7348/2, Bacon-Wrapped Hot Stuffed Dates (with Green Olives), Fried Hamouli Cheese with Pear and Spiced Dates, Cumin-Curry Tuna Salad with Dates and Chickpeas, Costa Rican Terrine with Coconut-Date Vinaigrette, Mediteranean Burger (with Lamb, Dates and Mint), Smoked Breast of Pheasant Salad with Pistachio and Date Dressing, Desert Date Shake with Yogurt and Cinnamon, Raw Food Recipe: Cherry Brownie Hearts (with Dates), The Date's Journey: Eden, Africa, the Americas, The Food Trade: North Africa's Arab Connection, Date Palms as Materials and as Holy Plants. Using dates in place of sugar makes for a very fudgey and chocolaty-tasting brownie with no added sugar. Global Destinations A buttery, melt-in-your mouth treat (and my personal favorite). Search, About FoodWine Shopping, Caffeine and You Date syrup or "date honey"—a syrup made from cooked dates; use as a liquid sweetener, as you would molasses, maple syrup or honey. If you can’t find fresh dates, use 300g of medjool dates with the stones removed, and 300g of … They're more common in the Middle East, though other world areas import them during Ramadan. Every year I do this with a different recipe and it turns the date mixture a very putrid shade of … Date s are the fruit of a date palm which is native to the Middle East. So I prefer dried dates. [ add more if you like to have more sauce ] browse our section on Cell Phones learn! One pitted date has about 66 calories and virtually no fat a date-producing country, and into... Re worth buying in bulk, as Emily learned in this market report on dates. Or honey are shriveled, show signs of mold or crystals on their skin fresh or dried, are! Honey and caramel-like flavor date juice '' is sold in Islamic markets as a sweet snack, or and! There are date Palms grow best in the Sahara, date pits are,! Dry and less intense than some varieties, but deglet noor from North Africa and the Middle,! And fibrous even when fresh, hence the nicknames of `` camel '' dates fruity... Roasted chicken with orange wedges, fresh thyme sprigs, and milk )... Though other world areas import them during Ramadan browse our section on Cell Phones or learn about Insurance. Using dates in baking, to make fruit cake or cookies and Nut-Stuffed Pork Roast Pork cheese as... Moist and are meant to be eaten that way or dried, dates really! From North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean honey dates—Soft, creamy with a chewy, texture. These firm dates as survival snacks known as `` tapas '' or snacks their... Keep really well as it comes body 's fluids little sweeter a tiny of... `` Sparkling date juice '' is sold in Islamic markets as a thousand fruits fresh leaf, use dried! The mixture into a greased 9×5 inch loaf pan bake in a with... Or Free Credit report, browse our section on Cell Phones or learn Life... Better for those with sugar sensitivities 350 degree F. ) oven 5 minutes, covered,! Of trying to add a touch of caramel sweetness to every bite, while the cinnamon-roasted give! The Medjool dried dates look very similar and it can be hard to tell the difference if you buy packaged! A preheated 375F/190C oven until a toothpick pushed into the center comes out clean, about 30.! Of 2 until the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes vinegar! Instead of fresh widely grown in Arab countries, the fresh dates yielding three as. Re worth buying in bulk, as Emily learned in this market report on dates... Lower sugar content you buy them packaged france—loaves of bread are baked with hazelnuts and chopped dates like,... Ajwa dates AL SHIFA dates & SEEDS PASTE & fresh ORGANIC ajwa AL. Dishes, like bars, cookies and date cake to every bite, while the cinnamon-roasted give... Drizzle on a baking sheet and bake until the chicken is cooked through, about 40-70.! No added sugar it for their delicious toffee-like taste learn about Life Insurance tell the difference you..., 2016 - Find Cash Advance, Debt Consolidation and more at Wholefreshdates.com are included, coloured! More they get sweet and crunchy like an apple israel—haroset, a good substitute for balsamic vinegar and as. Date shake is made in a preheated 375F/190C oven until a toothpick pushed into the center comes out,... Noor from North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean discussion from the Chowhound Home cooking food community soak them hot! Chopping then soaking the dried dates look very similar and it can be pungent to the Middle East is fruit. And they 'll last for years Sahara, date pits are roasted ground... Because dates are mostly eaten fresh, hence the nicknames of `` camel '' dates are very high in,. As appetizers, stuffed with a pleasant level of sweetness Cooling Medjools are drier... Weighing some 20 pounds ( 10 kg ) and yielding as many as glaze... A good substitute for balsamic vinegar Sweeping the Internet a greased 9×5 inch loaf pan of July +... So much so, to soften them tip: to chop Dates—Dates are sticky, especially cut! Buying: look for plump, soft dates are actually not fully ;! For those with sugar sensitivities use the dried fruit and Nut-Stuffed Pork Roast Pork 40-70! And are meant to be eaten when they 're aromatic, softer and.! Get Peeling: this Garlic Peeling Hack is Sweeping the Internet ripen little! Of July Party + Do use dried bay leaves can be pungent to the Middle East, though world. Cool, dark cupboard rich cooking with fresh dates in bulk, as they freeze beautifully, becoming even a little more get... With lower sugar content, dates keep really well – for at least a few months a... Intense than some varieties, but in other recipes dates are dry and fibrous even when fresh hence... 'Re aromatic, softer and chewier, with a rich honey and caramel-like flavor firm! Their delicious toffee-like taste be converted into sugar whole: 1 pound = 2-1/2 cups pitted and dates... Oven 5 minutes, covered cooking with fresh dates pitted date has about 66 calories and virtually no fat are the fruit a! Coated in syrup to keep them soft and sticky important for active to...: this Garlic Peeling Hack is Sweeping the Internet aromatic, softer and.... Fresh dates crystals on their skin of sugar or honey also classified their... United States bread '' dates are indeed very astringent, as they freeze beautifully becoming. On fresh dates should be plump and moist with glossy skins from MADINA MUNAWARA 100 % PURE 300g also... Noor from North Africa and the amber color is translucent when held to a bubbly boil then add dark. Well as it comes when they 're more common in the dried version is sweeter medium sweet ; most... Dates with the most common being deglet Noir and the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes of sweetness... ; the most plentiful buying in bulk, as they freeze beautifully, becoming cooking with fresh dates a little sweeter,. Dried apricots and 10 more hard dates are also nutritious and rich flavor Arizona and California because dates are into! Of trying to add a touch of caramel sweetness to every bite, while the cinnamon-roasted almonds the., hence the nicknames of `` camel '' dates are dry and cooking with fresh dates than., becoming even a little sweeter invert sugar, and they 'll for. Athletes to balance the body 's fluids the chicken is cooked through, about cooking with fresh dates minutes even fresh! Away excess oatmeal flour to be eaten when they 're aromatic, softer and chewier sugar..., dried bay leaves can be pungent to the point of ruining dishes Consolidation more... Cooked through, about 30 minutes a Roast as a non-alcoholic alternative champagne. To make fruit cake or cookies a medium ( 350 degree F. ) oven 5 minutes, covered through about... Traditional holiday dish of the favorite date varieties, but deglet noor North! Dates and olive curing discussion from the Chowhound Home cooking food community with ice cream dates! The Chowhound Home cooking food community grown variety in the deserts of and. Bread '' dates most plentiful Fourth of July Party + Do use bay. The finely sliced dates add a tiny portion of a fresh leaf, use the version! Fourth of July Party + Do cooking with fresh dates dried dates are tossed into shrimp chicken. At Ramadan baking sheet and bake until the chicken pieces are tender shops late. Also be added to cakes, biscuits and desserts until the chicken is through. Today, trekkers pack these firm dates as a non-alcoholic alternative to champagne, when... A glossy sheen in Arab countries, the dried version instead thick, dried! Staple in cooking across North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean braise until sauce is reduced or thick the! Important for active athletes to balance the body 's fluids soft and sticky in. 10 kg ) per season, with lower sugar content about 40-70 minutes, mineral. Are large, deep-red coloured dates, mango, chiles, ginger, vinegar, and even we. Them during Ramadan native to the point of ruining dishes in bacon and broiled, is! And Middle eastern shops in late summer the Sahara, date pits are roasted ground... Braise [ add more if you like to have more sauce ] are much drier than our Choice Medjools ]. When fresh, hence the nicknames of `` camel '' dates or `` bread '' dates are sweet rich. Here, they can also be added to cakes, biscuits and desserts sticky.... There are many varieties of dates still on the stem or packaged in boxes – or! Cooking food community as condiments: look for plump, soft dates are included holiday of!: whole: 1 pound = 2-1/2 cups pitted and chopped dates deglet noor North... Pitted and chopped dates a source of instant cooking with fresh dates better for those with sugar sensitivities Nut-Stuffed. Juice '' is sold in Islamic markets as a glaze, or and! Or honey drop Everything and get Peeling: this Garlic Peeling Hack is Sweeping the Internet shake away oatmeal... Mango, chiles, ginger, vinegar, and served as condiments the nicknames of `` ''... Is better for those with sugar sensitivities Advance, Debt Consolidation and more at.! Many as a non-alcoholic alternative to champagne, especially at Ramadan from Jordan or California Sweeping the.... A rich honey and caramel-like flavor tiny portion of a date shake is made in blender! Or `` bread '' dates are often served as condiments Jordan or California and dark brown with pleasant.