Remove the dates from the saucepan and with the tip of a knife or a vegetable corer, dislodge the seed from the dates and any strings from the inside of the fruit. Open 1 package of instant vanilla pudding mix and add the dry mix to your cookie dough. A dry date simply contains less moisture than a soft date. Before any type of preparation, though, you first need to remove the pits. 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. Most people think of dates as a dried fruit because they’re thinking of the dates you buy in the baking aisle. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 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. Simply slice the date lengthwise and the pit will easily pop out. Depending on where you live, you may also come across names such as Barhi, Dayri, Halawy, Khadrawy, Thoory, and Zahidi. Chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and mineral extractability of Sudanese date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits. Wait a few minutes for the dates to absorb the water, then spray a little more, as needed until they reach the moisture levels you desire. You will love adding these to your holiday baking list! Dates. Medjool dates range from brown to black in color and are large in size. A Web Experience brought to you by LEAFtv, Eat Drink Be Merry Magazine: Royal Medjool Dates. Note: Heat 2 cups of water in the microwave. 2014;2(5):478-89.  doi:10.1002/fsn3.123, An Y, Feng L, Zhang X, et al. Boil water in a saucepan and add the chopped dates to it and let it cook for 5 minutes. If dates are dry or hard, you can soak them in water for about 30 minutes, drain and then use them in the recipe. If you have a large quantity or would like to keep the dates for an extended period of time, freezing is the way to go. No forks or spoons required, just easy-to-pick-up party foods, so you can clean up in no time.Read More Just … Kumquat Tarts with Almond-Date Crust. Also, you might find it hard to believe, how easy it is to make this Date Filling. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The University of Sydney Glycemic Index. The sugar will melt back into the dates. The word "date" comes from the Greek word daktulos, which means "fingers," possibly named as such for the fruit's shape. Certain varieties, such as Medjool, are more expensive than others because their harvest is more labor intensive. Her work includes writing city profiles for Groupon. Simmer gently until they are soft when pierced with a knife, about 30 minutes or more. Dates are among the sweetest fruits in the world. Of course, dessert recipes abound utilizing the date's natural sweetness. 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. Add the mix when you're pouring in the dry ingredients and combine the dough as directed in your recipe. 4) Use dates in place of raisins for oatmeal-date cookies. The vanilla pudding mix will add moisture to the cookies, so they stay soft and last longer. Oatmeal Date Cookies that are chewy and soft in the center but crispy on the edges! Follow this easy process to make your own jar: Soak dates in hot water to soften them. Let the dates soak for about 10 minutes, then and then strain the fruit and discard the water. What can be done to make them soft again? Fresh dates can be wrinkled, but they shouldn't feel hard. 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. 3) Blend dates with yogurt and frozen fruits for a healthy smoothie. When you bring Medjool dates home from the store they're soft, pliable and easy to process. 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. Share on Pinterest. Recipe works best fresh, soft medjool dates. To Substitute Date Paste for Maple Syrup: Use double the amount of date paste when subbing for maple syrup. Fill a small pot with a few inches of water and fit a steamer basket or adjustable colander inside the pot. 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. Most dates are allowed to hang on the trees to "cure" and dry a bit before being harvested so they will last longer once picked. The harvest then takes place between September and March, making this a fall and winter fruit. Wait a few minutes for the dates to absorb the water, then spray a little more, as needed until they reach the moisture levels you desire. 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. An award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients. Alternatively, you can use a spoon to drizzle water over the dates if you don't have a spray bottle. These chewy, sweet fruits are available in several varieties and are sold both fresh and dried. 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. Medjool dates are a FRESH FRUIT. Open up the pitted dates, and fill them with a cream cheese of your choice. 2) Stuff dates with nuts or cheese and enjoy them as an afternoon snack. If they do not smell good or show signs of decay, the dates have expired. Thank You! Spray the dates lightly with the spray bottle of water on all sides. In a large bowl, cream together 1/2 cup butter and 3/4 cup white sugar until light and fluffy. Dates come in many varieties, but only a few are available in the United States. Step 2 Cut a slit into each Dates come in many varieties, but only a few are available in the United States. Food Sci Nutr. Dates have an excellent nutrition profile. Depending on where you live, you might be able to find fresh dates prepackaged or in bulk at your local supermarket. If you’re using the smaller deglet noor dates, you’ll need to use more! Medjool dates are one of the most popular, known for their large size, soft texture and rich flavor. Pack the dates as tightly as you want to in the container. Superfoods are the fashion, and dates are certainly worthy of a place at the table, a … Wrap the dates up in the paper towel and let them sit for a few minutes wrapped up to infused them with a little more moisture. 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. Add the dates to the steamer basket or colander once it starts to boil and sprinkle lightly with water. Based in Los Angeles, Zora Hughes has been writing travel, parenting, cooking and relationship articles since 2010. Dried dates are sold year-round in boxes or packages and often found in the baking aisle. Wipe each dry date all over with the damp paper towel, removing the sugar crystals that have formed as they dried out. Set aside for 15 minutes and grind the mixture to a fine paste. Easy ways to boost fiber in your daily diet. Add baking soda, mix well and switch off the heat. Cool a bit. Deglet Noor dates: “Date of Light” are amber colored and have a distinct delicate flavor. Because the sugar becomes more concentrated as the fruit dries, dried dates are much sweeter than fresh, and have a tougher, chewier texture. Soft dates – Part 1. Place Medjool dates in a glass or ceramic bowl and pour hot water over them. 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. Beat in … If you can’t find tart kumquats or prefer a fruit that’s a bit … Dates that are starting to dry out will form sugar crystals on the surface as the moisture is escaping. Press a walnut half into the cheese filled dates. https://www.faskitchen.com/dates-cake-recipe-make-simple-date-cake Although dates are super sweet it doesn't mean that they're bad for you—on the contrary. Mohamed RM, Fageer AS, Eltayeb MM, Mohamed ahmed IA. 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. This video shows you how to make delicious date cake. Spray the dates lightly with the spray bottle of water on all sides. Since they’re dried, their … Most dates are allowed to hang on the trees to "cure" and dry a bit before being harvested so they will last longer once picked. 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. They may record accomplishments that make us proud – a first marathon, or first article published. Place just the amount of dates you plan to use in a bowl, then cover with boiling water to fully submerge the fruit. This is something you can play around with to get the caramel sauce thickness you’re looking for. When plump, sweet dates are a little past their prime and start to get dry, it's easy to remoisten them, bringing them back to their juicy goodness. In a mixing bowl of a stand-in mixer, cream the butter, … Medjool dates are actually harvested from the date palm, cleaned, sorted and packaged right away. 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. These are the "fresh dates" available at some supermarkets, specialty grocery stores, and farmers' markets. Step 2: Making your Date Paste with your Mortar & Pestle Cover and allow them to sit for 10-20 minutes. Since palm trees grow best in the desert, the U.S. crop of dates is grown in the deserts of California and Arizona. 5) Wrap pitted dates in bacon and serve them as a tasty appetizer. (Many thanks to Sunsweet for sponsoring this post! 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. As always, all opinions are my own. They will still be quite soft but have a bit more of a toothsome quality to them. 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. Wring it out well. Fresh dates have a high sugar content, which intensifies as the fruit is dried; thus, fresh dates differ in both taste and texture from the sugared, desiccated, chopped ones sold in boxes in the baking aisle of the grocery store. Dates are also high in fiber (1/4 cup of dates provides over ten percent of the daily requirement), which aids in relieving constipation and managing weight as it makes you feel fuller longer. Dates are also an excellent replacement or addition in baked goods to cut down on refined sugars. Updated December 19, 2019. 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. Cover the pot. Fresh dates are delicious eaten just as they are, with a cup of coffee or mug of tea alongside to cut the sweetness. Deglet Noor dates have amber-colored skin and a more elongated shape. 2019;11(1):139.  doi:10.1186/s13148-019-0741-y. https://www.buzzfeed.com/ahmedaliakbar/date-recipes-for-eid Super-ize Them. These really are the perfect oatmeal cookie filled with chewy dates and crunchy pecans. Read our, The Spruce Eats uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. She also writes screenplays and won the S. Randolph Playwriting Award in 2004. Alternatively, place the dates in a resealable plastic bag. The fruit will be more plump, juicy, and soft. The water should reach just below the basket. Alternatively, you can use a spoon to drizzle water over the dates if you don't have a spray bottle. Place your dates in an airtight container. 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. The … They are also available via mail order from some growers and may be found at specialty stores and, often, Middle Eastern markets. That said, there are many other ways to enjoy them, from savory appetizers to sweet desserts. Include vanilla pudding in the dough. There are endless varieties of dates grown in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. Want to give your dates even more flavor? Very Nutritious. Dry roast sesame seeds on a low to medium heat until they turn aromatic They are not as sweet or moist as Medjool dates but have a softer caramel-like taste. Fill a small spray bottle with water. Fresh dates are plump and dark brown with a glossy sheen. Step 1 Mix cream cheese and Gorgonzola cheese together in a bowl. The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. They are firmer and drier than Medjools with a slightly nutty flavor. 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. Portion them out into small containers before freezing—they will thaw beautifully and retain their sweetness. They may mark a romantic meeting, or some other sweet occasion in life. 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. Place the dates in a saucepan and cover with water. There’s no need to dry them completely. 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. Simple methods of adding moisture back into the dates will get rid of the crystallization and make the dates look and taste as good as new. Get daily tips and expert advice to help you take your cooking skills to the next level. The fresh dates are available soft, semi-soft or dry. I have some chopped dates, coated in oat flour that are slightly hard. Glass or plastic tupperware works well. Soak the dates in “just boiled” water for 1-2 hours. Farmers' markets in Southern California and Arizona may have fresh dates when they're in season. They have a moist texture and a sweet taste. )Continue Reading You can also blend them into a smoothie—they just need to be soaked in hot water for 10 minutes to reconstitute first. However, their taste will diminish over time, so for optimal flavor, it is best to eat the dates within a week. Clin Epigenetics. 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! You may be surprised to find a wide range of recipes featuring dates, both fresh and dried. Or, of course, dates play a big role in baked goods, adding sweetness and texture to cakes, breads, and cookies. I love this recipe, I hope you like it too. They grow on large trees known as date palms and are native to the Middle East where they have been enjoyed for thousands of years. They will still be quite soft but have a bit more of a toothsome quality to them. Set your taste-buds reeling with delight with this enticingly delicious Date Filling. So, if a recipe calls for 1/2 cup of maple syrup, I’d recommend using 1 cup of date paste. Wet a paper towel under running water briefly so that it is damp, but not completely soaking. After they’ve soaked, scoop out at least 1/4 cup of the soaking water and then drain the dates. 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. So don't miss it! Bring the water to boil. Look for fresh dates that are plump and have a slight glossiness to their skin. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in television writing/producing and a Master of Arts Management in entertainment media management, both from Columbia College. Dates will last up to one month when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Repeat with the rest of your dates. Dates are sweet and rich with a chewy, sticky texture. The dry fresh date is not the same as the dried date. 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. In the U.S., however, the most commonly available dates are Medjool and Deglet Noor. 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