The humble date

[Wandering Bob]

I love dates – with their sticky sweetness and their shiny skins – and I eat them every day. I always carry a handful of them when I’m on a long bike ride.

So why humble? They don’t appear to play much of a role in our culinary world, that’s why. I’ve been looking around for interesting recipes that use dates – and there are ‘date slices’ and ‘date squares’ recipes available, of course. One of these sandwiches dates that have been stewed with lemon juice between two layers of a rolled oats concoction that sounds appealing, if a bit heavy.

I want to find some more interesting things to do with dates – can anyone help by posting their own tried and tested recipes, please?

 

[Herbie]

I've made a lovely vegan toffee sauce using dates
I'll fish out the recipe.

 

[Morning Glory]

I like them too. They are good in savoury dishes.

... you could always include them in a Moroccan dish (a tagine perhaps?) and enter The CookingBites Prize Challenge: Moroccan Food. .

 

[Morning Glory]

Ma'amoul perhaps? That would fit he Moroccan theme. There is a recipe here from ASDA which looks straightforward. Quite how authentic it is I'm not sure:


https://www.asdagoodliving.co.uk/food/recipes/maamoul-date-pastries

 

[Wandering Bob]

Ma'amoul perhaps? That would fit he Moroccan theme. There is a recipe here from ASDA which looks straightforward. Quite how authentic it is I'm not sure:


https://www.asdagoodliving.co.uk/food/recipes/maamoul-date-pastries

thanks @morning glory - I've had a look at this recipe and it's interesting and simple. I'm not particularly concerned about its authenticity - if it tastes good, then it's fine with me

 

[Morning Glory]

thanks @morning glory - I've had a look at this recipe and it's interesting and simple. I'm not particularly concerned about its authenticity - if it tastes good, then it's fine with me

If you do make it then please post as an entry to the Prize Challenge - we never get that many entries so you could be in with a great chance of winning.

 

[zeppenwolf]

They don’t appear to play much of a role in our culinary world

Scones, Ice Cream, & Smoothies

 

[CraigC]

Here are a couple pizza ideas:
https://www.thekitchenwhisperer.net/2014/01/28/caramelized-medjool-date-pizza/

https://food52.com/recipes/68623-date-prosciutto-and-cheese-pizza

We prefer figs for making pizza.
https://www.cookingbites.com/threads/grilled-fig-and-prosciutto-pizza.11396/

 

[Morning Glory]

Here are a couple pizza ideas:

Dates with cheese is very good and I could eat them on pizza (not too many though).

 

[Karen W]

I had the most delicious date shake in indio California, just outside of Palm Springs. Ice cream, milk, dates, and ???

 

[Morning Glory]

I had the most delicious date shake in indio California, just outside of Palm Springs. Ice cream, milk, dates, and ???

A date shake! there's a thought. I wonder what that mystery ingredient is. Cinnamon perhaps?

 

[Karen W]

Whipped cream and a cherry on top. LOL just kidding. I think it was just milk, ice cream, and chopped dates. They make the shakes up in a blender. I should have watched more carefully to see what else they added, if anything. Sweet! I think it was called Shields date farm. They have date everything. It's a great place to visit.

 

[epicuric]

Sautéed leeks with dates - a recently discovered recipe I tried out for the first time last Sunday. Finely shred the leeks then cook them down in a little butter. Halfway through cooking add some julienned dates. The flavour combination really works, and is a great accompaniment to roast pork.

 

[Morning Glory]

Sautéed leeks with dates - a recently discovered recipe I tried out for the first time last Sunday. Finely shred the leeks then cook them down in a little butter. Halfway through cooking add some julienned dates. The flavour combination really works, and is a great accompaniment to roast pork.

What a fantastic idea!

 

[Karen W]

Stuff them with mascarpone, blue cheese, goat cheese or Brie, a pecan or almond, and wrap with prosciutto.