Dates
Sweet, chewy fruits of the date palm with a flavor like caramel and honey. They are eaten fresh, dried, stuffed or blended into pastries, shakes and sauces.
Dates005: Nepenthes, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Where it comes from
Date palms have been grown in the deserts and oases of the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and Egypt for thousands of years. Varieties such as Sukkari, Ajwa, Medjool and Khalas are prized for their sweetness and softness.
Explore the cuisine of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt.
Nutrition: Dates are a natural source of fiber, potassium and quick energy.
Enjoying Dates
Ways to enjoy it
- Served with Arabic coffee
- Stuffed with almonds or walnuts
- Blended into smoothies and milkshakes
- Chopped into oatmeal or yogurt
- Baked into cookies and cakes (maamoul)
- Turned into date syrup for drizzling
- Paired with soft cheese or tahini
How to choose, prepare and store
- Choose dates that are plump, glossy and slightly soft, without crystals or sour smells.
- Fresh dates are crunchy and slightly astringent; soft ripe dates are best for baking and eating.
- Rinse briefly and dry; slit and remove the pit if you plan to stuff them.
- For a snack, fill with a whole almond, a bit of cream cheese or tahini.
- Store dry dates in an airtight container at room temperature for a few months.
- Refrigerate or freeze for longer storage.
Variations
- Sukkari: Very sweet, soft and golden.
- Ajwa: Dark, soft and slightly less sweet, from Medina.
- Medjool: Large, caramel-like dates.
- Khalas: Tender with a honey flavor.
Cook’s tip: Dates stay soft longest when stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container.
Also on the menu in
- Algeria
- Bahrain
- Chad
- Djibouti
- Iran
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Libya
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Niger
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Qatar
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Tunisia
- United Arab Emirates
Related dishes
Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.
- Dates005: Nepenthes, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)