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. Recipe works best fresh, soft medjool dates. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 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. 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. I have some chopped dates, coated in oat flour that are slightly hard. The water should reach just below the basket. They are firmer and drier than Medjools with a slightly nutty flavor. 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. Although dates are super sweet it doesn't mean that they're bad for you—on the contrary. If you can’t find tart kumquats or prefer a fruit that’s a bit … Pack the dates as tightly as you want to in the container. If you’re using the smaller deglet noor dates, you’ll need to use more! Note: Heat 2 cups of water in the microwave. Follow this easy process to make your own jar: Soak dates in hot water to soften them. 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. Portion them out into small containers before freezing—they will thaw beautifully and retain their sweetness. Include vanilla pudding in the dough. Cool a bit. As always, all opinions are my own. So don't miss it! Cover the pot. They may mark a romantic meeting, or some other sweet occasion in life. Dates come in many varieties, but only a few are available in the United States. Set your taste-buds reeling with delight with this enticingly delicious Date Filling. Step 1 Mix cream cheese and Gorgonzola cheese together in a bowl. Step 2 Cut a slit into each In a large bowl, cream together 1/2 cup butter and 3/4 cup white sugar until light and fluffy. If they do not smell good or show signs of decay, the dates have expired. Depending on where you live, you may also come across names such as Barhi, Dayri, Halawy, Khadrawy, Thoory, and Zahidi. Medjool dates are actually harvested from the date palm, cleaned, sorted and packaged right away. What can be done to make them soft again? Medjool dates are one of the most popular, known for their large size, soft texture and rich flavor. These really are the perfect oatmeal cookie filled with chewy dates and crunchy pecans. Deglet Noor dates have amber-colored skin and a more elongated shape. After they’ve soaked, scoop out at least 1/4 cup of the soaking water and then drain the dates. 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. Most people think of dates as a dried fruit because they’re thinking of the dates you buy in the baking aisle. However, their taste will diminish over time, so for optimal flavor, it is best to eat the dates within a week. The sugar will melt back into the dates. Her work includes writing city profiles for Groupon. Set aside for 15 minutes and grind the mixture to a fine paste. 4) Use dates in place of raisins for oatmeal-date cookies. Cover and allow them to sit for 10-20 minutes. 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. Add the mix when you're pouring in the dry ingredients and combine the dough as directed in your recipe. You can also blend them into a smoothie—they just need to be soaked in hot water for 10 minutes to reconstitute first. Place just the amount of dates you plan to use in a bowl, then cover with boiling water to fully submerge the fruit. The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. So, if a recipe calls for 1/2 cup of maple syrup, I’d recommend using 1 cup of date paste. Press a walnut half into the cheese filled dates. They will still be quite soft but have a bit more of a toothsome quality to them. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These are the "fresh dates" available at some supermarkets, specialty grocery stores, and farmers' markets. You may be surprised to find a wide range of recipes featuring dates, both fresh and dried. 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. The harvest then takes place between September and March, making this a fall and winter fruit. Simmer gently until they are soft when pierced with a knife, about 30 minutes or more. https://www.faskitchen.com/dates-cake-recipe-make-simple-date-cake Dates that are starting to dry out will form sugar crystals on the surface as the moisture is escaping. Clin Epigenetics. Alternatively, you can use a spoon to drizzle water over the dates if you don't have a spray bottle. They are not as sweet or moist as Medjool dates but have a softer caramel-like taste. Look for fresh dates that are plump and have a slight glossiness to their skin. )Continue Reading The University of Sydney Glycemic Index. Repeat with the rest of your dates. Place your dates in an airtight container. Open up the pitted dates, and fill them with a cream cheese of your choice. Thank You! Before any type of preparation, though, you first need to remove the pits. When you bring Medjool dates home from the store they're soft, pliable and easy to process. 2019;11(1):139.  doi:10.1186/s13148-019-0741-y. Fill a small spray bottle with water. 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. Oatmeal Date Cookies that are chewy and soft in the center but crispy on the edges! 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. Step 2: Making your Date Paste with your Mortar & Pestle A dry date simply contains less moisture than a soft date. Dates will last up to one month when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. No forks or spoons required, just easy-to-pick-up party foods, so you can clean up in no time.Read More Alternatively, you can use a spoon to drizzle water over the dates if you don't have a spray bottle. Bring the water to boil. 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. Spray the dates lightly with the spray bottle of water on all sides. Fresh dates can be wrinkled, but they shouldn't feel hard. In the U.S., however, the most commonly available dates are Medjool and Deglet Noor. Depending on where you live, you might be able to find fresh dates prepackaged or in bulk at your local supermarket. 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. 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. The vanilla pudding mix will add moisture to the cookies, so they stay soft and last longer. Dates. 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. The dry fresh date is not the same as the dried date. Wring it out well. 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! Farmers' markets in Southern California and Arizona may have fresh dates when they're in season. Super-ize Them. Simply slice the date lengthwise and the pit will easily pop out. Add baking soda, mix well and switch off the heat. 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. Mohamed RM, Fageer AS, Eltayeb MM, Mohamed ahmed IA. Want to give your dates even more flavor? I love this recipe, I hope you like it too. Kumquat Tarts with Almond-Date Crust. The … Place Medjool dates in a glass or ceramic bowl and pour hot water over them. Dried dates are sold year-round in boxes or packages and often found in the baking aisle. Wet a paper towel under running water briefly so that it is damp, but not completely soaking. Since palm trees grow best in the desert, the U.S. crop of dates is grown in the deserts of California and Arizona. Add the dates to the steamer basket or colander once it starts to boil and sprinkle lightly with water. Soft dates – Part 1. 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