how to make dates soft

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

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