Date fruit is versatile and can be used in various recipes such as date bread, muffins, and salads. It can also be used as a substitute for white sugar and can be ground to make date sugar. Hydrated dates can be used for a different texture.
While not everyone is aware of it, date fruit is one of the most versatile fruits in the world. Useful in all kinds of recipes, dried dates can be used in salads, various breads, and even as a substitute for white sugar in ice cream recipes. If you happen to have a few Medjool dates on hand and aren’t sure what to do with them, here are some suggestions to get you thinking.
One of the most common recipes of all dates is date bread. Most of the recipes are very similar to Banana Nut Bread. A tasty example from the Middle East is known as tamriah. Made with date paste, wheat flour, ghee, oil, sugar, and cardamom seeds, tamria is sweet enough to satisfy but not so overpowering that it ruins a great meal. The bread slices easily and is a great option for a quick snack and something to enjoy with breakfast or an evening meal.
In addition to making loaves of bread, many of these recipes using date fruit can also be modified to make muffins. For some added texture, you can include diced pieces of fruit in the batter. Muffins like this are also great in the morning with a cup of coffee or as a simple dessert treat when topped with cream cheese frosting.
Date dried fruit is also very good as an addition to green salads. Coarsely chopping dry dates and sprinkling them on a salad helps add a slightly sweet flavor without overpowering the flavor of the greens and other ingredients. If a simple oil and vinegar dressing is used, the date fruit actually helps to accentuate the taste of the dressing ingredients in a subtle way and add texture to the salad itself.
You can also use the date fruit to make your own sugar for several recipes. Simply cook the fruit on high for ten to fifteen minutes or until the fruit is dry and firm to the touch. After letting the hard fruit cool, grind the date fruit using a hand mill or in a food processor. Best of all, you get to decide how grainy or fine you want your date sugar to be.
Try using date fruit in some of your recipes that call for other types of fruit. You may find that the results are better than the original recipe and allow you to introduce something new and different to family and friends. While you can use dried fruit, keep in mind that you can also use hydrated dates for a different texture and less of a concentrated sweetness.
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