SurvivorGirl
Sous Chef
Does anyone know what to do with them other then just eat them raw?
thx
thx
Fresh Dates
- Thread starter SurvivorGirl
- Start date
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Uncle Bob
Chef Extraordinaire
Think candies....
licia
Executive Chef
I've never had fresh dates. I would have to told what to do with them also.
Barb L.
Master Chef
OK, I give - what are the dates boughten in the store compared to fresh? Guess I never thought about it. Love date drop cookies !
Uncle Bob
Chef Extraordinaire
Miss Barb,
The dates I think of when I think "fresh" dates are found in stores in the fall.
So starting now say through November would be a good time to find them maybe in produce departments. The type I see are the Medjool Dates. I warn you, if you buy some you will eat the whole package without stopping!
The dates I think of when I think "fresh" dates are found in stores in the fall.
So starting now say through November would be a good time to find them maybe in produce departments. The type I see are the Medjool Dates. I warn you, if you buy some you will eat the whole package without stopping!
OP
OP
SurvivorGirl
Sous Chef
We've never gotten them before, but picked them up today and cut into them. we put them in a salad through recommendations found on the internet and I was wondering what else you can put them in.
Have you ever tried them in any recipes? if so please post em we'd love to try them
Have you ever tried them in any recipes? if so please post em
we'd love to try themGreen Lady
Senior Cook
I use them to sweeten smoothies instead of honey or sugar. Sometimes I just stuff them with almond butter, tahini, a raw almond, etc. and serve as a treat. Some stuff them with cream cheese that has been softened. If you have any raw uncookbooks there are plenty of recipes using them. I get mine from a place in Arizona. I just call the guy up and tell him what I want and he ships them to me. I order the medjools and they are to die for.
Here's an easy recipe:
Date - Coconut Logs (recipe by Rhonda Malkmus)
2 cups organic dates
1 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut
Use the "S" blade of a food processor and grind dates until a dough-like consistency is reached. Be sure to pit the dates and remove the caps. Wet your hands and shape into logs and roll in coconut.
Here's an easy recipe:
Date - Coconut Logs (recipe by Rhonda Malkmus)
2 cups organic dates
1 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut
Use the "S" blade of a food processor and grind dates until a dough-like consistency is reached. Be sure to pit the dates and remove the caps. Wet your hands and shape into logs and roll in coconut.
OP
OP
SurvivorGirl
Sous Chef
hmmm, ok heres a question, when we cut into our fresh dates they looked like the inside of a green apple. the outside is dark brown/purple, is this right? are they ripe?
also, I looked up 'medjools' on google images and they looked wrinkled (like the dried dates) are they fresh?
also, I looked up 'medjools' on google images and they looked wrinkled (like the dried dates) are they fresh?
Green Lady
Senior Cook
I don't think the dates I get are dried, but medjools are a little wrinkley. I never saw the inside looking like the inside of a green apple. If you want, I could give you the name and phone # of the guy I order mine from in AZ. I need to place an order soon as I am running out. I usually order 15# worth and divvy them up into small containers and freeze until needed.
OP
OP
SurvivorGirl
Sous Chef
hmmm, I'll have to look around for medjool dates.
I don't know if we'd end up ordering but thanks for the offer of the #
I don't know if we'd end up ordering but thanks for the offer of the #
Green Lady
Senior Cook
I was thinking about what you wrote, that your dates looked like the inside of a green apple. Are you sure you had dates, or might they be figs? Did they have a lot of little seeds in them, and a soft inside? If so, they might be figs, not dates.
ChefJune
Master Chef
We used to make candies with them at Christmas, by stuffing them with homemade fudge (or you could use ganache) and then rolling them in granulated sugar.
My father could eat them by the dozens. They are also delicious stuffed with peanut or almond butter.
My father could eat them by the dozens.
They are also delicious stuffed with peanut or almond butter. licia
Executive Chef
Green Lady, good point. I don't remember ever seeing "fresh" dates for sale here.
elaine l
Head Chef
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2006
- Messages
- 2,098
slice and stuff them with goat cheese and wrap with proscuitto bake in oven.
Lynan
Sous Chef
I have a wee box of medjools in the fridge at the moment. Lovely on a cheeseboard, stuffed with marzipan and chocolate dipped ( flavour homemade marzipan with rosewater for a Middle Eastern flavour!) and I adore them chopped with preserved ginger, dried apricots...mixed into cream cheese and used as a filling with wholegrain bread.
Green Lady
Senior Cook
I hate to admit it, but I had to read this one twice before I got it! LOL! I thought it was in the wrong thread at first.....
Best thing to make is a date and tamarind chutney.
Use about a cup of dates. You can cut them up and put them in a pan
Add about 2 cups of water and cook on low until they are soft and break easily with a spoon (turns into mush).
Add tamarind concentrate (available in most Asian or Indian stores) about 2 tbsp to this.
Stir to combine
Add 3-4tbsp of brown sugar, pinch of freshly roasted and ground cumin and pinch of chili powder, small pinch of salt. Again let it all cook on low for 15-20 minutes so the flavors mingle.
Let the chutney cool and then pour in a glass jar and refrigerate. It is a great dipping sauce for any types of kabob's or samosas or fritters.
Use about a cup of dates. You can cut them up and put them in a pan
Add about 2 cups of water and cook on low until they are soft and break easily with a spoon (turns into mush).
Add tamarind concentrate (available in most Asian or Indian stores) about 2 tbsp to this.
Stir to combine
Add 3-4tbsp of brown sugar, pinch of freshly roasted and ground cumin and pinch of chili powder, small pinch of salt. Again let it all cook on low for 15-20 minutes so the flavors mingle.
Let the chutney cool and then pour in a glass jar and refrigerate. It is a great dipping sauce for any types of kabob's or samosas or fritters.
Bacondise City
Assistant Cook
i slap fresh dates and say "tut, tut!"
just kidding, i know you're talking about nuts.
just kidding, i know you're talking about nuts.
Chief Longwind Of The North
Certified/Certifiable
The best place on the planet to find out about dates is in Twenty-Nine Palms California. They grow many kinds of date palms there and you will find a date to fit almost every need. Some are very sweet and gooey, almost like eating sweet mollases with a crinkly skin, while others are somewhat dry and bland.
Dates aren't dried. They are a fruit that come as they are from the tree when ripened. Dates can be mashed and mixed with nuts to form a filling for cookies (my Mother made the best date-filled cookies every Christmas), then can be chopped and added to salads, hot cereals such as farina or oatmeal, they can be used in sauces, added to cake batters, and sprinkled over ice cream.
Finding a wide variety of dates in the supermarkets is difficult. But if you can, choose dates that are dark, rich, and gooey. They are messy to eat, but taste great.
Seeeeeeeeya; Goodweed of the North
Dates aren't dried. They are a fruit that come as they are from the tree when ripened. Dates can be mashed and mixed with nuts to form a filling for cookies (my Mother made the best date-filled cookies every Christmas), then can be chopped and added to salads, hot cereals such as farina or oatmeal, they can be used in sauces, added to cake batters, and sprinkled over ice cream.
Finding a wide variety of dates in the supermarkets is difficult. But if you can, choose dates that are dark, rich, and gooey. They are messy to eat, but taste great.
Seeeeeeeeya; Goodweed of the North
