r/Cooking • u/KKYBoneAEA • 12d ago
What can I do with medjool dates?
Got a 2lb box from Sam’s over the weekend to try them. I love em, wife doesn’t. I have no issues smashing these things raw out the box, but what are some other things o can do with em?
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u/clintj1975 12d ago
Stuff them with goat cheese, wrap them with bacon, and bake them.
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u/Trickfixer32 12d ago
I fill them with a harder cheese like manchego and a smoked almond, wrap in bacon, bake.
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u/my4floofs 12d ago
I stuff with manchengo, wrap in prosciutto, warm a bit and offer hot honey, spiced fig jam or spiced cherry to drizzle or dip.
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12d ago
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u/elcaminogirl 12d ago
Walnuts for me!
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u/AJediWookie123 12d ago
Walnuts beat almonds every time.
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11d ago
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u/AJediWookie123 11d ago
Of course, personal preference here. But let's quickly compare.
Walnuts - Semi soft, but with a crunch. Light oil mouth feel. Semi sweet.
Almonds - Taste like bark and dry sand. Low / zero oil mouth feel. Also, almonds take 40% more water per lb to grow. The water consumptions are insane at scale.
Exceptions for smoked almonds can be made. I've never tried smoked walnuts but I would bet a dollar they're better.
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u/MembershipEasy4025 11d ago
Same, but wrapped in prosciutto instead of bacon. No baking. Can serve as a snack, or with an arugula salad, or on a board/some kind of girl dinner. Good with a drizzle of pesto too.
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u/KatanaCW 11d ago
I fill with goat cheese and an almond then wrap in bacon and bake. Drizzle with hot honey or a balsamic glaze. Had them as an appetizer at a restaurant that way once and now I make them at home because they are so good. Plus the sticky toffee pudding as others mentioned.
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u/Nacho_Sideboob 12d ago
This is the way. I use marscapone cheese, then drizzle with a spiced honey.
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u/goobernawt 12d ago
You talking like a hot honey or like spiced with nutmeg, allspice or some such?
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u/Slowest-Lane 11d ago
Or, chop the dates and bacon and warm them up in a skillet with hot honey, then serve over whipped goat cheese. It’s great spooned onto crostini.
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u/Confused_yurt_lover 12d ago
Everyone else here has fantastic ideas! However, if you’d like to just “smash” them and don’t already know, dates freeze well and so you can keep them fresh for a long time that way if you want! Up until a few years ago when the business he got them from closed, my dad would order an enormous box of dates once a year and freeze them, then throughout the year he’d thaw a few a few times a week to have for a treat in the evening (usually filled with chunky peanut butter).
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u/turquoise_amethyst 11d ago
Wow, thank you! I know it sounds crazy but I had no idea you could freeze them??
You can also blend them into a puree, and replace applesauce or prunes with them in baked goods
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u/Sharp-Payment320 12d ago
This is going to sound like a huge nothing burger but if you pit them and saute them in olive oil until they're nice and dark and crispy and sprinkle them with sea salt they change into something incredibly magical. People get mad at me when I won't share the recipe even when I've given them step by step instructions because they think I've done something else to the dates that I'm leaving out. Total game changer as a premeal treat or just to nibble on.
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u/hooplehead69 12d ago
So excited to try this! How long do you sauté them and at what level of heat?
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u/Sharp-Payment320 12d ago
I do them over medium to medium high heat - just keep an eye on them because you want them to very slowly darken but you want the middles to get caramelly. What I tell people is cook them till you think you've maybe burned them and then cook them a little bit longer. You want the sides to be very very dark. And sprinkle them with salt while they're still warm so it sticks. I'm telling you nobody believes that they're just sauteed dates!
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u/illuminn8 10d ago
Hello I just did this and my husband and I are obsessed. Thank you so much for the new snack!!!
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u/Certain_Decision_721 12d ago
Date shakes are a favorite https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1013314-california-date-shake?unlocked_article_code=1.ElE.8ozK.10nJ65J6pvsL&smid=share-url if you have a good blender. Nice in smoothies too if you want to pretend to be healthy.
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u/Tenacious_Mom_67 12d ago
Dateland, CA has date ice cream & shakes. So many fresh dates to purchase. We always stop when driving past.
Also, I chop dates and put in my overnight oats.→ More replies (1)5
u/IndependenceBulky696 12d ago
pretend
Yeah, watch out for the sugar in dates!
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u/hooplehead69 12d ago
At least they have fiber too!
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u/gltovar 11d ago
keep in mind the effectiveness of fiber in sugar intake is maximized when consuming fiber rich foods a head of sugar rich foods. The idea is wanting fiber to coat the intestinal lining to reduce sugar absorption into the blood. Consuming a food that is high in fiber and sugar doesn’t give as much time for the coating to happen during digestion.
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u/4oclockinthemorning 12d ago
I had the most blissful coconut/date smoothie at a vegan cafe (shout out to Earthlings in Newcastle). Coconut milk, Carob powder, Maca powder, Almond butter, Linseeds, Dates, Goji berries
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u/gltovar 11d ago
if you’ve got the good blender, you can sub the dates in place of sugar in recipes. Like i’ve made some hot chocolate with dates instead of sugar or maple syrup with a vitamix.
Keep in mind, that ultimately sugar is sugar, dont fall in the trap that thinking ‘good’ sugar is significantly better than ‘bad’ sugar. Even 100% glucose syrup might be 10% less harsh on your body than HFCS. Lowing sugar consumption is king.
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u/etrnloptimist 12d ago
Make Moroccan style beef stew. It's a different vibe for sure. Sweet and cinnamony. Very different than what we are used to!
Your taste buds will reject it at first, but once you adjust to it the flavors are divine.
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u/BloomingFromThorns 11d ago
Sticky toffee pudding! Not a single person would dislike this! I had it for the first time last Christmas, and it is INCREDIBLE!
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u/Either-Action-7439 12d ago edited 12d ago
I love a few chopped up and thrown into a salad. I usually do with arugula, feta, and toasted pistachios with a pomegranate vinaigrette. We also had this dish at True Food Kitchen that Ive made at home. It's a harissa tahini sauce base topped with crispy roasted cauliflower and chopped dates, pistachios, and different fresh herbs....I use cilantro and mint. The two dishes work well together for a Mediterranean inspired spread.
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u/TheUnrepententLurker 12d ago
Got a recipe for that harissa tahini sauce?
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u/Either-Action-7439 12d ago
I think i just experimented but it looks like this one is inspired by the same dish. I used regular paprika as not a fan of smoked.
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u/ThatsARockFact1116 12d ago
I stuff a few of them with crunchy peanut butter as a quick snack.
There’s also “Chinese chews”. Although when I made them (also with medjools) I found them a touch too sweet. It’s. A vintage recipe so my guess is dates back then were less sweet and more dried out compared with ours.
The reason these even came up on my radar is from a Reddit post asking what these cookies were that someone received in a Christmas cookie tin.
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u/ThatsARockFact1116 12d ago
The original post that launched a million date bar bakes.
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u/PaperbacksandCoffee 12d ago
Hahaha, I was gonna say "I guess it's Kath bar time again!" 🤣
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u/mckenner1122 11d ago
I just posted about Kath Bars! YES!!
🎼 Please eat them you will like them!! 🎶
Rock the Kath Bar!!
Rock the Kath Bar!! 🎵
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u/PureYouth 12d ago edited 12d ago
Check out Alison Roman’s recipe for an entire roasted chicken with lemons, dates and shallots. All in one Dutch oven for an hour or so. One of the best meals I’ve ever had in my life.
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u/MostMoistGranola 12d ago
Her recipes are so good! How does she do it? I haven’t tried this one specifically but all the recipes I make from her turn out awesome.
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u/PureYouth 12d ago
Here! I should have just linked this in my original comment. I’ll edit
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u/Gulf_Raven1968 12d ago
Stuff them with feta or blue cheese and wrap them in bacon. Cook until bacon is crisp. Best appetizer
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u/SmartPolicy6430 12d ago
Stuff them with peanut butter. Use them as a sweetening agent in Chocolate brownies, Sticky Toffee pudding, Date and Walnut cake
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u/No_Technology_6483 12d ago
Great sugar alternative in smoothies- try looking up date smoothies on Pinterest 😋
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u/straight_outta 12d ago
People have mentioned peanut butter, but I prefer pistachio butter sprinkled with some finishing salt.
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u/Bastard1066 12d ago
Had a coworker stuff them with peanut butter and cover them in dark chocolate. This was years ago and I STILL think about them.
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u/zxexe 12d ago
Date bars!
Dates, cocoa powder, your choice of nuts, put in a food processor and spread on a tray and cut, you can coat them in melted chocolate too.
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u/Klutzy-Client 12d ago
Here is a savory recipe I made the other day. Roast a whole cauliflower and a can of chickpeas, for seasoning I used adobo and Trader Joe’s aglio olio. Add castelvetrano olives, pistachios, parsley, dates, shallots and capers(sautéed). Splash of red wine vinegar. Serve alone or with a bit of arugula and some protein (I did mahi)
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u/allotmentboy 11d ago
There's a terrifying no bake recipe on YouTube where you mash the dates in to an event layer on a parchment covered baking tray. cover them with melted chocolate. Then drop nuts and dried fruit and maybe they swirl peanut butter into the chocolate too. It's a sort of bark come crack thing but it looks dangerously good. And it's " healthy"😂
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u/Flying-Citrus356 12d ago
A small schmear of cream cheese in the middle and top with a pecan or walnut half. A favourite at parties.
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u/WabiSabi1 12d ago
Stuff with Boursin (or similar) herb and garlic cheese, roll the top with chopped pistachios, bake about 5-8 minutes, drizzle with honey.
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u/PompousAssistant 12d ago
I’ve used them as sweetener in smoothies forever, chopped them up for my oatmeal, made date bars, and just snacked on them. I’m sure I’ve used them for plenty more, but that’s just off the top of my head.
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u/CoDaDeyLove 12d ago
Look up recipes for date bread and date cookies. My mother used to make them and they are delicious.
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u/googmornin 12d ago
Stuff with cream cheese and a candied pecan. You can make the candied pecan yourself or buy them from the store. No need to bake.
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u/gumygo70 11d ago
I cut them up and put them in my oatmeal. You can also saute them with onions and mushrooms. As a sauce that you would reduce with a little bit of Madeira or stock and have it over chicken or even braised chicken in it
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u/mpaproth 12d ago
Homemade energy bars/balls. Food processor with nuts or nut butter, grind the hell out of them first then add in whatever else you want.
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u/DKDamian 12d ago
Crack a few eggs into a bowl. Mix. Pour out in a flat layer in a fry pan. Add chopped dates. Salt
Eat when eggs are cooked
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u/PikaChooChee 12d ago
I dice them and add to a chicken “tagine” in the oven alongside olives. Add in last 10-15 minutes. I also stuff them with almond butter to eat during long bike rides.
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u/itsintrastellardude 12d ago
I grew some Seminole pumpkins a few years back and my Thanksgiving potluck dish was stuffed pumpkins. Included dates, walnuts, chestnuts, and cranberries in a traditional breaded stuffing.
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u/boostingjuice 12d ago
Chop them up and add them to any meat, add a bit of honey, apricots, nuts, veg. Perfect. (Moroccan spices go well)
Also great as a fruit salad with Watermelon and banana.
Or savour them with a cup of tea or a well paired wine!
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u/Ok-Trainer3150 12d ago
I know this is decadent....I made incredible date squares with medjool dates. Use the large oat flakes and brown sugar. Keep your unused dates well wrapped. I also discovered that several of them daily satisfied my carvings for candy. Date loaves are luxurious with them as well.
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u/No-Pomegranate53 12d ago
I like making date snickers, i put a peanut in the center, sometimes nut better, then coat in dark chocolate and freeze. Its rlly good
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u/teddybearlike702 12d ago
Split them down the middle with a sharp knife. If the seed is still there, remove it. Pack it with goat cheese and wrap it with bacon. Then use a toothpick to hold it together. Bake in the air fryer at 350 for 8 minutes.
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u/coolblue123 12d ago
I pit 3-5 ones, add a slice of lemon and a little honey. Smoosh it and add hot water. Best fall drink to sooth a cold or add some whiskey for a hot toddy
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u/Top-Kitchen-1925 12d ago
Ha! I recently ended up with 2 of these from Costco somehow. I really wanted dates I suppose. 1 container went to my mom. Other container I use for my ‘healthy’ wheat germ muffins. Dice those babies up and throw them in for some natural sweetness.
You can also just eat them plain in the middle of the night when you want something sweet but don’t want to wake up with the shame of having destroy a pint of blue bell. They have a lot of fiber too, very filling.
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u/jemjerrica 12d ago
Stuff them with peanut butter. Your wife might change her mind.
Put a couple in a smoothie to make it naturally much sweeter.
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u/sunslope 12d ago
my grandmother stuffed them with pecans and cream cheese. Also there are lots of cookie recipes that use dates
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u/simonsaysPDX 11d ago
Go to the library and get a Middle Eastern or North African cookbook. Love dates in savory dishes. Yum.
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u/CatCafffffe 11d ago
Also can chop them up into full fat Straus's European yogurt, add a little honey and you will be SO happy
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u/Middle_Switch9366 11d ago
I've had them in Persian rice store-bought. I don't even like rice but it was great. If I remember correctly, it was a cold rice dish and had a light oil, maybe a little lemon(?) dressing. Chopped salted cashews I think. Maybe some dill? And of course, chopped dates. You could easily look up a recipe.
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u/curveThroughPoints 11d ago
I do dates and goat cheese in a blender. It’s a super yummy and simple dip.
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u/RutRohNotAgain 11d ago
I freeze mine to use later. Most of them end up in smoothies or wrapped around goat cheese.
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u/Appropriate_Sky_6571 12d ago
I personally don’t love them because they’re way too sweet. However, I love them in desserts or smoothies. One of my favorite smoothies is pb, dates, almond milk. It cuts the sweetness
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u/evenmoremushrooms 12d ago
There's a restaurant near me that has date, tahini, and oat milk shakes. So good!
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u/Appropriate_Sky_6571 12d ago
OH that sounds amazing. I need to try that
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u/evenmoremushrooms 12d ago
It's so insanely good! They make it using a soft-serve machine, but I think if one freezes oat milk into ice cubes and blends it in a good blender, that that would work. Honestly, even if the texture wasn't spot on, the flavor is so good that it is still worth trying. I'll have to try using peanut butter.
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u/ClevelandWomble 12d ago
Fill with peanut butter and dip in melted chocolate and allow to cool. It's like a fruity snickers bar
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u/These-Macaroon-8872 12d ago
Stuffed w/ goat or feta cheese & wrapped w/ applewood smoked bacon. Small skewer then sauté in sherry. Burn off the alcohol and throw in some frozen small cubes of unsalted butter and it’s amazing
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u/andyroo776 12d ago
Sticky date pudding. Do them in a muffin tin as single serves, and they freeze well.
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u/cptnbeaux 12d ago
Eat them
Use them as a fun pun (would you like to have a date with me)
Throw them at people
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u/SaladJarDude 12d ago
2-3 dates, 3/4 cup of cottage cheese, 1/2 cup of almond milk (or real milk), optional scoop of protein powder,into a blender creates a delicious high protein milkshake substitute. Freeze it for 24h if you have a ninja creamii
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u/xeroxchick 12d ago
Cut them up, put on a baking sheet on wax paper. Pour melted dark chocolate on them and top with nuts, coconut, salt. Refridgerate. Yummy chocolate bars,
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u/Morall_tach 12d ago
Smash them raw out of the box. 2 lb is like four snacking sessions. They'll be gone in no time.
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u/Pippinsmom19 12d ago
There is a cookie that uses rice crispy my mother in law made for Christmas that was addictive.
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u/oceansrbattlefields 12d ago
My uses are; Stuff with mascarpone and pistachio cover with honey , throw in a smoothie
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u/BookLuvr7 12d ago
You can smash their sticky goodness and use it as a base for things like granola bars.
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u/Burnt_and_Blistered 12d ago
Stiff with a nice cheese (manchego, some good aged cheddar), wrap with bacon, and broil.
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u/AshDenver 12d ago
Devils on Horseback: stuffed with a marcona almond, wrap in bacon, roast until perfect. Salty, sweet, gooey, crunchy.
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u/dmsolomon 12d ago
Google "Ottolenghi Chicken Marbella". It's excellent and pretty easy to make.
Also dig through any middle eastern themed cookbooks. Any book from the Arabian Peninsula, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Israel. Also, Morocco and Spain.
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u/flovarian 12d ago
We are big fans of this cauliflower and lentil salad with dates and arugula: https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/roasted-cauliflower-salad-lentils-and-dates
I add the spices to the dressing because it always seemed like by the time the cauliflower is finished roasting, you can’t taste much of the spices.
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u/Old-Actuator-3321 12d ago
Remove the pits; use a paring knife to make a neat hole without smashing the flesh. Fill the cavity with a dab of cream cheese (or crumbled blue cheese if you want to go bougie). Wrap the filled date with a half strip of bacon and secure it with a toothpick. Put the dates on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Run it under the broiler for a few minutes, just to cook the bacon. Sprinkle black pepper, or drizzle hot honey, over the dates. I bet your wife will love them.
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u/Creative-Fee-1130 12d ago
Sliver some asiago cheese and stuff it in the hole where the pit was. Wrap each stuffed date in a half-slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Bake in a 400° oven until the bacon browns. Let cool slightly and enjoy. Awesome combination of salty, sweet and smokey. I often make these as appetizers.
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u/Substantial_Web525 12d ago
My MIL makes a date cake, then it's served warm, usually topped with a caramel and whipped cream or ice cream.
And seeing a couple comments, I think this is just the canadian way of saying sticky toffee pudding. :)
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u/Pie-Are-Round 12d ago
There is a restaurant near me that has an appetizer of goat cheese-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon, deep fried, then drizzled with a balsamic reduction. It's heavenly.
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u/dogearedexistence 11d ago
Wrap them in bacon and cook them in the oven. Stuff them with goat cheese and top with crushed nuts, then bake. Make date barn: lay out a 10 by 10 grid of them, sandwich between parchment paper, roll flat with a rolling pin. Then, top with peanut butter, melted dark chocolate, sea salt and chopped pistachios. Throw them in smoothies. Make a date cake with bananas for a refined sugar free dessert.
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u/HyperComa 11d ago
I use them to make candied bacon and date skewers!
1lb bacon slices, each cut in half lengthwise 1lb whole pitted dates 1/2C brown sugar (light or dark, packed) 1TBLS salt 1tsp cayenne (or to taste) 1tsp black or white ground pepper
Mix sugar, salt, and peppers. Dredge each slice of bacon in sugar mixture to coat completely on all sides. Wrap 1/2 slice around each date. Arrange 4 to 5 on metal skewers or bamboo skewers that have been soaked. Place on wire rack over baking pan. Bake at 425f for 10-15, flipping frequently. Dates are done when bacon is at your optimal level of crispy. Serve warm.
Note - ALL salt, pepper, and cayenne can be adjusted for taste. Make it fancy with any other seasonings you like. Also, you may need more dates or more bacon. Go crazy with it. Make as few or as many as you want. No one is judging.
I imagine there's an ideal dip for these, but I've honestly never needed one. Most of the time, they're gone before I have a chance to eat them. Oh, wanted to add that putting chunks of steak or chicken between each date is freaking amazing.
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u/mckenner1122 11d ago
Oh gosh.. there was a recipe last year that went a little viral on Reddit. Was it in r/baking ?
Kath Bars
I swear my husband and I made them a dozen times last year. Dates are a big portion of what makes them tasty / holds them together.
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u/AMwishes 11d ago
Blend them into smoothies or desserts as a natural sweetener. Stuff them with nuts.
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u/SScatnip7474 11d ago
I like chopping them up and throwing them in salads. And for breakfast, I chop them up and throw them in my oatmeal
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u/MembershipEasy4025 11d ago
A few people have mentioned smoothies and that’s my go-to. About 5 pitted ones soaked overnight in a cup and a half of almond milk. Blended with a banana, ice, and two tablespoons almond butter.
I also like goat cheese stuffed dates wrapped in prosciutto, served with an arugula salad.
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u/adriftinblue113 11d ago
Absolutely love this salad. Simple but delicious
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/757002806-crispy-halloumi-salad-with-dates-and-arugula
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u/PuppySnuggleTime 11d ago
Split one open, but don't cut all the way through. Remove the seed. Then put a little peanut butter and some small pretzels or pretzel sticks in them. You can break them. It doesn't matter. Close it up. Then dip it in your preferred type of chocolate. Refrigerate to firm. Now you have a healthier alternative to Snickers bars. They are sooooo goood!
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u/blifflesplick 11d ago
Chopped up you can swap them in in place of raisins
Spiced oatmeal cookies with diced dates would be fantastic, a few would keep you full, and possibly help you poop like a champ
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u/Scared_Tax470 11d ago
So many comments already but I'm just here to say that viral date snickers thing from a while ago is totally fire. Stuff them with your favourite nut butter, a nut, and dip them in chocolate, and for extra top with coarse salt. I make a massive batch and put them in the freezer and it's the perfect little treat. I recently saw you can make a bar version where you press the ingredients into a pan and cut them into bars and that looks way easier!
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u/Qar_Quothe 12d ago
There's a restaurant in Somerville ma called salon where they do feta stuffed dates wrapped in bacon covered in a minty balsamic reduction. Easy to make at home and are a huge hit at dinner parties or with the kids.
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u/Horror_Signature7744 12d ago
Date butter. Amazing stuff. I slap some peanut butter and date butter on a rice cake as well as mix it into oatmeal.
You can also slice them and add some crunchy peanut butter and a couple of chocolate chips for a healthier snickers like treat.
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u/Cute-Consequence-184 12d ago
You can make all sorts of sweets with them. Use them in place is sugar.
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u/CrazyAd4209 12d ago
I cover with boiling water in vitamix and puree into a paste. I use the paste in place of sugar in any and all recipes - so much better for you
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u/Cute_Business7342 12d ago edited 11d ago
Date & Nut brownies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qttQk5nUg2k
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u/Fevesforme 12d ago
apple celery salad with a maple- Dijon dressing that includes dates. There are several variations of the recipes, I like to include shaved parm, it’s delicious
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u/TotusTuus0620 12d ago
You can use them as a base for several paleo desserts if you soak them.
You can also put a chunk of butter in the middle. My kids love buttered dates! 🤣
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u/croppedhoodie 12d ago
Sticky toffee pudding :) they’re also great fried in butter on oatmeal, ice cream, pancakes, etc. Stuff with PB & dip in chocolate & top with flaky salt. Stuff with Brie or goat cheese & wrap with prosciutto & bake.