Dates are a staple food of the UAE diet and during Ramadan the intake among the population grows even larger. Andy Mills looks at some of the more unusual ways to enjoy the humble fruit, including drinking it.
The date is synonymous with the United Arab Emirates, a small fruit that has become one of the most prominent food exports of the country and a delicious staple of the Emirati diet. At this time of year it is a particularly significant food because those fasting for Ramadan often search out the nutritional values of the date to placate their hungry bellies come sunset. Sometimes though, the humble date can be so much more. TOAD rounds up some date dishes from the city’s top hotels and shows how you can make them at home as well.
Banana date smoothie (Emirates Palace)
A tasty drink with the goodness of both date and banana, it’s the perfect blend of flavour and refreshment.
Ingredients
½ cup low fat yogurt
½ cup skimmed milk
½ cup chopped dates
2 sliced bananas
8 ice cubes
Method
1 Blend all of the ingredients together until the ice cubes are well crushed.
2 Serve in two chilled glasses.
Date kunafa (Emirates Palace)
A sweet and sticky way to turn dates into a delightful dessert
Ingredients
100g kunafa dough
50g mashed dates
20g mixed berries
50g mastica ice cream
Method
1 Stuff the kunafa with the mashed dates and then fry the mixture.
2 Strain away the oil and dip the kunafa in a sugar syrup.
3 Serve with the mastica ice cream on the side with a compote of mixed berries.
Surf and turf (Emirates Palace)
Mix fish and meat for a treat, adding some extra flavour with a little infusion of dates.
Ingredients
300g rack of lamb
100g dates
400g half a lobster tail
100g potatoes
50ml cream
20g leeks
50g lemon
10ml lemon butter sauce
20ml veal jus
Method
1 Make a small hole in both sides of the rack of lamb and then stuff dates inside.
2 Marinate both the lobster and the lamb with garlic, olive oil and lemon then grill both briefly before roasting in the oven.
3 Make the potatoes gratin with cream in the oven, fry the leeks until crispy and then serve with lobster at base, with potato and lamb on top.
4 The leeks, jus and lemon butter are served on the side.
Camel milk (Ritz-Carlton)
A simple infusion of locally-sourced dates with camel milk for a winning and tasty blend.
Ingredients
6 Medjool dates (or any other type of dates)
250ml pasteurised camel milk
Method
1 Remove pits from dates and cut into small pieces.
2 Add milk and dates to a blender and blend for around 30 seconds.
3 Serve in a tall glass with a straw.
Date brownie (Crowne Plaza)
Chocolate and dates combine for an irresistible sweet sensation.
Ingredients
675g sugar
375g eggs
250g dark chocolate
250g butter
300g date paste
250g flour
15g baking powder
250g chopped Liwa dates
Method
1 Beat the sugar and eggs together then melt in dark chocolate, butter and date paste.
2 Mix flour and baking powder and combine with the sugar, eggs, chocolate and date mixture, finally adding the chopped dates when everything else is thoroughly combined together.
3 Spread mixture onto a baking tray and bake for 25 minutes at 180°C.
Stuffed beef fillet with khalaas dates (Crowne Plaza)
Forget gravy or horseradish sauce, it’s all about dates when it comes to the latest accompaniment to beef. Serves six.
Ingredients
900g beef tenderloin
50g khalaas dates
100g date paste
Rosemary sprigs
2 tbsp corn oil
6 tbsp mustard paste
Salt and crushed pepper
Method
1 Marinate the beef with oil, herbs and seasoning then spread out to be as wide as possible
2 Sear the beef, then coat with the mustard paste and spread the date paste inside.
3 Place the seedless khalaas dates on the date paste and then carefully roll the beef.
4 Cook it all in the oven for 40 minutes at 135°C, then remove, slice and serve.
Reasons to eat dates
Dates are loaded with fibre and can make you feel full quite quickly, which is great if you’re dieting or want to avoid over-eating when breaking a fast. While they generally have more calories than other fruits they’re also packed with potassium, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, Vitamin C and protein. In other words, they’re something of a super food.
