Date paste

A dense paste of pitted dates, shaped and chilled for later use as a sweetener or accompaniment.

Ingredients

• 🌴 700 g dried or semi-dried dates, pitted
• 💧 180 ml hot water, adjusted to fruit firmness
• 🍋 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 🌿 1 pinch cinnamon or cardamom, optional
• 🥜 2 tablespoons sesame or roasted peanuts, optional coating

Preparation

🔎 Sort dates, remove stems and pits, then chop. Discard moldy or unusual-smelling fruit.

💧 Place dates in a heatproof bowl, add hot water and cover for 20 minutes.

🧺 Drain over a bowl, reserving the water. Mash or process dates in small batches.

🥣 Transfer pulp to a heavy saucepan. Add lemon and optional spice; stir over low heat.

🔥 Cook 15–20 minutes, stirring often, until a spatula leaves a brief trail. Add reserved water by spoonfuls only if too dry.

🧤 Cool until safe to handle. With clean, slightly damp hands, shape into a compact roll or blocks.

🌾 Optionally roll in cooled sesame or peanuts. Wrap or place in a clean airtight container.

❄️ Chill promptly, label with the date and refrigerate. Serve a small amount with bread, porridge or an unsweetened drink.