Dates - description
We are familiar with dates in a big way as with dried fruit, the edible fruit of date palm. They are so rich in calories that they even got the name “bread of the desert”. Only in the Quran they are mentioned 29 times. It is known that the Prophet Mohammed himself valued them. Eating only these attracting overseas fruits and washing them down with water can live for several years. For example, the Christian saint Onufry ate. Since then, on palm Sunday, date palm leaves have been used in worship services. And from a certain type of Phoenix silvestris in India they prepare real palm wine “tari”.
Only some varieties are available for industrial cultivation. Date palm has 17 species of plants growing in Eurasia and Africa. Starting from the IV century BC it was grown in Mesopotamia, now on the territory of modern Iraq. In China, the common variety "Unabi" - Chinese date. Its fruit (zizifus) resembles dates from palm trees, but it is a deciduous plant that grows in the south of Europe, in Australia, the Caucasus, Asia, Japan and China. But still more valued real date palm.
Dates - useful properties
The beneficial properties of these dried fruits are used to treat many diseases. Dates - a source of proteins, microelements, proteins and vitamins (B1, B2, C, A, A1). The fruit is rich in fatty oils and fiber. So there is a lot of fluorine and selenium in it, it is a good prophylactic against caries, and also reduces the risk of cancer.
Dates perfectly strengthen the immune system, as they contain:
- 60-65% of carbohydrates (this is the largest percentage among fseh! Fruit);
- 15 minerals and salts;
- a large amount of potassium;
- as many as 23 types of amino acids.
As with all plants, they have absolutely no cholesterol. Dates are recommended for diseases of the heart and blood vessels, respiratory tract, as an excellent means of strengthening the immune system. It also helps to overcome depression.
By the way, much attention should be paid to them by a pregnant woman, since they enrich the mother’s milk with vitamins, and therefore the baby will have good resistance to various diseases. In addition, it is believed that the use of dates by 20% increases the performance of mental activity. Just eat them instead of candy - it is tasty and healthy. There are few contraindications for use - they should be carefully used by overweight people, otherwise there is a risk to gain weight quickly. But this property can well be used in exhaustion. It is undesirable to have dates for diabetes, as they can trigger an increase in sugar levels.
Dates - caloric
Calorie dates are 275 kcal per 100 grams of product.
Dates - use in cooking
Nutritious fruits perfectly satisfy hunger. Fresh, they are added to some salads, baked with them buns, cookies, cakes and pies. The core of the tree gives palm flour, from the fruit get alcoholic drink and date honey. Also common is the production of date sugar, which is much more useful than beet or cane. Fresh dates are well kept in the refrigerator. Dried fruits to improve the taste, you can pour milk. In the Arab countries produce date pasta, which is stored all year. Cook kissel compote and other date drinks.
Examples of recipes with dates
Recipe 1: Carrot Salad with Dates
The perfect breakfast will be a simple dish - a combination of carrots and dates. But we will enhance the taste a bit by preparing the sauce, and using green lettuce leaves for decoration.
Ingredients: carrot (4 pcs.), Dates (100 grams), lettuce leaves (4 pcs.). Sauce: ginger root (1 cm), lemon (juice 1 pc.), Honey (1 teaspoon), vegetable oil (4 spoons), ground white pepper, salt.
Method of preparation
We clean and rub carrots, remove bones from dates. The sauce - grated ginger root mixed with vegetable oil, honey, lemon. Add salt and pepper, pour the salad and pour it on the green leaves.
Recipe 2: Date Compote
Prepare a compote of dates, and you get a unique bouquet of vitamins. The extraordinary taste is obtained from a combination of dates and oranges.
Ingredients: Orange (4 pieces), dates (150 grams), honey (1 spoon), water (1.5 liters).
Method of preparation
Peel the oranges, peel and cut into pieces. Put in a saucepan with dates and add water. Fry sugar in a pan and add water. Boil. Fill the prepared fruit with sugar syrup and add orange zest. Bring to a boil, cook for 3-5 minutes. Cool and leave to infuse for several hours. If you are preparing compote for sweet teeth, add a spoonful of honey to it. You can mix a few nuts, chopped to flour.
Recipe 3: Pilaf with lentils, raisins and dates (Adas Polow)
Very interesting recipe for tasty pilaf. It is characterized by the fact that all the ingredients are prepared separately, and then pilau is “gathered” and stewed until ready. Instead of meat, we take minced beef or lamb.
Ingredients: long grain rice (2 cups), dates (pitted, 100 grams), raisins (120 grams), onions (2-3 pieces), meat (lamb or beef, 400 grams), lentils (400 grams), saffron, vegetable oil, salt, pepper.
Method of preparation
Soak rice for 3-4 hours, salt and boil for 10-15 minutes. Rinse and set aside for a while. Lentils are boiled in water for 15-20 minutes. Cut the onion into rings, fry in oil until golden brown, add the minced meat and salt. Fry with onions, pour in a cup of hot water and cook. When the water is fully absorbed, we form a dish in a large cauldron: pour half boiled rice on the bottom, then fried meat, lentils, a layer of raisins and dates, again raisins and the remaining rice. Close the lid and simmer on the smallest fire. Dissolve the saffron in a cup of water. And pour in pilaf. Stir everything just before serving.
Recipe 3: Date Pie
Simple and quick recipe for simple original pastries with dates.
Ingredients: semolina (125 grams), baking powder (1 teaspoon), sugar (4 spoons), honey (2 spoons), cinnamon, dates (dried without stone, 200 grams), lemon (juice from halves), vanilla, butter (200 grams), nuts (100 grams). Oil for greasing the form and breadcrumbs.
Method of preparation
Mix flour, semolina and baking powder with sugar, add vanilla and melted butter. It turns out fine oil crumb. Cut the dates into pieces, cook them in hot water for 5 minutes. Add honey, nuts and cinnamon, squeeze lemon. All mix. Prepare the form - lubricate it with oil and sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Then lay out the dough and well tamped hands. Top filling is, then the second part of the test. If you put the second part of the dough in the form of crumbs, it will turn out even more interesting. We bake 45 minutes in the oven on medium heat. It turns out a delicious pie with a golden crust.
Recipe 5: Pickled dates stuffed with cheese
And here is a chic snack to wine and other strong drinks. It is cooked for a long time, but not difficult: dates marinate for 7-10 days, a very tasty combination with cheese.
Ingredients: dried dates (20 pcs), hard or semi-hard cheese (100 grams), Oranges for juice (1 pc), black pepper, pink pepper (peas), vegetable oil (150 ml), rosemary ( 1 sprig).
Method of preparation
Cut the fruit lengthwise and remove the bone. Cut into small pieces of cheese, put in each piece of fruit. Squeeze the orange juice, add vegetable oil, rosemary, pepper and whisk. Fill our dates and set in a cool place.
Dates - useful tips from experienced chefs
Dates are very effective means to increase male power. The recipe is quite simple. Remove the bones and cut the flesh into thin rings. Mix with the kernels of almonds, wrapped in a coconut plate. Prepare this dish for your beloved on a romantic evening, and do not hesitate - the meeting will be very rich. Only 50-60 minutes after consuming the dish, energy and good mood appear.
