I’ve just discovered how much I love this marvelous fruit. It’s sweet, moist, and full of fiber. Although dried dates do contain sugars, they are very satisfying and one dried date contains about 24 calories – not bad if you’re using it as part of a larger recipe. Dates are a good source of vitamin A, B1 and B2, are high in potassium, calcium and iron and are also a decent source of magnesium.
What can you do with dates besides eat them whole? Well, I like to add a couple of cut up dates to my morning oatmeal. No need for brown sugar when you do that.
And here’s a great recipe for Sweet Moroccan Couscous that I served last week at my Choral Group’s Annual Party. Its not a genuine couscous in a couscouserie recipe, but everyone seemed to enjoy it, and I promised Sally I’d post it. Enjoy!
SweetCouscous
Recipe modified from the Lowfat Jewish Vegetarian Cookbook
1 1/2 cups liquid (I used 3/4 cup orange juice and 3/4 cup water.
1 cup couscous
1/4 cup pitted dates, finely chopped
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup dried apricots, chopped
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1 tsp cinammon
a few tbsp water
Toast almonds in small pan on stove over medium heat, stirring often until light brown. Let cool.
Bring liquid to boil in a medium size saucepan. Remove from heat, add couscous, cover and let sit for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a separate pan, cook dates, raisins, almonds and cinnamon in as little water as necessary to heat and soften them a bit. Add to cooked couscous. Sprinkle almonds on top. Serve warm.
TBTAM, Is there nothing you don’t do? Not only do you practice medicine, cook up a storm, look after your family (I can’t remember whether or not you have a dog :-)) write an erudite and highly entertaining blog, and garden superbly, but you also sing!
You have a wonderfully full life. Enjoy!
My favorite way to eat dates is after dinner with a bit of tangy, cream goat cheese – the cheese offsets the lo-calorie thing!
Yum. That photo made me wish I had some. I do love dried fruit.
Hm…. dates. I’ve never actually cooked with dates. I’ll have to give it a try.
I like to use dates in baking… my husband says that dried dates are the dark chocolate of the fruit world.
And six years later Sally is still thrilled that you posted this recipe because we’re including it in tonight’s repast!