Mad About Dates
Date, Tahini & Cinnamon Balls
Yes I am slightly mad about dates. Actually I am TRULY. MADLY. DEEPLY crazy about dates. I have a daily date ritual & it is sacred & it is one of my favourite moments of the day: my morning coffee with my dates. My favourite dates with coffee are kholas dates, because they have that just right, not too sweet but sweet enough flavour to go with coffee, & not too soft & not too hard texture. Maybe I am the Goldilocks of dates? I also love ‘balah’ dates (in season now), which are the fresh ones, before they get dried & become the dates we are familiar with.
But having a date with my morning coffee is still not enough of a date fix, I like to have a second coffee, usually after working out, & with that I’m craving something a little more substantial which is what these ‘date balls’ are perfect for. They’re also pretty versatile, you can substitute whichever nuts you prefer (pecans, walnuts), or other spices (I love the addition of cardamom).
The most important thing is that you savour the moment when you have them!
Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- Dates, mejdool* x 150g
- Almonds, cashews & pistachios, whole unskinned x 130g in total
- Tahini x 1 1/2 TBSP (or more to taste)
- Nigella seeds x 1 TSP
- Cinnamon x 2 TSP
- Cardamom x 1 TSP
- Vanilla x 1/2 TSP
- Salt x a good pinch
- Desiccated coconut, to roll the balls in x 2 TBSP
OPTIONAL ADD-INS (I like to add a few these)
- Flaxseed, milled x 1 TSP
- Psyllium husks x 1 TSP
- Chia seeds x 1 TSP
- Protein powder x 1 TBSP (I like to use collagen)
- Orange blossom x 1 TSP
This recipe makes 12 balls, depending on the size of the balls. It can of course easily be doubled.
PREPARATION
Place the ingredients in a food processor & blitz until the ingredients combine together. Don’t over process, it’s nice to keep some of the texture of the nuts.
Roll the mixture into small balls (depending on how big or small you want them). Use a bowl of water to wet your hands if the mixture gets sticky.
Spread the desiccated coconut in a plate to roll the balls in.
Makes around 30 balls (depending on the size).
Keep the balls in the fridge, upto a week, in an airtight container so they don’t dry out.
*Mejdool dates are recommended due to their texture & size. Other dates might be too soft or too hard to combine well with the rest of the ingredients.
