Easy Date Slice Recipe - Melt & Mix · Chef Not Required... (2024)

FAQs

How to grind dates without a food processor? ›

The best way to get a smooth consistency with your dates without using a blender or food processor is to utilize a fine mesh strainer (also known as a sieve). The first step is to soak your dates in hot water for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, once the dates are softened, you add them to the strainer with a bowl underneath.

Use raisin paste to sweeten your favorite recipes and substitute it for dates with this easy recipe. Dates are an expensive ingredient, and if you don't use them often, they dry up and go bad, which is why I long ago switched to making raisin paste to sweeten baked goods, smoothies, and more.

The most common substitutes include raisins, dried cranberries, figs, and jujubes, each lending their distinct flavor and consistency to a dish.

Method: Soak dry dates in water for at least 6 hours. Remove the seeds, chop the dry dates into small pieces and grind it to a coarse powder in a blender.

Tools like rolling pins, a masher or a mortar and pestle can be used to mash or puree soft ingredients like ripe fruit, or help you crush ice in a pinch. Keep in mind that blending or crushing ingredients by hand may be more time consuming and achieve less consistent results than appliance alternatives.

It is important to note that although dates are high in fiber and nutrients, they are still fairly high in calories and best consumed in moderation. Dates are a healthy substitute for white sugar in recipes due to their sweet taste, nutrients, fiber and antioxidants.

A 'normal' date (a pitted date in the baking aisle) is often half the size of a Medjool date and less chewy, use 2-3 to replace a medjool date. If you are using a pitted dry date in replacement of a Medjool date soak them in hot water for 5 minutes before using.

It is ideal to have 100 g of dates or a handful of dates daily to get all the essential nutrients. However, the quantity to be consumed may differ from person to person based on calorie needs and underlying health conditions. You can ask a nutritionist how many dates you need to eat daily.

As is the case with many other types of luxuries, the production of Medjool dates is a difficult and labour-intensive operation, which is why they are so expensive. Because soft dates such as the Medjool are so delicate, the vast majority of them are harvested individually by hand rather than in enormous clusters.

Figs and dates are both sweet fruits with similar nutrition profiles, but figs are higher in calcium and dates are lower in fat and sweeter. They also have different textures — figs are crunchy and dates are sticky. Figs and dates may seem quite similar, as they're both easy to snack on and often eaten dried.

Are medjool dates better for you than regular dates? ›

Medjool dates are easier to eat and are quite soft, while regular dates are often soaked in water with a little bicarb before cooking with them. In terms of nutritional value, Medjool dates are identical to regular dates, however the regular dates have more fiber, fat, and protein.

Once the dates are soft and it's starting to look like caramel, mash, mash, mash! The goal is to end up with a thick paste (see photos). If your paste seems too watery, microwave longer to allow some water to evaporate. Alternatively, for an even smoother paste, blend in high speed blender or food processor.

The blender is a food processor's close relative in the kitchen and makes a great food processor substitute for a few tasks. These two countertop appliances are sometimes interchangeable for things like emulsifying and pureeing, but a blender can more thoroughly break down foods for ultra smooth results.

Load the Mixer: Place the prepared dates into the mixer jar. Avoid overfilling the jar to ensure that the dates grind evenly. Grind the Dates: Secure the lid of the mixer and start with a low speed to begin grinding the dates. Gradually increase the speed as needed to achieve the desired consistency.