Tag: dates

How much do you know dates? – The Italian kitchen – Italian Cuisine

It is easy to say dates: there is not only one quality, and each is ideal for different preparations. Let's discover the secrets together

Winter is coming, the Christmas and on our tables appear i dates. Usually, the protagonists of Christmas baskets, are the fruit of the date palm, native to North Africa, of sugary taste and very fleshy pulp. They can be enjoyed both fresh and dried as healthy snacks, as they are rich in iron, vitamins and minerals. When you choose them, know that there is not a single variety of dates: a little below vade mecum not to buy the wrong and some council on how to taste them.

Medjoul

Originating from North Africa and the Middle East, the Medjoul dates are now also grown in Sicily and have a slightly larger size compared to other varieties. Excellent to be consumed raw, they are ideal for garnishing desserts or for making jams.

Deglet nour

One of the best-selling varieties in the world, Deglet nour have a very sweet taste, similar to caramel. They are perfect as an ingredient in biscuits, or as a side dish in salads, combined with smoked fish.

Fresh mazafati

The dates Mazafati have a brown color and a very fleshy pulp, almost chocolate-like flavor. Taste naturally, they can replace the dessert, due to the high concentration of sugars; otherwise they are ideal as an ingredient in a smoothie.

How to make Nutella with dates at home

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Fresh hayani

The fresh Hayani dates are one of the best-selling varieties in the world, and for this reason they are grown in all the warm areas. They have a very sugary taste, which can make them protagonists of cakes and desserts, but also of delicious appetizers. Try them in combination with swordfish: a delight!

Kenta

Golden in color, the Kenta date has a maturity earlier than the other dates and also a less sweet taste, which makes it more sought after by fine palates. In Italy it is not widespread.

Bahri

With a yellowish color, the Bahri dates are perfect as ingredients for sweet or savory preparations, but in particular they are excellent for producing syrups and jams.

Kale, Banana, Chia, Hemp Superfood Smoothie

Baby kale, chia seeds, banana and shelled hemp seeds – this smoothie is packed with nutrients and it’s quite delicious and satisfying. It’s also vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free.

If you’re wondering why I haven’t been around as much these past two weeks, I just spent an amazing two weeks on set in NYC for the Skinnytaste Cookbook photo shoot! It was a wonderful experience and I worked with a great group of inspiring people who truly love their job. I miss them already, but I’m also happy to get back into a normal routine and this smoothie was the perfect way to start my Monday morning!

I’m obsessed with sweetening my smoothies with dates. It’s the best way to sweeten a smoothie naturally without the need to add sugar plus it adds fiber. I just wish someone would invent a date paste, it would be so much easier to dissolve in the blender (does this exist?). Until then, I find it helpful to let the dates soak in a little boiling water to soften them before adding to my blender, and I let my blender run a little longer.

Kale, Banana, Chia, Hemp Superfood Smoothie
gordon-ramsay-recipe.com
Servings: 1 • Size: 1 smoothie • Old Points: 4 pts • Points+: 6 pts
Calories: 220 • Fat: 10 g • Carb: 30 g • Fiber: 8 g • Protein: 8 g • Sugar: 14 g
Sodium: 158 mg • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Ingredients:

3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (Almond Breeze^[1])
1 pitted date
1 tbsp raw shelled hemp seeds (or seeds of your choice)
1/2 ripe medium banana
1/2 tbsp chia seeds
3/4 cup baby kale (or spinach)
1 cup ice

Directions:

Combine all the ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almond Breeze^[2].
I only share products I use in my own kitchen
on a daily basis. I created this recipe and received compensation to do
so.

References

^{^} Almond Breeze (almondbreeze.com)
^{^} Blue Diamond Almond Breeze (almondbreeze.com)

Blueberry Kale Smoothie

Don’t be afraid by the color of this smoothie, I promise it tastes better than it looks! The dark color is from antioxidant rich blueberries and kale (one of the healthiest vegetables on the planet). Black is the new green!

Combined with almond milk, peanut butter, ripe banana and dates, this smoothie is naturally sweet, filling and so good for you!

For those of you on Weight Watchers, I never know if I should count the fruit in my smoothies. Some say no, others say yes. I’ve decided to count the dates, but not the banana and blueberries – your call!

Here’s a helpful tip: When you’re bananas are brown, freckled and look like they’re ready to be thrown out – peel them, cut them and put them in your freezer, they are perfect in smoothies! Buy organic berries when they go on sale, and freeze them too!

Blueberry Kale Smoothie
gordon-ramsay-recipe.com
Servings: 1 • Size: 1 smoothie • Old Points: 4 • Weight Watcher Points+: 5 pt
Calories: 312 • Fat: 12 g • Carb: 51 g • Fiber: 10 g • Protein: 9 g • Sugar: 31 g
Sodium: 241 mg • Cholest: 0 mg

Ingredients:

Directions:

Place all the ingredients into the blender and blend until smooth.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Blue Diamond Almond Breeze^[1].
I only share products I use in my own kitchen
on a daily basis. I created this recipe and received compensation to do
so.

References

^{^} Blue Diamond Almond Breeze (almondbreeze.com)