Published: 16 May 2022
Jump to RecipeDeglet Noor are by far my favourite dates to use when making these sweet treats stuffed with marzipan and pecans. They are soft, chewy and have just the right amount of sweetness.
Stuffed dates are often served during special occasions in the Middle-East, especially during Ramadan. In Morocco, we love having them with harira soup or a freshly brewed mint tea.
Dates are an important part of numerous countries’ identities and heritage. So many specialities around the world showcase the beautiful flavours of this wondrous stone fruit. Among them, you can find Khajoor ki Mithai (a cardamom-spiced date fudge from India), kleicha (an Iraqi date cookie) and Nolen Gurer Mishti Doi (a Bengali dessert with fermented sweet yoghurt and date palm jaggery).
Popular natural sweeteners, dates provide a significant amount of antioxidants. These substances not only boost our immunity, but also help to protect healthy cells in our organism from unstable molecules called “free radicals”. Additionally, a 2008 study showed that “the consumption of 100 g of dates (could) provide over 15% of the recommended daily allowance” of 10 minerals including selenium, copper, potassium, and magnesium1.
A growing number of studies also suggest that eating dates during pregnancy could help facilitate a natural birth. Consumption of dates during late pregnancy seems to be helpful in reducing the duration of labor as well as reducing “the need of oxytocin for labor acceleration2.”
Dates Stuffed With Marzipan & Toasted Pecans
Ingredients
- 30 dates washed and dried (see notes)
- 30 toasted pecans
- 110 g marzipan
- (optional) orange blossom water
Instructions
- Pit all the dates: Using a small knife, slice the date lengthwise until you hit the pit (don't cut all the way through). Using your thumbs on both sides of the cut, gently open the date and remove the pit.
- (Optional) Dampen part of a paper towel with orange blossom water and gently pat each date with it.
- Divide the marzipan into 30 pieces of roughly equal size.
- Slightly shape each piece marzipan to fit before stuffing inside the dates.
- Top the marzipan with a piece of toasted pecan.
Notes
1Mohamed Ali Al-Farsi & Chang Yong Lee. (2008). “Nutritional and Functional Properties of Dates: A Review”, Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 48:10, 877-887, DOI: 10.1080/10408390701724264
2Kordi M, Meybodi FA, Tara F, Fakari FR, Nemati M, Shakeri M. (2017). “Effect of Dates in Late Pregnancy on the Duration of Labor in Nulliparous Women.” Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. Sep-Oct;22(5):383-387. doi: 10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_213_15. PMID: 29033994; PMCID: PMC5637148.
Razali N, Mohd Nahwari SH, Sulaiman S, Hassan J. (2017). “Date fruit consumption at term: Effect on length of gestation, labour and delivery.” J Obstet Gynaecol. Jul;37(5):595-600. doi: 10.1080/01443615.2017.1283304.
