In moderation, dried dates like Medjool and others are a healthy option due to their high fiber and mineral content.
The best way to eat them depends on your taste.
Medjool dates are delicious in their natural state, but they also lend their rich, sweet flavor and soft, chewy texture to a variety of culinary purposes.
Below you will find a selection of simple recipes and innovative ideas to help you incorporate more Medjool into your diet, whether you're looking to utilize them in baked goods, cooked meals, or raw food preparations.
Medjool dates that have been pitted make a great on-the-go snack.
One can also make a more exciting snack by dipping them in melted chocolate (use healthy dark chocolate with 85 percent cocoa).
Try topping the warm chocolate-covered dates with some superfood trail mix for a more complex snack (try this superfood trail mix which contains goji berries, raisins, almonds, chia, flax, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds).
In place of sugar or another sweetener, date paste (prepared from Medjool dates and a bit of water) can be used as a thickening and in some recipes.
If you're looking to cut back on the sugar and butter in your favorite cookie and spice cake recipes, try subbing in some date paste instead.
Keep in mind, though, that it may take some experimentation with a recipe before you find the ideal substitute ratio.
One of the most delectable uses for Medjool dates is in raw food chocolate truffles.
Different raw food recipes for date-packed chocolate truffles exist, but the simplest one requires just three: Ingredients include raw, unsweetened cocoa powder, almonds, dates (either Medjool or ordinary), and pitted dates.
Raw food truffles are easy to make: just blend 1 cup of pitted dates, 1 cup of soaked and drained nuts (cashews work excellent), and 1/4 cup of raw cacao powder in a small food processor until smooth, then roll into 1-inch balls and dust with cacao powder.
You should chill the truffles in the fridge for at least an hour before enjoying them.
Raw foodists have yet another fantastic use for Medjool dates: using them for healthier pie crusts.
Pureed dry dates are an excellent binder for no-bake pie crusts, and they're also a staple in many raw pie filling recipes.
Try some of the recipes in Ani's Raw Food Kitchen for pies and tarts where dried dates are used in both the crust and the filling.
This classic raw food cookbook includes recipes for delectable raw pies like All-American Apple Pie, Pecan Chai Pie on Cashew Crust, and Autumn Pumpkin Pie.
Dried dates are a major element in homemade power bars, which are the ideal on-the-go snack for energetic people.
