Date and Oat Slice Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What to do with dried dates? ›

Dates are, in a word, delicious. The Coachella Valley is famous for its Date Shakes, and they are also used to make date sugar which can be used as an alternative to other sugars. Dates can also be baked into cookies, bars and breads. Because dates are sticky, they are ideal as a binder for energy balls and snack bars.

Date Squares recipes first started appearing in bakeries and in brand-sponsored cookbooks like the Purity Cookbook and the Five Roses flour cookbook as early as the 1920s, but rose in popularity in the 1930s, particularly in the prairie provinces where the dessert is known as Matrimonial Cake.

Fill your blender or food processor up to half-way with oats. Keep in mind that one cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats yields about one cup flour, whereas one cup steel-cut oats yields about two cups flour. Blend until the oats have turned into a fine flour, about 20 seconds to 1 minute.

2. Soak the dates overnight, then use a mortar and pestle to “grind” the dates into a paste. For both, add a little of the soaking water if needed to help you achieve the correct consistency. It can also help to microwave it in 40-second increments between mashing to make the process easier (and quicker!).

Dates provide a laxative effect that can help deal with constipation and other digestive issues. Constipation is a common health issue. This can occur due to various reasons, such as not drinking enough water, not eating enough fruits and vegetables or not being physically active.

Soaking removes tannins or phytic acid present in dates making it easier for us to absorb the nutrients from them easily. Soaking also makes them easier to digest, according to Ayurveda expert Dr Dixa Bhavsar Savaliya.

Yes, it is generally safe to eat dates with white dots on the skin, which are often referred to as sugar crystals. These sugar crystals are a natural occurrence in the ripening process of dates and do not indicate spoilage or harm to the fruit.

Dates white dots on them…

Dates will sometimes form sugar crystals under or on top of their skin. It simply means that the dates are maturing. You will want to either consume them soon or store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.

That is not mold - it's simply the sugars from the date that have crystallized.

Making oat flour at home is super easy and MUCH cheaper than buying a package of it at the store. If you have a good strong blender (like a Vitamix, Blendtec, or even a Ninja), you will be able to make your own oat flour. Remember that when you ground down the oats, the volume you have left will be less.

Why use oat flour instead of all-purpose? ›

Oat flour is a whole grain flour made by grinding oats into a fine powder. It's naturally gluten free and packed with nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, iron, thiamine, phosphorus and zinc. It's higher fibre and protein content not only helps with the structure of baked goods, but also makes them more satiating too.

Making homemade oat flour couldn't be easier! All you need is whole rolled oats (not steel-cut or quick oats) and a food processor or high-speed blender. Place the oats in the blender or food processor and blend until they form a fine flour, stopping to stir occasionally. That's it!

When substituting granulated sugar for Date Paste use a 1:1 ratio where for every 1 cup of sugar use 1 cup of Date Paste instead. If you are using it as a substitute for maple syrup use a 2:1 ratio where you double the amount of Date Paste per required amount of maple syrup.

Medjool dates can help you increase the potassium in your diet, supporting these nervous system functions. The B vitamins in Medjool dates, such as pantothenic acid, folate, and niacin, help manage the metabolic processes that convert food to energy. Research shows this can help fight tiredness and fatigue.

If your dates are exceptionally dry or if you don't have a high powered blender, soaking them for 30 minutes to an hour in warm water before blending can make things much easier on your blender and lead to a smoother finished product.

Dates are Highly Nutritious:

The fruits are packed with a lot of essential vitamins and other nutrients that can be extremely helpful to your overall health. When it comes to dates nutrition, their high fiber and carbohydrate content undoubtedly make them one of the healthiest dry fruits.

Dates should be kept in an air-tight container and can be stored at room temperature or refrigerated up to 6 months, and frozen for up to 1 year. If purchasing dates in bulk meets your personal needs, you may opt to refrigerate or freeze any excess dates.

Prepare it

Dried dates are ready to use straight away - just slice off from the block or pick as many of you need from the box, but you can also soak them in a liquid like tea or various types of alcohol, to boost flavour and moisture.