Fresh dates are very different from the chewy, caramel-sweet dried versions. Have you ever tried one? They are crisp and slightly dry, with a honeyed sweetness that will eventually deepen into the rich, darkly sweet taste of more familiar dates.
These fresh dates are from Xiang Dao Farm, in Fresno, California. The photo is another from Lindsey's report on the San Pedro farmers market. More on dates and a few recipe links after the jump...
Dates are actually drupe fruits, and there are four stages of date ripening. These four stages are commonly known by their Arabic names: kimri (green and unripe), khalal (ripe and crunchy), rutab (ripe and soft), and tamr (ripe and sun-dried).
Most dates are sold in the tamr stage. The ones at market above are in the khalal stage.
Fresh dates are easy to find in California this time of year, according to the LA Times, but be on the lookout for them in your part of the country too.
Fresh Date Recipes
• Grated Carrot and Date Salad
• Indonesian Rice Salad with Fresh Dates
• Zucchini and fresh date cake
• Fresh dates stuffed with pistachio and orange
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We had a date tree in our backyard when I was growing up, so we had plenty of fresh dates. They are great at the ripe and crunchy stage!
view geckotoes1's profile
To this day, I haven't tried dates. I'm fairly sure it's because of that scene in Indiana Jones where the monkey dies from poisoned dates; it terrified me as a kid! Maybe I'll end the embargo and finally eat some this weekend...
view Jim of ChewOnThat's profile
Those look like jujube fruit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jujube.
view logarhythm's profile