What Can I Do With Fresh Dates?

Faith Durand
Faith DurandSenior Vice President of Content at AT Media
Faith is the SVP of Content at Apartment Therapy Media and former Editor-in-Chief of The Kitchn. She is the author of three cookbooks, including the James Beard Award-winning, The Kitchn Cookbook. She lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and two daughters.
published Oct 7, 2010
pinterest
comments
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Q: I am an adventuresome eater, willing to try anything once. I see fresh dates, sold on sticks, and have no clue what to do with them, how to eat them — I do have to say I tried sneaking one and biting into it and it was horrid — same pruning effect as eating an unripe persimmon — which if you have never had the misfortune — is akin to eating chalk.

Do you know what to do with fresh dates? They look so beautiful on their stalks.

Sent by Heidi

Editor: Heidi, it sounds like the date you tried was not yet ripe. Green dates are indeed very astringent, as Emily learned in this market report on fresh dates. After they ripen a little more they get sweet and crunchy like an apple.

If you can get ahold of some properly sweet fresh dates, try this salad:

• Recipe: Asian Pear, Fresh Date, and Pomegranate Salad

Readers, any more tips on fresh dates? Recipes?

Next question?

Related: Farmers’ Market Report: Fresh Dates

(Image: Emily Ho)

Filed in:
Ingredient