This week's column is written by Chef Tony Rechsteiner, who has been a chef for 39 years. Originally from Australia, he is a Certified Chef de Cuisine (C.C.C.) and instructor in CNC's Professional Cook Program.
Dates
Dates have been cultivated in the Middle East for thousands of years, possibly as early as 4000 BCE. There is archaeological evidence of date cultivation in eastern Arabia since 6000 BCE.
Dates were introduced to the southern areas of North America (Mexico and California) in the mid 1700's by the Spanish.
Ripe dates are approximately 80 per cent sugar, with protein and fibre making up the remainder. They are also a good source of dietary potassium.
Dry or soft dates can be eaten as is, or seeded and stuffed with a variety of fillings, such as nuts, cream cheese, marzipan or candied citrus peel. Young date leaves can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
The sweet sap of the palm is tapped and made into palm sugar, or can be made into molasses; if left for too long at high temperatures it will ferment and produce alcohol.
When Muslims break their fast in the evening during Ramadan, it is traditional to start with a date.
I have chosen to feature a pancake recipe that includes dates and poppy seeds.
Date and Poppy seed Pancakes
Serves four
Ingredients
250 ml buttermilk
125 ml pitted dates finely chopped
1 large egg
15 ml poppy seeds
30 ml melted butter
200 ml all-purpose flour
5 ml baking soda
Pinch of salt
Method
In a mixing bowl, stir together the buttermilk, dates, melted butter and egg, stir well. Combine the balance of ingredients and add to the buttermilk mix. Mix lightly with a fork or whisk, do not worry about some small lumps, this is ok.
Preheat frying pan/skillet, lightly oil or spray with cooking spray. Spoon or ladle mix into pan, approx 50 ml for each pancake. Cook until holes in the batter stay open, turn over and cook for another
minute or so.
Dust with icing sugar, and top with fresh fruit or syrup.
This same recipe can be made into waffles by adding another 30 ml of buttermilk and cooking in a waffle iron, and cooking
according to the manufacturer's directions.
