How to Eat Dates If You Don't Like the Texture

Dates are one of the oldest cultivated fruits in the world, packed with fiber, antioxidants, and a unique caramel-like sweetness. For those who dislike their chewy, sticky texture, enjoying these benefits can seem impossible—but a variety of clever preparation methods can transform them completely.

Quick Summary

Overcome textural aversion to dates by learning how to incorporate them into various recipes. Transform their consistency using blending, soaking, and baking techniques, turning them into a natural sweetener or a seamless component of sweet and savory dishes.

Key Points

• Blend into a paste: Eliminate all texture by turning dates into a smooth paste for a natural sweetener in recipes and sauces.

• Incorporate into baked goods: Finely chop dates and mix them into muffins or energy bars, where they provide moisture and dissolve into the overall texture.

• Add to savory dishes: Use chopped dates in stews or tagines to add a mellow sweetness that enhances the flavor profile as they soften during cooking.

• Stuff with contrasting textures: For a quick snack, stuff dates with crunchy nuts or creamy cheese to shift the focus away from the date's own texture.

• Create a natural syrup: Simmer dates with water to create a syrup, perfect for drizzling on oatmeal or pancakes without dealing with the fruit's solid form.

• Use with strong flavors: Pair dates with bold tastes like salty bacon or tangy cheese in appetizers to create a compelling flavor contrast that overshadows the date's texture.

Why Overcome Texture Aversion to Dates?

Dates are nutritional powerhouses, offering significant health benefits, including supporting digestive health, providing sustained energy, and containing disease-fighting antioxidants. While the chewy, sticky quality is polarizing, altering their form allows you to reap the rewards without a disagreeable sensory experience. By incorporating them into your diet, you gain a versatile, natural sweetener free from the empty calories of refined sugar.

Method 1: The Art of Blending

Blending is the most effective way to eliminate date texture entirely. This method is perfect for adding natural sweetness and thickness to a wide array of recipes.

Create a Smooth Date Paste

Date paste is a fantastic 1:1 sugar substitute in baking, sauces, and spreads. To make it, pit and soak dates in warm water for at least 10 minutes to soften them. For a smoother consistency, especially with tougher dates, a high-speed blender is best.

• Soak: Place pitted dates in a bowl and cover with hot water for 10-30 minutes.
• Blend: Drain the dates, reserving the soaking liquid. Blend the dates, adding the reserved liquid tablespoon by tablespoon until a smooth, thick paste forms.
• Store: Transfer the paste to an airtight container. It can be refrigerated for several weeks.

Conceal Dates in Smoothies and Shakes

Dates add a caramel-like flavor and natural sweetness to smoothies, making them a healthier alternative to sugar. Blend them first with the liquid to ensure a smooth, chunk-free result.

• Ingredients: Blend a few pitted dates with milk (dairy or non-dairy), a frozen banana, and a pinch of cinnamon for a creamy vanilla date shake.
• Variations: Add cocoa powder for a chocolate version or a dollop of nut butter for extra creaminess.

Method 2: Baking and Cooking

High heat can soften dates and integrate them into a dish where their texture is no longer a prominent feature. The dates melt down, releasing their sweet flavor throughout the recipe.

Transform Dates in Baked Goods

In baked goods, chopped dates will soften and meld with other ingredients, providing a moist texture and rich flavor.

• Energy Bars: Use date paste as a natural binder for no-bake energy bars by blending it with oats, nuts, and seeds.
• Muffins and Breads: Chop dates finely and fold them into batters for muffins or carrot bread. They distribute sweetness and add a chewy morsel without overwhelming the palate.

Combine with Savory Flavors

Dates can add a surprising element of sweetness to savory dishes, balancing out richer or spicier ingredients.

• Tagines and Stews: In Moroccan-inspired tagines, dates soften and add a deep, sweet complexity that complements lamb or chicken.
• Salad Dressings: Blend date paste with olive oil, vinegar, and mustard for a naturally sweetened dressing.

Method 3: Stuffing and Pairing

If you prefer to keep dates whole but minimize the chewy sensation, try stuffing and pairing them with contrasting textures and flavors.

• The Crunch Factor: Pit dates and stuff them with a whole almond, pecan, or walnut for a satisfying crunch that distracts from the date's fibrous texture.
• Sweet and Salty: Wrap a cheese-stuffed date (goat cheese or cream cheese work well) in a piece of salty prosciutto or bacon and bake until crispy. The contrast of sweet, salty, and savory is irresistible.

Comparison: Date Preparation Methods for Texture Aversion

Method	Primary Goal	Best For	Texture Outcome	Effort Level	Suitability for Hiding Texture
Blending	Eliminate Texture	Smoothies, pastes, sauces	Completely smooth, no chunks	Medium (Blender required)	Excellent
Baking	Integrate & Soften	Muffins, breads, energy bars	Softened, dispersed, slightly chewy	Medium	Good
Cooking (Savory)	Flavor Infusion	Tagines, stews, dressings	Melted, flavor dissolved	Medium	Excellent
Stuffing	Provide Contrast	Snacks, appetizers	Combined with other textures	Low	Moderate
Soaking	Soften & Plump	Pastes, smoother dates	Softer, less fibrous	Low	Good (less effective for aversion)

Conclusion

Overcoming an aversion to date texture is entirely possible and worth the effort for the significant health benefits they provide. Whether you completely eliminate the texture by blending them into a smooth paste, disguise them in baked goods, or use them to create a flavor contrast in savory dishes, there are many ways to make dates enjoyable. Start with simple techniques like a date-sweetened smoothie or an almond-stuffed date, and discover a delicious new way to incorporate this superfood into your diet. If you're looking for more inspiration, check out the extensive recipe section on the BBC Food website for varied uses.

A Creative Date Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Goat Cheese Dates

This simple appetizer is a textural dream for those wary of dates. The sticky sweetness of the dates is perfectly balanced by the creamy tang of goat cheese and the crispy, salty bacon.

Ingredients:

• 12 large Medjool dates, pitted
• 4 oz goat cheese, softened
• 6 slices of thin-cut bacon, cut in half
• Balsamic glaze, for drizzling

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Fill each pitted date with a small amount of goat cheese.
3. Wrap each date with a half slice of bacon and secure with a toothpick.
4. Place the wrapped dates on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the dates are caramelized.
5. Let cool slightly before serving, and drizzle with balsamic glaze for an extra layer of flavor. The textures and flavors meld beautifully, making the date's natural consistency a non-issue.

BBC Food

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best type of date to use if I dislike the texture?

Soft, moist varieties like Medjool dates are often better for blending into pastes or melting into baked goods, as their consistency is easier to manipulate. For stuffing, larger, firmer dates may hold their shape better.

How can I make date paste smoother?

For an exceptionally smooth paste, soak the pitted dates in hot water for 10-30 minutes before blending them in a high-speed blender. Using a small amount of the soaking liquid helps achieve the perfect consistency.

Can I use dates in place of refined sugar in any recipe?

Yes, date paste can be used as a 1:1 substitute for white sugar in many recipes, particularly baked goods. It will add moisture and fiber, and a subtle caramel flavor.

Do I need to soak dates before adding them to a smoothie?

Soaking dates in the liquid you plan to use for your smoothie for 5-10 minutes, especially if they are older or dried out, can help them blend more smoothly and prevent chunks.

How do dates add sweetness without just being sugary?

Dates contain fructose, a natural sugar, but they also provide fiber, which slows digestion. This prevents the rapid blood sugar spikes associated with refined sugars, providing sustained energy.

What are some savory dishes where date texture is hidden?

In dishes like Moroccan tagines, dates are stewed for a long time, causing them to break down and release their sweetness into the sauce. This eliminates the fibrous texture and adds depth of flavor.

Are there date products I can buy to avoid the texture entirely?

Yes, you can purchase date syrup, which is a smooth, liquid sweetener, or date sugar, which is essentially powdered dates. Both offer the nutritional benefits without the textural issues.