Lately, I’ve been on a date kick. First, I used them to make za’atar roasted cauliflower with dates and pistachios. And then I turned out two types of treats that featured the ingredient: maple date granola and sticky date and toffee chocolate chunk cookies.
Ironically, I never liked dates as a kid. Every December, some kind of dried fruit tray would appear under the family Christmas tree, thanks to one of my dad’s patients or a relative. Eventually, we’d tear into the package and gobble up the apricots, peaches and pears. But without fail, no one touched the dates (or prunes for that matter).
It’s funny to think that I now pay for dates. Perhaps my palate has changed. More likely, I’ve become a less picky eater.
Dates are a delicious addition to baked goods and savory dishes, like za’atar roasted cauliflower. The sticky, sweet fruit lends a little chew and an unexpected pop of flavor. Try this recipe and you’ll see what I mean.
Recipe adapted from Downshiftology.
- 1 head cauliflower, cut into small florets
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 tablespoon za'atar
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup pistachios
- 8 dates, pitted and chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Place cauliflower on a baking sheet. Drizzle with 2½ tablespoons olive oil, sprinkle on za'atar, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Bake for 10 minutes, remove from the oven and stir gently. Bake for another 10 minutes or until cauliflower is caramelized and fork tender.
- Meanwhile, toast pistachios by cooking them in a small sauce pan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add dates, thyme and remaining ½ tablespoon olive oil and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Drizzle over roasted cauliflower and toss gently to combine. Serve warm or at room temperature.
[…] in restaurants, I’ve been cooking it pretty simply at home and want to try shushing it up a bit! This recipe with za’atar, dates, and pistachios is calling my […]