Dates are a total win-win in any Ayurvedic kitchen.
Not only are they one of the best ways to strengthen our vitality (known in Ayurveda as ojas, our inner elixir), they are also delicious. And, it turns out, dates are kind of magical.
The magic is in their inexplicable action. See, in Ayurveda, it’s understood that mixing most fruits with other foods — as in banana bread, blueberry muffins, etc. — can disturb digestion and weaken it if done frequently. There are a couple fruits that act as outliers. These special fruits are categorized as prabhava, meaning their action is unexplainable by all other factors and do not cause digestive upsets when combined with other foods. This is why dates are magical.
This is also why we will stuff them with tahini today.
This absurdly easy Ayurvedic recipe, tahini-stuffed dates, is:
- The perfect after school snack for kids (or pregnant mamas).
- A rich and satisfying dessert for a home cooked “date night.”
- A great accompaniment to breakfast porridge.
Since dates are super sweet, you can’t eat many. So splurge and buy the freshest you can find (they should look shiny, feel soft, and have pits intact). If your local market doesn’t carry them, look at Middle Eastern stores or search out a date farm online. Medjools are always a good bet, but there are many varieties worth exploring. No matter what, run far, far away from smushed, dried, pitless dates for this recipe.
Absurdly Easy Ayurvedic Recipe: Tahini Stuffed Dates
Serves 2
4 dates, split in half, pits removed
A small schmear of tahini (cashew butter is also great)
A sprinkle of cinnamon, cardamom, rose petal powder, or any combination of your favorite sweet spices
The recipe is so absurdly easy the ingredients explain the how.
Pro tip: Sprinkle the spices on the dates on the serving plate. The little dusting of cinnamon on the plate makes it look extra magical.
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