Apician Spiced Dates Recipes

APICIAN SPICED DATES

Steps:

• Stuff one almond in the cavity of each date (if the dates are very large or the almonds very small, stuff two almonds in). In a wide saucepan or skillet, bring wine to a simmer. Add the dates and poach until skin blisters. Remove and peel away skins while still warm. Discard skins. Add the remaining ingredients to the wine, and simmer until reduced by half, about 20 minutes. Strain wine and return to saucepan. Add the dates to the wine sauce and poach gently until warmed through, but not too hot. Place three dates alongside fresh ricotta or mascarpone cheese and drizzle a spoonful of the wine sauce over. Garnish with thinly sliced orange or lemon zest.

SPICED ORANGES AND DATES

Steps:

• Add the water and sugar to a saucespan. Stir over heat until the sugar has dissolved. Add the peel from one orange. cloves, ginger, star anise and cinnamon stick pieces. SImmer 10 minutes or until a syrup forms. Remove from the heat.
• Slice the oranges into thick rounds. Remove the pits from the dates and cut the dates into halves. Add the oranges and dates to the sugar syrup. Set aside for 20 minutes.
• Spoon the fruit onto one large platter to serve -- or into serving bowls. Sprinkle the toasted almonds over the top.
• Serve with yogurt or custard.

SPICED DATES WITH MASCARPONE CHEESE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring the wine to a simmer.
• Add the dates and poach until the skins blister.
• With a slotted spoon, lift out the dates and, while warm, remove and discard the skins.
• Cut open the dates on one long side, remove the pits and place two almonds in the center of each date.
• Fold closed.
• To the wine, add the honey, peppercorns, cloves, orange zest, allspice, cinnamon sticks and bay leaf.
• Continue simmering until the wine is reduced by half, about 20 minutes.
• Strain wine into a clean saucepan.
• Add the dates to the wine and heat gently, over a medium low heat, until warmed through, but not hot, then remove from heat.
• To serve, place a dollop of mascarpone in the center of each of four plates.
• Spoon two dates and a little wine sauce on each plate, sprinkle lightly with sea salt and serve.

BRAISED CHICKEN WITH DATES AND MOROCCAN SPICES

Steps:

• Sprinkle chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and flour. Heat olive oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add half of chicken pieces to pot and cook until browned on all sides, turning occasionally, about 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to baking sheet or platter; repeat with remaining chicken. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons fat from pot and discard. Reduce heat to medium. Add shallots to pot; sauté until golden, about 6 minutes. Add cinnamon sticks, ginger, cumin, turmeric, and cayenne. Stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Increase heat to high; add broth and 3 tablespoons lemon juice. Bring to boil; reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until shallots begin to soften, about 18 minutes. Place chicken pieces atop shallots in pot. Bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until juices run clear when thickest part of drumstick is pierced with knife, about 25 minutes.
• Transfer chicken and shallots to platter; tent with foil. Boil juices in pot until slightly thickened. Stir in dates and remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Reduce heat and simmer gently until dates are heated through, about 2 minutes. Pour sauce and dates over chicken. Sprinkle with almonds and cilantro, and serve.