My mother just came to Jordan for a visit and the one thing she wanted to take home with her; dates. Why? Because dates from the Middle East are awesome! We are always thrilled when date season comes around. My three year old son will eat them until you make him stop. Add to that his second favorite afternoon snack, smoothies, and in the heat of the Amman summer, you have a refreshing pick-me-up: the date smoothie.
You can’t go wrong with this basic recipe:
- 1/2 cup dates, pits removed
- 1 cup milk (1/4 liter)
- 1 cup ice (approx. 1/2 tray of ice)
- dash of cinnamon
- dash of nutmeg
Combine in blender until smooth.
If you like your smoothies a bit creamier, try adding some plain yogurt or a banana or two.
Currently it’s Ramadan in Jordan and breaking the fast in the evenings is traditionally done by first eating dates. A date smoothie could be a terrific way to combine rehydration with the incredible sweetness of dates. Enjoy!
