In one of the Arabian night stories, it is mentioned that a traveller carried dates with him, for his subsistence during the journey.The relevance of the story is to discuss the nutrition of the DATES. Health benefits of dates are uncountable, as this fruit is affluent in natural fibres. Dates are even rich in several vitamins and minerals. These natural products contain oil, calcium, sulphur, iron, potassium, phosphorous,manganese, copper and magnesium which are advantageous for health. It is said that consumption of one date daily is necessary for a balanced and healthy diet.If it is becoming difficult for you to feed your family; the dates, because they find it unpalatable….then no worries!
We have a way to make a dish out of it; which would have everyone lapping their tongue till its last drop.Ingr:Dates- 250 gmsTamarind – 50 gmsAmchoor Powder- 1 tea spoon (optional)Sugar – if requiredSalt- 1/2 teaspoonMethodDeseed Dates. Soak Dates and Tamarind separately in water, one cup and half cup respectively, for half an hour.Mix well, both dates and tamarind respectively; in waters in which those have been soaked. You may use your hands to get perfect results.Put both the mixture in a pan and place the pan on the fire with flame reduced to minimum. Keep stirring the mixture till colour becomes evenly maroonish. Mix amchoor ( if you want to increase the tanginess) in little water and add to the chutney mixture.Add the salt and the sugar( optional, chutney is sweet enough but if you prefer more sweet taste you can use sugar).Increase the flame and cook while stirring for five minutes( you may add little water to reduce the thickness of chutney).Try few drops to check for the perfectness of its taste.Remove from fire. Stay it for cooling for 15 minutes and sieve it to get chutney of even consistency. Use is as a dip with spicy snacks/ or serve it with stuffed parathas with the morning breakfast
CAUTION: Select dates with great care should be taken in their selection because they consists of sticky surface which attracts various impurities in them. Hence, you should consume only those dates that are processed and packed properly. Make sure to wash them thoroughly before consuming. This will help remove the impurities present in them.