Dates and Nut Bites
These homemade dates and nut bites combine roasted almonds, cashews, walnuts and pistachios with naturally sweet dates. Lightly roasted in ghee, the nuts retain their crunch and develop a delicate aroma. A simple, wholesome snack made without added sugar.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Mixed nuts 130 g in total
- 50 g Almonds
- 40 g Cashews
- 30 g Walnuts
- 10 g Pistachios
- 80 g Seedless dates Approximately ½ cup
- 1 tsp Ghee For roasting the nuts
- 1 tsp Ghee For cooking the dates
Instructions
- Prepare the nuts: Roughly chop the almonds, cashews, walnuts and pistachios.
- Roast the almonds and cashews: Heat 1 teaspoon of ghee in a pan. Add the almonds and cashews and roast over a low flame until lightly golden for 3-4 minutes .
- Add the walnuts and pistachios briefly for 1-2 minutes as it can burn easily. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Prepare the dates: Grind the seedless dates without adding water until they form a smooth paste.
- Cook the date paste : In the same pan, add 1 teaspoon of ghee and the date paste. Cook over a low flame for 1–2 minutes, stirring continuously, until the paste becomes glossy and starts coming together.
- Add the roasted nuts: Add the roasted nuts to the warm date paste and mix gently over a low flame for a few seconds. Switch off the flame, continue mixing thoroughly until the date paste evenly coats all the nuts and binds them together.
- Transfer and shape :Transfer the mixture onto baking paper or greased tray.
- Cool and cut :Allow the mixture to cool slightly, then cut into bars using a sharp knife and gentle pressure. Alternatively, shape into laddus while still warm enough to handle comfortably.
Notes
Light roasting on low flame is essential to bring out the natural aroma and crunch of the nuts.
Over-roasting the nuts can develop a bitter taste. Suitable dates are soft varieties that make a sticky paste. Heating gently with ghee helps soften the paste, but if cooked for too long, it can dry it out and harden. Pressing the mixture first and adding a little date paste only if it crumbles helps keep the bites crisp with a light chewy feel. No additional sugar or water is required. Any combination of dry nuts can be used, keeping the total quantity same.
Over-roasting the nuts can develop a bitter taste. Suitable dates are soft varieties that make a sticky paste. Heating gently with ghee helps soften the paste, but if cooked for too long, it can dry it out and harden. Pressing the mixture first and adding a little date paste only if it crumbles helps keep the bites crisp with a light chewy feel. No additional sugar or water is required. Any combination of dry nuts can be used, keeping the total quantity same.