Yvonne Maffei’s Dates With Cream and Chopped Pistachios

Recipe from Yvonne Maffei

Adapted by Julia Moskin

Updated July 8, 2020

Yvonne Maffei’s Dates With Cream and Chopped Pistachios
Nathan Weber for The New York Times
Total Time
20 minutes
Rating
5(357)
Comments
Read comments

Dates and dairy are ancient staples of the Middle East. This recipe, from Yvonne Maffei, who writes the popular cooking and nutrition blog My Halal Kitchen, combines the two into a luxurious dessert, for Ramadan or other feasts, with very little effort from the cook. —Julia Moskin

Featured in: During Ramadan, Dates Are a Unifying Staple

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: give recipes to anyone
    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.
    Subscribe

  • Print Options

Advertisement

Ingredients

Yield:6 to 12 servings
  • 12large medjool dates
  • 24whole almonds (preferably blanched), walnuts or pecans
  • 3 to 4tablespoons crème fraîche
  • Freshly grated zest of 1 lemon or ½ orange (about 2 teaspoons)
  • 1tablespoon coarsely chopped pistachios
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Cooking Newsletter illustration

Opt out or contact us anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

Opt out or contact us anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Rinse and dry the dates. Make a clean cut along the side of each date to open, and remove the pit.

  2. Step 2

    Stuff each date with 2 whole almonds and lightly pinch closed. (The recipe can be made up to this point up to 2 days in advance. Store in an airtight container.)

  3. Step 3

    When ready to serve, arrange dates cut sides up on a plate or platter. Drizzle on the crème fraîche, making a dollop on each date. Sprinkle on the citrus zest, then the chopped pistachios. Serve immediately, as finger food or on plates with a small fork and knife.

Ratings

5 out of 5
357 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Comments

Jac

I served these at a party, and stuffed them with Pistachios instead of almonds. I served some with Creme Fraiche and others with an orange ginger yogurt, another with a yogurt with cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and ginger. They were a HIT!!! The most popular item at the party. The plates looked lovely as well because I used lemon, lime and orange zest to differentiate flavors. These will now be my special party food!

Caroline

I mixed half creme fraiche and half goat cheese. It was delicious.

sandy

Gives a new and outstanding meaning to "date night". I substituted goat yogurt for the creme fraiche. Worked beautifully

marksmans

As a variation, dates stuffed with goat cheese or blue cheese mixed with cream cheese, topped with a pecan half and baked at 350 for ten minutes are wonderful!

Cindy H

I like to stuff dates with my favorite double cream Brie (d’Affinois) or a high quality blue cheese. I always add one or two almonds per date. Yummmm!

Bri B

I have always been a fan of medjool dates stuffed with mascarpone cream as a dessert snack or part of a cheese board. This is next level!

Private comments are only visible to you.

Credits

Adapted from Yvonne Maffei, My Halal Kitchen

Recipe Tags

Advertisement

or to save this recipe.