Monday, January 17, 2011

Dates and Walnut Squares


I always adore the Middle Eastern Cuisine especially when it comes to desserts and sweets.  This is something very similar to mamoul cookies which I made earlier.  The thing which I love the most about these squares, it's mildly sweetened, it gets the natural sweetness from the dates and a crunchy bit of walnut in the middle will be perfect with a mint tea after dinner or even during evening tea.  I made a few alterations in the mamoul cookie which I made earlier, I absolutely enjoyed these squares a lot.  Hope you guys enjoy baking it too.

Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Makes 25 to 30 squares

Ingredients:
Fine semolina( semolina flour)- 150 g
Plain flour- 150 g
Baking Powder- 3/4 tsp
Butter-150 g
Icing sugar- 1/2 tbsp
Milk- 3 to 4 tbsp
Pitted dates- 500 g
Cinnamon powder- 1/2 tsp
Cardamom powder- 1/2 tsp
Walnuts- 2 tbsp( finely chopped)

Method:
Prepare the filling first by steaming the dates in a steamer for 10 minutes.  Mash it well until it looks like a paste,  add cinnamon and cardamom powder mix it well.  Set it aside.
Prepare the pastry by sifting the flour, semolina, baking powder and icing sugar in a large bowl.  Add the butter and start working with your hands until it looks like bread crumbs.  Add cold milk little by little until the mixture looks crumbly, don't knead it like a dough.

 Grease a 20cm square cake tine, line with baking parchment paper.  Preheat the oven to 180 degree celsius.  Divide the dough into half. Roll one half of the dough in the middle of two clingfilm.  Peel the top layer of cling film and carefully invert the pastry inside the cake tin and press it all around to fit the tin. Now roll the dates paste in the middle of two cling film and place it on top of the pastry and press it to spread all through the pastry. Spread the chopped walnuts on top of the dates paste.  Now roll the other half of the dough in the middle of two cling film and place it on top of the dates paste. Take a butter knife , with a blunt side of the knife score on top of the pastry, then with a sharp knife cut it into squares, don't cut it completely, just make an insertion.  Bake it in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.  Take it out from the oven and allow it cool in the tin completely.  then cut it into squares and dust it with icing sugar and cinnamon powder.


Also don't forget to check our bloggers in the marathon   Srivalli, RevaMonika, Priya Suresh, PJPriya Vaasu, JayAzeema , Soumya.and Gayathri.

This recipe goes to AWED- Iranian Cuisine hosted by Sweet Artichoke originally started by DK of Chef in You.

40 comments:

Angie's Recipes said...

I could easily finish a few slices at one go! They look wonderfully delicious.

abraham said...

wish i was you neighbour...

Raji said...

These squares are so filling.. love it. I am very fond of dates mamoul and these are even more delicious looking :)

Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen said...

Mouth-Watering!!!! A Healthy snack!!!

Unknown said...

oh this looks gorgeous love the pine flowers in the styling :)

Sayantani Mahapatra Mudi said...

beautiful recipe and your pictures are always so so gorgeous.

Priya dharshini said...

I luv the layers of squares.Luks perfect..

Priya Suresh said...

Nutty squares looks super delicious,feel like munching some..

KrithisKitchen said...

Yummy walnut dessert..

Menaga Sathia said...

அழகான ப்ரெஷண்டெஷன்,நல்லாயிருக்கு ஆயிஷா!!கேக் ராணி ன்னு பட்டம் கொடுக்கலாம் உங்களுக்கு,நிறைய ரெசிபி இருக்கு உங்க ப்ளாக்ல...

Suja Manoj said...

Mouthwatering and yummy squares..absolutely delicious.

usha said...

mouthwatering squares! Bookmarking the recipe..

aipi said...

wow, those are simply amazing and just love your presentation always :)

US Masala

harini-jaya said...

thats a mouth watering piece there!!

veena said...

looks yummy, thanks for sharing :)

Elaichii said...

I am totally drooling over these squares!

Ms.Chitchat said...

Wow, that was wonderful. Loved them absolute.

veena said...

yummmm. Yet to post for today's marathon.

Adelina said...

looks delightful in this combination- so Middle Eastern!

Gayathri Kumar said...

Amazing squares. Bookmarked..

Reshmi said...

wowitz simply superb...

Rumana Rawat said...

What a wonderful recipe and this looks so beautiful:)

Pushpa said...

Mouthwatering dates and walnut squares.

Unknown said...

They look so perfect and yummy..Loved the first pic..

Tahemeem said...

wow. that looks so cute and adorable :)

Prathima Rao/ Prats Corner said...

WOW!! Simply perfect & mouthwatering squares..

Pavani said...

healthy n yummy squares..

Sanjeeta kk said...

Cute and delicious squares!

Medeja- CranberryJam said...

Oh how nice they look.. I think that filling should taste divine :)

Unknown said...

I was in Dubai recently and we feasted on dates stuffed with walnuts = I can only imagine how delish this dish would be!

Jaisy James said...

looks superbb dear

Aruna Manikandan said...

wow...
looks gorgeous dear...
lovely clicks :)

Prema said...

Wonderful bake,very tempting pics...

Sweet Artichoke said...

These cookies are awesome: not only for their lovely taste but for the innovative shape you have given them. A mixture of maamouls and ranginak!
Thanks for sending them to this month AWED on Persian food.

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Love to have a few of the slices. Looks mouthwatering.

Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi

Dimah said...

That looks absolutely amazing!

Ambreen said...

That looks really delicious! Your pictures are always so beautiful. I'd love a piece of that :)

Sapthanaa Vytheswaran said...

hey ayeesha.. how m any mins sud i bake this? and at how many degrees.. planning to prepare this for the weekend!!

Umm Mymoonah said...

Hi Saptana, I have mentioned in the recipe itself it's for 30 mins at 180 degree celsius.

sharada said...

the baklavva is so adorable and the filling is so tasty with dates & walnuts...yum!

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...