Date Relish Recipes

ONION DATE RELISH

Steps:

• In a large heavy skillet cook the onions in the oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until they are softened, add the garlic, the gingerroot, and the salt, and cook the mixture, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the wine, 1/2 cup of the vinegar, and the peppers and cook the mixture over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is evaporated. In a food processor combine the onion mixture with the dates and pulse the motor 3 or 4 times. Add the additional vinegar and pulse the motor 2 or 3 times, or until the mixture is combined well but still chunky. The relish keeps, covered and chilled, for 1 week. Serve the relish with grilled pork or chicken or with mild cheese and crackers.

LUXURIOUS FIG AND DATE CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Finely chop the dates, figs and onion.
• Scatter onion into a hot pan, using just enough golden sugar to coat the onion well, and cook for just a few minutes. Do not allow to stick or burn.
• Add the dates and figs and stir regularly, turning down to a medium heat. Add just a little vinegar to prevent sticking.
• This chutney will absorb the vinegar and dry out quite quickly, so keep a watchful eye on it; stir gently, and continuously, topping up with vinegar as required, and add a little sugar if it becomes too moist. Once you have approximately double the depth in the pan that you had when it contained just the fruit and onion, and it is moist enough to not risk sticking to the pan, leave to cook.
• After about 15 minutes, the chutney should be thick and bubbling. Remove from the heat and pour into clean, pre-heated glass jars.
• Store for 1 month or more before using; ripens and improves with age.

RAW CRANBERRY DATE RELISH WITH GINGER

Steps:

• Using a large, sharp knife, dice the dates and crystallized ginger into small, uniform dice. Thinly slice the scallions and then mince them finely.
• Put the cranberries in the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times until they are in rough pieces. Add the honey, lime juice, jalapeño, cilantro, fresh ginger, salt, and pepper and continue to pulse until finely diced. Add the dates, crystalized ginger, and scallions and pulse once or twice to combine.
• Refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to blend thoroughly. Serve at room temperature.