Chocolate Quinoa Crunch Stuffed Dates
sorry i'm busy. on the best date of my life
If I had a dollar for every time I received a photo of this meme, both by friends I know and friends from the internet, I would be able to retire and buy an island:
I can’t even remember the moment I started noticing how synonymous I, and Dada Eats as a whole, were becoming with dates. Maybe it was the minute I started making cringe-worthy date puns in 2018 (if you have been with me for this long, kudos to you for being along for the journey and you’re welcome for the opportunity to enjoy my side to middle part glow-up). Or perhaps it was the day I put a date in the microwave and declared it the hottest date I’ve ever had. Or started dropping my favorite dates with the check at all of my New York pop-ups. Or maybe, just maybe…it was when I named my newsletter Up to Date. Who knows! It’s a mystery to me!
some random things i wanted to share before i give you a recipe
I am addicted to this new snack called “Quinowow!” that I tried it in LA and before you know it, I had ordered 12 bags to my apartment in New York. The only thing I hate about it is the name. Doesn’t roll off the tongue and I feel the exclamation is perfunctory but who am I, the linguistics police? It tastes like kettle corn but it’s vegan, sweetened with maple syrup, and made with simple, minimal ingredients.
My new lip-combo has been getting some questions these days and that’s nice of you to notice, since I have been switching it up. Honestly, I just want to feel something. It’s a bit darker than I normally go but it’s this lip liner (buff), with this lipstick, and this gloss on top.
Is anyone going to talk to me about seasonal allergies and provide me with a remedy? Or am I supposed to just walk outside looking like I’m having an emotional breakdown everyday? Anyone? Local honey is not cutting it. Please send help to my address, tissues, eye drops, an emotional support water bottle, love, a puppy, IDK, anything.
Songs of my week: What Was That - Lorde, SINCERITY - Sailorr, Thinkin Bout You - Ciara, Babydoll - Ella Boy, BEGGIN 4 LUV - Jessie Reyez
If you missed my guide to melbourne, here it is
the recipe
When I was growing up, my mom's favorite candy was a Nestle Crunch Bar, and these are giving that, except with dates (you already know how I feel) and peanut butter (who doesn’t like peanut butter? okay…. if you’re allergic….. you’re exempt. but only you). If you must, you can substitute almond butter, tahini, or your favorite nut / seed butter 😉
You can purchase puffed quinoa online. I wouldn’t really recommend substituting anything else for it, because well, firstly, they are a primary, functionally-in-the-title part of this recipe. This is like when people ask me if they can sub zucchini instead of bananas in a banana bread recipe and I have no clue what to even say… like sure, but then…it won’t be banana bread?? You know that right? And two, if you did try to substitute something like a puffed brown rice, or kamut puffs, or whatever else they are puffing up these days, it’s not going to cling to the date in the same way — the size of the puffed quinoa is perfect to make a consistent, even coating that is perfectly crunchy, with no fallout.
Creamy nut butter, chewy dates, and crunchy quinoa. Sayyyy lesss.
Ingredients
8 medjool dates
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup puffed quinoa
1/2 cup chocolate chips
2 tsp coconut oil
flaky salt
Method
Prepare a quarter sheet by lining with parchment paper.
Pit your dates.
Fill each date with about 1-2 tsp of peanut butter. You don’t want it to be overflowing, but level with the cut since we’ll be dipping them in chocolate later.
Melt the chocolate with coconut oil in 15 second increments, stirring between each interval, until completely glossy and smooth. Let cool.
Once the chocolate has cooled, pour in the puffed quinoa - mix to combine.
Submerge each date in the chocolate quinoa mixture. Let the excess chocolate quinoa mixture drip off the dates, before placing back on the parchment lined pan. Sprinkle with flaky salt. Repeat with the remaining dates.
Place in the fridge for the chocolate to set, for about 40 minutes. Remove, and enjoy! Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Hope you enjoy this recipe! Be kind to yourself and check in on your people. <3
x Samah
Every ingredient involved in this recipe are my favorites. All together? How can anyone just eat one? These are awesome!!!