Tamr Mulawwa (Stuffed Dates)

Lady Scholastica Joycors - The Culinary Bard

Winner - Trial by Fire - Desserts

A SWEET OFTEN SERVED at the Kaliph’s table and even down to a peasant table. This sweet treat is mentioned in the story of “The Virtuous Wife” found in The Thousand Nights and a Night. This sweets name is translated simply as ‘dates of almonds,” two ingredients that Arabs love. The date is considered the quintessential fruit, and the almond one of the most favored of nuts. In this dessert the two are presented in a sauce flavored with rosewater. Tamr Mulawwaz is a very sweet side dessert — a little goes a long way.

Wash Qash dates or Iraqi dates with hot water. Remove their pits and in place of each pit put an almond or a pistachio. Boil vinegar and honey and skim off the scum then toss the dates in. When liquid comes to a boil, remove it from the heat and leave it until it cools. Color with saffron and flavor it with musk and rosewater. It should have a good consistency. It is very good.

Source: Ibn al’Adim — Kităb al-Wuslah ilà al-Habib fi Wasf al-Tayyibāt wa al-Tib

Modern Version:

½ pound of dry dates

Hot water

1/2 cup honey

1 -1/2 cup water

20 blanched almonds

2 tablespoons of vinegar

1/8 teaspoon saffron, dissolved in 2 tablespoons of water

¼ teaspoon of ground cloves

1 -1/2 tablespoons of rosewater

1. Place dates in a bowl, cover with hot water, and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Strain in sieve.

2. Remove pits from dates and replace with a single almond or pistachio, then set aside.

3. Place honey, vinegar, and the water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil, remove any white scum that appears around the edges. Carefully add the dates, then cook over a medium heat until liquid boils, about 15 minutes. Gently stir in the remaining ingredients and cook ten more minutes.

4. Transfer to a serving bowl and allow to cool before serving.

Reference:

The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night

“The Sweets of Araby” by Leila Salloum Ellis and Muna Salloum, Countryman Press, New York, New York, 2001, p.71

©2021 MyLinda Butterworth (scholastica.ppa@gmail.com) This article first appeared in The Yeoman - October 2021

Permission is granted for republication in SCA-related publications, provided the author is credited and receives a copy.