Dates

Dates

Fruit Good year-round
Used in 33 of 203 cuisines (16%)

Sweet, chewy, and caramel-like, dates are nature's candy, packed with a luscious richness that delivers a satisfying texture. Their deep, honeyed flavor makes them a staple in many cuisines.

Where it comes from

Hailing from the Middle East, dates have been cultivated for thousands of years, valued not just for their taste but also for their nutritional benefits, often referred to as 'bread of the desert.'

In the kitchen

Dates are used for natural sweetness in desserts and savory dishes, often blended into energy bars or chopped into salads. They also serve as a binding agent in many recipes.

Across cuisines

Saudi

Dates — the desert fruit at the heart of Saudi food culture. Eaten with morning Saudi coffee (qahwa), stuffed into pastries, blended into smoothies, served at every meal. Medjool, Sukkari, Khalas, and Ajwa varieties define the date tradition.

Omani

Dates — the fundamental Omani fruit. The Khalasa, Fardh, and Mabsali varieties from Nizwa and the Batinah coast are world-famous. Eaten with kahwa, stuffed into halwa, and dried for export.

Sahrawi

Dates — the oasis fruit, eaten fresh, dried, or stuffed; energy of the desert. Source: Wikipedia (Sahrawi cuisine).

Nutrition (per 100g)

~277kcalCal
~2.0gProtein
~0.2gFat
~75.0gCarbs
~7.0gFiber

AI-estimated; model and run unavailable.

Pairs well with

Flavor affinities

Seen in these dishes