Date syrup from Israel -- suggestions?

[ozhead]

My daughter just returned from a trip to Israel, and brought back for me a small jar of date syrup. It is dark brown, thicker than maple syrup but thinner than molasses, sweet without being cloying and with a distinct date flavor. This stuff is delicious by the spoonful right out of the jar, but I would imagine people use it for other things (though if not I won't be too disappointed; my spoon is ready!)

So: anybody have any ideas? More to the point, any middle easterners out there who have used it? If so, for what?

[Nancy Berry]

Tahini and Date Syrup Dip (Dibis W'rashi) http://www.recipezaar.com/190396

Zibibiya- Iraqi New Year Soup http://iraqifamilycookbook.blogspot.com/

It's also used in Iraqi Haroset during Passover.

[ChowFun_derek]

Iraqi Haroset is my personal favorite...it uses Silan (date syrup) and crushed walnuts...that's it, but is my favorite of all the international ones I've made or tried......Amba however is a taste I expect I will never acquire....

[dmjuli]

It is very good in Total Yogurt!

[brownie]

I've used it to replace sugar in oatmeal cookies and it lends a lovely different note of sweetness. I've also used it to replace sugar in these bran-carob-banana muffins I make. You can buy big jars of it at a middle eastern grocery store, so, if you do have one near you, you should use what your daughter bought you without hesitation!

[ozhead]

Middle eastern groceries of many varieties are no strangers to southern California, where I am, so I have no qualms about using the little jar my daughter brought.

[RPMcMurphy]

Seems almost similar to the Apple/Pear syrup I posted about (still on the front page) from Belgium. It sometimes contains dates (albeit not the main ingredient)

check out this website
http://www.sirop-de-liege.com/en/reci...

[pikawicca]

You can use this in any recipe calling for pomegranate molasses.

[MacGuffin]

It's an awful lot sweeter than pomegranate molasses, no? Dibis w'rashi made with "dibis tamar" (pomegranate molasses)--unlike that made with grape, date, or carob molasses--isn't very good--much too tart.

Second the suggestion to use it for it for dibis w'rashi and the haroseth sounds wonderful. I'll need to find pesadik dibis tamar/silan, though. Obviously, the Al Wadi I use won't cut it. ;)

[glutton]

You could probably mix this syrup and some small date pieces into an ice cream, which would be pretty tasty. Or you could make a milkshake with it.

[luckyfatima]

if you make fresh doughnuts or begnet or sopapillas or any type of fried bread type item, you can drizzle it over that.

There is a doughnut hole type sweet called Luqemaat or Luqmaat il Qazi (google for recipe) and you can put the syrup on that instead of a sugar syrup.

[alkapal]

in my mind, i'm treating it like honey....so wherever you might use honey...

i was thinking of drizzling it on cheese from an after dinner cheese plate! maybe a gorgonzola? or an appetizer with a smooth french goat cheese, like bucheron?

[howboy]

Doll it up a bit and use it as a glaze on lamb or duck or chicken.

[zwi52oz]

It is great drizzled (sparingly) on salads and any meat/chicken dish, as you would use concentrated blasamic glaze.
It adds a wonderful sweet-tart flavour.

[ramanm]

Simply mix some in Tahini to taste, like we Assyrians do. Don't add lemon. Makes a delicious dip for breakfast. Enjoy with pita bread and some nice hot Middle Eastern tea.

[ChowFun_derek]

That sounds like great combo...I will definitely give it a try...thanks

[alkapal]

has anyone used date *molasses*? i just bought some.....

[Infomaniac]

Use it as you would pomegranate molasses, but I like date molasses on a good vanilla ice cream.

[DesignGuy2006]

Check out http://www.organicsareforeveryone.com... for a bunch of recipes using date syrup. :) The owners of the brand Organics Are For Everyone import a delicious date syrup that they discovered while living in the U.A.E.

[karela]

I just love this stuff!

Since no one posted a "recipe" for Iraqi Haroset, I will just clarify that it is date syrup (aka silan) and finely chopped walnuts in around a 4:1 syrup to nut ratio. It makes a chunky mortar. :-)

The best part, however is having it with yoghurt for breakfast the next morning...It will also enliven any flavourless strawberries that you may have accidentally purchased (or have been brought for passover).

It isn't at all like pomegranate molasses, since it lacks that sour kick.