flipTravel Cake of Dates, Figs, and Almonds
Travel Cake of Dates, Figs, and Almonds
Why this dish? Akhenaten founded and moved an entire capital into the desert at Akhetaton, and the court as well as messengers (carriers of the famous Amarna Letters on cuneiform tablets) traveled long roads. For these journeys, dense, sweet pressed fruit pastes were carried, which kept without spoiling under the sun.
A compact bar of mashed dates and figs, bound with honey, rolled in toasted flour and crushed almonds. Pure desert energy that lasts for days in a cloth without going bad.
The road to Akhetaton is long, and the sun of my father Aten shows no mercy. My messengers, who carry the tablets of foreign kings, cannot drag pots along: so we crush dates and figs together, bind with honey, roll in toasted flour and almonds, and tie it all in a cloth. It does not spoil, it sustains a man for half a day's march. Slip one into your belt, traveler, and the disk will watch over your steps.
- •Pitted dates — two handfuls (sweet base)
- •Dried figs — a handful (base/binder)
- •Honey — a spoonful (binder)
- •Almonds (imported from the Levant) — a handful (crunch/fat)
- •Toasted emmer flour — as needed (coating)
- •Imported cinnamon/cassia (optional) — a pinch (flavor)
Travel Cake of Dates, Figs, and Almonds
A compact bar of mashed dates and figs, bound with honey, rolled in toasted flour and crushed almonds. Pure desert energy that lasts for days in a cloth without going bad.
Why this dish? Akhenaten founded and moved an entire capital into the desert at Akhetaton, and the court as well as messengers (carriers of the famous Amarna Letters on cuneiform tablets) traveled long roads. For these journeys, dense, sweet pressed fruit pastes were carried, which kept without spoiling under the sun.
The road to Akhetaton is long, and the sun of my father Aten shows no mercy. My messengers, who carry the tablets of foreign kings, cannot drag pots along: so we crush dates and figs together, bind with honey, roll in toasted flour and almonds, and tie it all in a cloth. It does not spoil, it sustains a man for half a day's march. Slip one into your belt, traveler, and the disk will watch over your steps.
Ingredients (period version)
- Pitted dates — two handfuls (sweet base)
- Dried figs — a handful (base/binder)
- Honey — a spoonful (binder)
- Almonds (imported from the Levant) — a handful (crunch/fat)
- Toasted emmer flour — as needed (coating)
- Imported cinnamon/cassia (optional) — a pinch (flavor)
Ingredients
- Medjool dates, pitted — 200 g (base)
- Dried figs — 100 g (base/binder)
- Honey — 1 tbsp (binder)
- Blanched almonds — 80 g (crunch)
- Spelt flour, dry-toasted — 3 tbsp (coating)
- Cinnamon — 1 pinch (flavor)
Method
- Toast the almonds dry in a pan, let cool, then roughly chop.
- Lightly toast the flour dry until nutty; set aside.
- Blend (or pound in a mortar) dates and figs into a thick paste, add honey and cinnamon.
- Fold in the chopped almonds.
- Shape into compact bars or balls, then roll in the toasted flour so they don't stick.
- Let dry in the air for 1 hour. They keep well for a week in a cloth or box, ideal for hiking.
How it was made : Pressed fruit pastes (dates, figs) are among the oldest travel provisions of the Near East: very sweet, thus naturally preserved from spoilage, dense in energy. Almonds, sesame, and later cinnamon arrived via Asian trade routes, whose diplomatic intensity under Akhenaten is documented in the Amarna Letters.
The contemporary twist : Wrap each individually in kraft paper tied with string like miniature "Amarna tablets" to slip into a hiking bag.
Sources : William J. Darby, Paul Ghalioungui & Louis Grivetti, Food: The Gift of Osiris (1977) · Pierre Tallet, Histoire de la cuisine et de la gastronomie égyptiennes (2003)
Akhenaten · Charactorium
