Dates stuffed with honey, sesame, and walnuts — offering to the deified queen
Soft pitted dates stuffed with a mixture of honey, sesame, and chopped walnuts, rolled in seeds. A simple and precious ancient confection, inspired by offerings made to the deified queen.
Soft pitted dates stuffed with a mixture of honey, sesame, and chopped walnuts, rolled in seeds. A simple and precious ancient confection, inspired by offerings made to the deified queen.
I have been raised among the gods, stranger, and before my image they place the sweetest fruits of the Nile. Take these dates: the pit is removed, they are filled with honey, crushed sesame, and chopped walnuts, then rolled again in seeds. Offer them as they are offered to me, and may their sweetness remind you that a mortal sometimes sits at the table of the immortals.
- •Ripe dates — a bowl (sweet shell)
- •Honey — a drizzle (binder, signature)
- •Sesame seeds — a handful (filling and coating)
- •Walnuts — a handful (crunchy core)
- •Imported cinnamon or cardamom (optional) — a pinch (luxury fragrance)
Dates stuffed with honey, sesame, and walnuts — offering to the deified queen
Soft pitted dates stuffed with a mixture of honey, sesame, and chopped walnuts, rolled in seeds. A simple and precious ancient confection, inspired by offerings made to the deified queen.
Why this dish? Arsinoë was deified in her lifetime and received a cult with temples and offerings throughout Egypt. Dates—a Nile fruit mentioned in her profile—stuffed with honey and dried fruits were precious sweets, worthy of being placed before the effigy of a queen become goddess (theá Philadelphos).
I have been raised among the gods, stranger, and before my image they place the sweetest fruits of the Nile. Take these dates: the pit is removed, they are filled with honey, crushed sesame, and chopped walnuts, then rolled again in seeds. Offer them as they are offered to me, and may their sweetness remind you that a mortal sometimes sits at the table of the immortals.
Ingredients (period version)
- Ripe dates — a bowl (sweet shell)
- Honey — a drizzle (binder, signature)
- Sesame seeds — a handful (filling and coating)
- Walnuts — a handful (crunchy core)
- Imported cinnamon or cardamom (optional) — a pinch (luxury fragrance)
Ingredients
- Medjool dates — 12 (sweet shell)
- Honey — 2 tbsp (binder, signature)
- Toasted sesame seeds — 4 tbsp (filling and coating)
- Walnut halves — 60 g, chopped (crunchy core)
- Ground cinnamon (optional) — 1 pinch (fragrance)
Method
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan until golden.
- Chop the walnuts and mix with honey, half the sesame, and cinnamon to form a paste.
- Slit the dates lengthwise and remove the pit.
- Fill each date with the nut paste.
- Roll the stuffed dates in the remaining sesame to coat.
- Arrange on a small platter and let rest for an hour in a cool place to set the filling.
How it was made : Dates, honey, sesame, and walnuts were the basic ingredients of ancient confections, in the absence of refined sugar. Food offerings (aparchai) placed before divine statues included fruits, cakes, and honey. The cult of Arsinoë II, one of the first Greek royal cults, multiplied these homages throughout Ptolemaic Egypt.
The contemporary twist : Present them on a small gilded stand in 'temple offering' style, each topped with a walnut piece, for a spectacular no-bake after-dinner treat.
Arsinoe II · Charactorium
