flipDulcia Domestica, Honey-Stuffed Dates
Dulcia Domestica, Honey-Stuffed Dates
Why this dish? Born in Syria, in Cyrrhus, Cassius grew up among the date palms of the East. These stuffed dates, a classic dessert from Apicius, connected him to his native land even under the cold standards of the Danube.
Pitted dates, stuffed with walnuts or pine nuts, rolled in salt then confit in hot honey. A meltingly sweet bite to close the meal — Eastern luxury on the Roman table.
We have no sugar: it is honey, and the date of my country, that make sweetness. As a child in Cyrrhus, I climbed the palms; today, even under the gray sky of the frontiers, I have my dates stuffed with nuts and confit in hot honey. A grain of salt first — always salt before sweet — then the honey that sings in the pan. It is the East I carry with me, even on campaign.
- •Dates — a handful (base)
- •Walnuts or pine nuts — as many as dates (stuffing)
- •Ground pepper — a pinch (spice (in the filling))
- •Salt — a pinch (contrast)
- •Honey — enough to coat (confit)
Dulcia Domestica, Honey-Stuffed Dates
Pitted dates, stuffed with walnuts or pine nuts, rolled in salt then confit in hot honey. A meltingly sweet bite to close the meal — Eastern luxury on the Roman table.
Why this dish? Born in Syria, in Cyrrhus, Cassius grew up among the date palms of the East. These stuffed dates, a classic dessert from Apicius, connected him to his native land even under the cold standards of the Danube.
We have no sugar: it is honey, and the date of my country, that make sweetness. As a child in Cyrrhus, I climbed the palms; today, even under the gray sky of the frontiers, I have my dates stuffed with nuts and confit in hot honey. A grain of salt first — always salt before sweet — then the honey that sings in the pan. It is the East I carry with me, even on campaign.
Ingredients (period version)
- Dates — a handful (base)
- Walnuts or pine nuts — as many as dates (stuffing)
- Ground pepper — a pinch (spice (in the filling))
- Salt — a pinch (contrast)
- Honey — enough to coat (confit)
Ingredients
- Large Medjool dates — 12 (base)
- Walnut halves or pine nuts — 12 (one per date) (stuffing)
- Ground black pepper — 1 pinch (spice)
- Fine salt — 1 pinch (contrast)
- Liquid honey — 4 tablespoons (confit)
Method
- Pit the dates by slitting them open along one side.
- Insert a walnut half or a few pine nuts dusted with a touch of pepper into each date.
- Quickly roll the stuffed dates in a pinch of salt.
- Heat the honey in a pan until it shimmers.
- Confit the dates in the honey for 2 to 3 minutes, turning gently.
- Serve warm, drizzled with the cooking honey.
How it was made : The recipe for *dulcia domestica* appears verbatim in Apicius: pitted dates stuffed with walnuts, pine nuts, or pepper, salted, then cooked in honey. The step of salting before honeying is a signature of Roman taste, fond of contrasts.
The contemporary twist : A touch of fleur de sel and some crushed pistachios at the end turns these dates into a mignardise worthy of a modern table, between East and Rome.
Avidius Cassius · Charactorium
