Luxor Dates Stuffed with Almonds, Souk Snack
Soft pitted dates, filled with an almond or almond paste perfumed with orange blossom water, rolled in a hint of sesame seeds. A sweet, energy-packed bite, perfect to slip into a pocket.
Soft pitted dates, filled with an almond or almond paste perfumed with orange blossom water, rolled in a hint of sesame seeds. A sweet, energy-packed bite, perfect to slip into a pocket.
At the market of Luxor, dates are sold in gleaming pyramids, and I never set out on a tour without slipping a few into my satchel. The best ones are split to nest an almond, sometimes an almond paste scented with orange blossom water. One single date, and you hold out through the afternoon. The fellah who digs beside me will tell you the same: it is the sugar of the desert, the fruit that never betrays the traveler.
- •Fresh or soft dates — a handful (sweet base)
- •Almonds — one per date (crunchy heart)
- •Orange blossom water — a few drops (perfume)
- •Sesame seeds — a little (finish)
Luxor Dates Stuffed with Almonds, Souk Snack
Soft pitted dates, filled with an almond or almond paste perfumed with orange blossom water, rolled in a hint of sesame seeds. A sweet, energy-packed bite, perfect to slip into a pocket.
Why this dish? Local fruits were part of Carter's field diet, and the date is the king fruit of the Luxor market, sold in bulk on the stalls. Sweet, energetic, easy to carry, it is the natural snack for anyone traversing the Valley of the Kings under the sun.
At the market of Luxor, dates are sold in gleaming pyramids, and I never set out on a tour without slipping a few into my satchel. The best ones are split to nest an almond, sometimes an almond paste scented with orange blossom water. One single date, and you hold out through the afternoon. The fellah who digs beside me will tell you the same: it is the sugar of the desert, the fruit that never betrays the traveler.
Ingredients (period version)
- Fresh or soft dates — a handful (sweet base)
- Almonds — one per date (crunchy heart)
- Orange blossom water — a few drops (perfume)
- Sesame seeds — a little (finish)
Ingredients
- Medjool dates — 12 (base)
- Whole almonds or almond paste — 12 almonds or 80 g paste (filling)
- Orange blossom water — 1 tsp (perfume)
- Sesame seeds — 2 tbsp (coating)
Method
- Slit each date lengthwise and remove the pit.
- If using almond paste: knead it with a few drops of orange blossom water, shape into small logs.
- Fill each date with a whole almond or a bit of perfumed almond paste, then close.
- Roll the stuffed dates in lightly toasted sesame seeds.
- Serve as is or carry in a cloth — they keep for several days.
How it was made : The date palm has nourished Egypt since antiquity; fruits have been found in tombs, placed as offerings for the deceased's journey — Carter himself unearthed them. At the markets, dates were sold in bulk, and stuffing them with almonds or nuts was a common sweet, energy-dense and easy to transport in the heat.
The contemporary twist : Arrange them in a small 'treasure' box and name them 'Provisions for the Afterlife' — a nod to the food offerings Carter found intact in the tomb.
Sources : Claudia Roden, A Book of Middle Eastern Food, 1968
Howard Carter · Charactorium
