Date and Honey Balls with Sesame
Small, soft balls of mashed dates, bound with honey and rolled in toasted sesame: an ancient confection, energizing and comforting, halfway between a strengthening remedy and a treat.
Small, soft balls of mashed dates, bound with honey and rolled in toasted sesame: an ancient confection, energizing and comforting, halfway between a strengthening remedy and a treat.
When I hid my son Horus in the reeds, far from Seth's gaze, I had to feed him what makes one strong. So I pounded the dates of the palm into a dark paste, bound it with honey—that honey which my magic also knows to lay on wounds—and rolled it all in golden sesame. Take some when the body is weary, mortal: it is the sweetness of a watching mother, and it is worth many ointments.
- •Ripe pitted dates — a good handful (sweet base)
- •Honey — a drizzle (binder)
- •Toasted sesame seeds — a measure (coating)
- •Cinnamon or cumin (depending on temple availability) — a pinch (flavor)
Date and Honey Balls with Sesame
Small, soft balls of mashed dates, bound with honey and rolled in toasted sesame: an ancient confection, energizing and comforting, halfway between a strengthening remedy and a treat.
Why this dish? Isis is the great nourisher, she who nurses and cares for the child Horus hidden in the Delta marshes. These restorative sweets, rich in honey—reputed as a tonic and healing agent in medical papyri—evoke the gentle remedies a mother prepares to sustain her little one.
When I hid my son Horus in the reeds, far from Seth's gaze, I had to feed him what makes one strong. So I pounded the dates of the palm into a dark paste, bound it with honey—that honey which my magic also knows to lay on wounds—and rolled it all in golden sesame. Take some when the body is weary, mortal: it is the sweetness of a watching mother, and it is worth many ointments.
Ingredients (period version)
- Ripe pitted dates — a good handful (sweet base)
- Honey — a drizzle (binder)
- Toasted sesame seeds — a measure (coating)
- Cinnamon or cumin (depending on temple availability) — a pinch (flavor)
Ingredients
- Pitted Medjool dates — 250 g (base)
- Honey — 1 tbsp (binder)
- Sesame seeds — 60 g (coating)
- Ground cinnamon — 1/2 tsp (flavor)
Method
- Toast the sesame seeds dry in a pan until golden and fragrant, set aside.
- Pound or blend the dates into a thick paste with the honey and cinnamon.
- Form small balls by hand (wet hands if the paste sticks).
- Roll each ball in the toasted sesame to coat thoroughly.
- Let firm up for 30 minutes in a cool place before serving.
How it was made : Egyptians loved sweets made from dates and honey, the only sweeteners of the time (sugar cane was unknown). Medical papyri, such as the Ebers Papyrus, recommended honey and dates for strengthening and healing. Sesame, especially present in the Greco-Roman period, provided a welcome oily and toasted touch.
The contemporary twist : Sprinkle with a mix of black and golden sesame seeds for a visual "temple jewel" contrast.
Sources : Papyrus Ebers (Egyptian medical treatise, modern translations) · William J. Darby, Paul Ghalioungui, Louis Grivetti, "Food: The Gift of Osiris" (Academic Press)
Isis · Charactorium
