3 Easy Ayurvedic Date Recipes - Dessert or Snack!

3 Simple Ayurvedic Date Recipes 

Explore three easy Ayurvedic recipes that can be created from Medjool dates as a snack, a dessert, or a meal. These include: Tahini Stuffed Date Boats, Pecan Pie Bites and Ayurvedic Date Shakes!

Dates are long revered as an Ayurvedic superfood. They are high in antioxidants and said to nourish our “ojas,” our immune boosting life force. Considered Sattvic in nature, dates make a delicious, tonifying sweet that is energetically grounding and promotes purity and peace of mind.

Research suggests dates boast many health benefits. Ayurvedically speaking, they help combat vata imbalances such as anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and lack of grounding. 

Benefits include:

• High in antioxidants such as polyphenols, carotenoids and lignans which manage risk of chronic disease

• Helps reduce inflammation

• Good source of fiber 

• Boosts brain health

• Contains bone-friendly minerals such as phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and potassioum 

Sources: Healthline, BBC Good Food

It is no surprise that our modern ways of living and a pervasive culture of convenience can make it easy to grab sweets that lack substance, nutrition or sustained energy. 
The following three recipes are quick, easy and nourish the doshas with more physical and emotional vitality. Hope you enjoy! 

Tahini Stuffed Dates aka Date Boats!

Serves: 2 {makes 10 boats}

Time: 5 Minutes

Ingredients

•  5 Dates split with pits removed

• 1-2 Tablespoon of Tahini

• 1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup

• 1 cap full of Almond Extract or ½ teaspoon

• Almonds (or Walnuts or Pecans)
  
  
  

How to make it

1. Cut dates in half and remove pits

2. In a small bowl mix together the tahini, vanilla extract and maple syrup. Consistency is to your preference. For a less gritty texture, add a little bit of water or oil/ghee. 

3. Spoon small amounts into the center of each date

4. Top with an almond (preferably blanched or with skin removed). 

5. Enjoy!
   
   
   

Vata: Mix a dab of ghee into your creation for extra grounding.

Pitta: Dust with coconut flakes on each date boat

Kapha: Enjoy in moderation, this is sweet, heavy and grounding. Experiment with walnuts. 

Pecan Pie Bite

Time: 1 Minute

This is my favorite dessert snack hack. I love these pecan pie bites when I’m out on a day of hiking, have a sweet tooth or need a little pick me up in the afternoon energy slump. It’s simple, takes no time, and really does taste like a pecan pie! 

Ingredients

• Dates

• Pecans

• Imagination :) 

How to make it

1. Cut dates in half and remove pits

2. Put a pecan in the center of a halved date

3. Bite in and enjoy! 
   
   
   

Ayurvedic Almond Date Shake

Serves: 2

Time: 5 minutes + optional soaking overnight

Kitchen tools: Blender / vitamix / magic bullet

The almond date shake is a classic go-to for a grounding yet energizing ojas building tonic. Ideal when the nervous system needs a reboot. This recipe is a *slight* adaptation of Dr. Lad’s Date + Almond Shake.

Ingredients

• 6 dates

• 10 almonds

• 1 cup of milk of choice warmed (I usually go oat)

• Splash or cap full of vanilla extract

• Pinch of cardamom

• Pinch of cinnamon

Prep

Soak the dates in 1-2 cups of water overnight (save the date water, you’ll use this!)

Soak 10 almonds overnight in separate dish. After soaking pinch the skins off.

Note: you can expedite or skip this prep by putting the dates and almonds in hot water for a few minutes.

How to Make It

1. In a blender add the soaked dates, date water, almonds with skins removed, vanilla, cardamom and cinnamon.

2. Warm the milk on medium heat in a pan

3. Pour milk into blender

4. Blend all ingredients

5. Serve and enjoy!

For an extra immunity boost: I love to add the adaptogen ashwagandha, which is boasts many benefits which include improved stress response, elevated mood and concentration, increased stamina said to be the vitality of horse.

Paavani Ayurveda makes a great ashwagandha supplement here. You can get 10% off your order with my affiliate code: GABY10. They also have a great write-up of the benefits on their blog.

Un-Beet-able Hummus

Beet and chickpea hummus is one of the easiest things to make! I’ll often spread it on a piece of warm toast for breakfast or toss a scoop into a Buddha Bowl. Yes, I’ll even have it as an afternoon snack, despite Ayurveda not being the biggest fan of snacking in general.

Beets are a root vegetable packed with essential nutrients such as: fiber, folate (vitamin B9), manganese, potassium, iron, and vitamin C. Health benefits include improved blood flow and lowering blood pressure. As a root vegetable, beets are grounding and can help pacify Pitta and Vata Doshas when cooked.

Chickpeas are also packed with nutrients and are a rich, plant-based protein for Vegetarians. They support blood sugar control and are often a good ingredient in the diabetic diet.

Serves: 6

Time: 30 min (20 minutes bake / 10 minutes make)

Kitchen Tools: Blender, Vitamix or Magic Bullet

Ingredients

• 1 cup of chickpeas soaked is preferred (alternatively you can use a can of chickpeas)

• 1 small to medium sized beet

• Approximately 1/4 cup of organic unrefined olive oil (you may add a little more or less depending on desired consistency)

• 1 tablespoon of tahini

• 2-3 cloves of garlic - chopped

• Juice from 1/2 a lemon squeezed

• A pinch of cumin

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. If you are not using canned beans, soak chickpeas either overnight, or for 30 minutes prior to cooking. Rinse in at least 2 changes of water. Soaking the legumes decreases their drying properties and makes them easier to digest.

2. Turn the oven on to 400 degrees. Peel the beet and chop it into small pieces. Toss the pieces in a sprinkle of high heat oil such as avocado, safflower and sunflower. Spread it out on a baking sheet and place in the oven for approximately 20 minutes or until the beet softens.

3. In a blender, add chickpeas, beets, olive oil, lemon juice, tahini, salt, pepper and cumin. Blend until desired consistency. If you like your hummus a smoother texture, add a few tablespoons of water or a little more oil.

4. Taste and enjoy!

Modify for your Dosha

Vata: The good news? Chickpeas (along with mung dal) tend to be easier for most people to digest. The bad news? Well they can aggravate any Vata imbalances. That said, each body is different, so you may experiment with this recipe and simply notice how you feel. For the Vata folks, consider less chickpeas and more beets in this recipe. When cooking the beets, nix safflower oil and opt for avocado oil. Top with a little ghee or olive oil, with can help with grounding.

Pitta: Overall, this is a fantastic option for Pitta folks. Air on less garlic rather than more.

Kapha: Eat this in moderation, as many of the ingredients are grounding. Use a little less olive oil and substitute with extra tablespoons of water. Toss in an additional pinch of cumin.

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Sources:

8 Great Reasons to Include Chickpeas in Your Diet via Healthline

Ojas Energy Balls

If you are craving a nutrient-rich energy kick in your diet, try this Ayurvedic recipe for Ojas Balls. This is a power-packed snack to increase immunity and vitality. According to Ayurveda, “Ojas” is our most refined by-product of digestion. It is the force that supports immunity and promotes longevity. Use this recipe as inspiration, and feel free to modify the ingredients to your taste.

Time: 15 Minutes

Serves: 10 Ojas Balls 

Ingredients:

• 10 dates

• 1/2 cup raw almonds

• 1/4 cup shredded coconut

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

• 1/4  teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/4  teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon shatavari powder

• 1 teaspoon ashwaganda

• 1 tablespoon raw honey

• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

• Handful of cacao nibs

• Splash of almond milk

• Pinch of Himalayan salt

*Ingredient quantities may differ from batch to batch. Improvise depending on your needs. Spice it to your taste preference.

Directions:

1. In a food processor or high-powered blender, combine dates, almonds, and coconut. The consistency will be very thick. If you are having trouble blending, use a splash or two of almond milk to soften the mixture. One alternative is to pre-soak the dates in almond milk for 10 minutes.

2. Add all spices. Taste to preference.

3. In a pan, toast coconut flakes until you can smell their aroma and the color is a light brown.  

4. Take your Ojas ball mixture and using your hands, form into small 1-inch balls. 

5. Roll each ball in the toasted coconut flakes until the surface is completely covered and voila! Enjoy your Ojas balls!

Original recipe written by yours truly for Basmati Publications.