I am not sure if dates have ever been quite as popular as they are at the moment. They are being used as a substitute for raw and refined sugars quite a lot, like this delicious caramel and dark chocolate slice I made here or this amazing date and custard tart. Have you been cooking with dates?
I recently wrote a whole lot of recipes using dates including a few savoury ones like this Mexican Inspired Chicken with Dates. Doesn’t it look delicious?. Dates take on flavours very easily and their texture when cooked down forms a great paste. They are actually extremely delicious with spices and chilli. It’s sweet and spicy and flecked with chillies and all goes together so well. Add cheese or sour cream if you like.
Dates grow on palm trees and were thought to have originally grown along the banks of the Nile and Euphrates Rivers in Egypt and Mesopotamia, but are now grown on every continent on earth. 100 gm of dates is approximately 277 calories but along with the calories are much needed dietary fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
I have an Egyptian friend who enthrals me with tales of growing up in Egypt where the dates are huge and plump and are made into dozens of varieties of pastries.
So the dates fresh or dried for this recipe are melted down into the ultimate spicy, herby sweet yet savoury paste for this tender chicken. It is completely delicious with a fresh salsa containing lime and coriander.
It is totally perfect served in burritos as a wrap or rolled up and baked. You could also serve it with some Mexican inspired rice. You could even save it for the next day for lunch rolls or burritos, honestly it’s plain damn delicious. Just make sure you eat it with loads of chillies.
Look out for more date recipes
Mexican Inspired Chicken with Dates!
Ingredients
- 1 kg chicken thigh fillets boneless about 6
- 8 burritos 10 inch
Marinade
- 150 gram dates fresh or dried (3/4 cup) cut1/2 and de seeded
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano a nice strong Mexican or Greek one
- 3 Tablespoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 3 Tablespoons Chipotle chilli *Salsa
- 60 ml vinegar 3 Tablespoons, white or red wine
- 400 gram crushed tomatoes 1 tin including the juice
- 1 clove garlic
- 40 ml oil 2 Tablespoons
Salsa
- 2 each tomato diced into small cubes , 1 cup
- 50 gram Spanish onion diced
- 1/2 bunch coriander chopped
- 1 small avocado diced. diced.
- 5 gram salt and pepper
- 20 ml lemon Juice 1 Tablespoon
Sliced Jalepeno peppers *
- 100 gram cheddar cheese , grated
Instructions
- Set the oven to 190-200 C/ 400 F. Prepare an oven tray lined with baking paper.
- To start put the dates, spices, chipotle salsa, salt, vinegar and tomatoes into a medium pot and put on a low heat. Stir and squash the dates as they heat. They need to break down and purée into the sauce.
- Taste it and add salt if needed. Set aside to cool a bit .
- Make the salsa by adding the tomatoes, onions and coriander. and stirring together in a bowl. Set aside
- Put the chicken into the marinade and coat very liberally. Put each piece onto the tray and add a bit more marinade if there is some left. ( discard the remainder- don't use unless it is cooked due to the raw chicken)
- Bake the chicken for 15 - 20 minutes. Test one of the thighs in the thickest part to ensure they are cooked through. if a little pink put back into the oven for another 5-8 minutes.
- Serve the chicken with burritos and salsa and grated cheese.
Notes
Your photos are gorgeous. Dates are a very versatile ingredient.
Oh now this looks great, I have never thought of using dates with Mexican food, but now that it is in front of me it kinda makes sense 🙂
I know it does seem unusual but it is perfect, Matt
I get chicken and dates but Mexican? that’s inspired. 🙂
It really reminds me of a Middle Eastern or Moorish dish with those dates 🙂
I love dates to bits – especially the big, fat Medjool dates. But what a novel idea to use them in Mexican cooking! I wouldn’t have thought of that.
You would be surprised
The chicken looks so juicy and packed with flavor – can’t wait to try it!
Thanks Jen
Oh my this looks incredible! I have some dates hanging around that I need to use – now I have a recipe to use them in!
Thanks Cassandrea they do work very well
I’ve been eating dates as snacks a lot recently, but I’ve rarely seen them used in savory food! Love what you’ve done with them here.
We definitely need warming dishes like this during these terribly cold days. I love dates too and it’s true they have been around for thousands of years. I really love chicken with dates and coriander xx
Dates and chicken!
I have an open mouth now!
mexican recipes are anyway close to me..they are so flavourful. Add dates and i am all set.
🙂
#WeeklyChallenge for #FoodBloggers @ http://pieceofcerebrum.wordpress.com
They reallly combine well with spices, no really!
They really combine well with spices, no really!
Wouldn’t have thought to use dates in a dish like this. Looks so flavourful!
Thanks Amanda
Dates are really popular with me but unfortunately not my wife, will maybe try and sneak some in and change her mind 😉
Oh thats a shame Brian, they are just so beautiful and I love them
Gah, this looks sensational. This dish reminds of the time I had chocolate in a savoury dish for the first time ever and nearly died and went to heaven. I can’t wait to try this. I never got round to talking flour with you, but I think of you every Friday when we make our pizza bases x
Dates are great and this looks ah-mazing! What a winner of a dinner!
You had me at dates!
I love baking with them, haven’t ventured into the savoury side of date baking before but you’ve got me feeling very tempted.
Thanks for sharing some of your beautiful deliciousness over at FFF’s!
Have a gorgeous weekend x
I adore dates and use them quite often in the baking, but would have never thought of using them in marinade. What a refreshing idea! I think I can even use it as the pasta sauce :-))
Anything is on the table Angie!