Dates and Almonds Energy Bites

A few days more and the Holy month of Ramadan will commence. While we may be busy with our offerings and prayers, it is also advisable we keep our bodies nourished, eat right, stay healthy and work on time management (especially me!). That is one of the reason, I like to pre-make food that I can store in the freezer section of my refrigerator for a few days so that I don’t spend too much time in the kitchen shuffling through what should be offered for Iftar but instead devote my time for religious deeds. Here’s hoping that we do our best this year and also since Little A is now understanding what sharing really mean, we will be contributing small bits to our society, InshaAllah!

Decadent and elegant, one of the many things I love to offer in Ramadan are these Date and Almonds energy bites in varied flavors that are sumptuous and easy to throw together at the last minute. Date truffles do give a gracious twist to the usual dates we offer while breaking the fast and it is such a basic and healthy recipe since it is naturally sweetened, it reduces our cravings for sugar mainly after breaking the fast. These energy bites can also be used as a snack to keep children nourished, full and happy during the snack hours in school as well at home.

There are many possibilities you can try with these truffles such as rolling them in cocoa, nuts, melted chocolate or keep them plain. We love eating them with coconut as it gives a lovely earthy texture to them. And almonds blitzed with dates lend a beautiful nutty flavor while also bringing down the sweetness in the dates to seemly appropriate levels. This recipe is very forgiving and you can add as much or as less almonds you wish to suit your desired taste.

This is probably one of those recipes that many already know, however, did you consider making these with children in your house? They love to make these themselves and you should let them while you teach them the importance of Ramadan and the joy of sharing. Once you keep the mixture ready, it is all harmless to allow them to roll into charming energy balls which they sure are to admire as well as pop each in their mouth in the process. Later, let them make mini parcels to distribute amongst their friends, neighbors, community workers and under privileged. This won’t only make them understand the traditions of Ramadan but will slowly instill in them the sense of giving to the community.

Philips Food Processor will help you along in blitzing the dates and almonds to correct consistency, also accelerating your process and saving time once the dates are soft and ready to be churned.