Date and Walnut Balls with Carob Powder
raw-vegan
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© Julia (Yuliya) Velitschko for diet-health Date and Walnut Balls ready to eat, arranged on a plate.
Ingredients (for servings, )
| 14 | Dates, deglet nour (3.5 oz) |
| 11 oz | Walnuts, shelled |
| 2 tbsp | Carob powder (0.42 oz) |
Equipment
- coffee grinder, electric or food processor or shredder
- hand-held blender / immersion blender or blender
Type of preparation
- chop or grind
- food preparation without heating
- blend
- cool
Preparation
Wash the dates and finely purée using an immersion blender.
Grind the walnuts in an electric coffee grinder, food processor, or shredder.
Combine the ground walnuts with the carob powder, add the puréed dates, and mix well.
Shape the date and walnut mixture into balls and then serve immediately or refrigerate until serving.
Our date and walnut balls with carob powder are naturally sweet, very quick to prepare, and a nice healthy snack.
Dates: Combining dates with nuts makes for an ideal snack. The fructose contained in the dates gives you an energy boost that lasts longer thanks to the fat in the nuts. Dates provide many nutrients, and the fiber they contain stimulates digestion. The date variety Deglet Nour tastes especially sweet and has a honey-like flavor. This is why they work well for baking and preparing desserts, for example, this Raw Chocolate Cream with Carob Powder and Avocado.
Walnuts: English walnuts (also called Persian walnuts or Circassian walnuts, Juglans regia) are the most common type of walnut in Central Europe. Walnuts are used in a wide range of dishes and desserts and also to make walnut oil. Walnuts are the nuts that have the highest content of linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that is healthy for the heart. They are rich in tocopherols, a group of four different forms of vitamin E. They are also a good source of macroelements and trace elements.
Carob powder: Carob powder has a fruity, caramel flavor and is a good alternative to cocoa. Carob powder is obtained by grinding carob pods. Carob powder is very low in fat and free of the stimulating substances contained in caffeine. To obtain high-quality carob, only the middle parts of the pods are used since the ends are often too bitter. The middle parts are then coarsely chopped, roasted, and ground into St John’s-bread (carob powder). If it isn’t labeled as such, carob powder is not raw!
Storing dates correctly: Dried dates can be stored considerably longer than fresh dates. Whereas fresh dates need to be used within a few days, dry dates can be stored for up to a year. They should be kept in an aerated, dry place at cool temperatures. Storing them in a basement works best.
Alternative to walnuts: As an alternative to walnuts, you can also use hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, or almonds. If you decide to use almonds, it is best to soak them for 2–4 hours before using so that they are easier to digest.
Spices: If you want to add a little variety to the Date and Walnut Balls, you can add additional spices. Cinnamon and vanilla give the balls a sweeter flavor whereas cayenne pepper makes them taste spicy.
