Joy the Baker

Spicy Lemon Date Spread

by 98 Comments

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Have you ever tried to peel dates?

Yea… me neither.  Except I totally tried.  It was hard. It was futile.

Did you know you’re not supposed to peel dates? You’re not.  All it takes is one text to a friend.. and you’ll know for sure.

Texting with sticky fingers. It’s just real.  No biggie.

dates

I love this spread.  It’s bold.  It’s how I want to live my whole life:  sweet, spicy, tart, and good on everything.

Yea… that’s exactly how I want to live my life.  Most days.  Most days are tart days.

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This spread is flavored with lemon zest, fresh grated ginger, earthy cumin, and spicy chili flakes.  There’s also a load of fresh lemon juice.  Just lovely.  It packs a punch.

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You saw the closeup.  This is a less close up.

I just can’t resist.  He’s all fluff.

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This spread gets cooked down and pureed.

This is the cooked down part of the process.

Maybe I ate a hearty amount of spread just like this?  So what.  Stop staring.

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I served this spicy sweet spread on warm garlic naan. It was divine!  It was piled on.  It was double dipped.  It was alluringly spicy and irresistibly sweet.  This spread would also be incredible on a turkey sandwich, or as a thick sauce with roasted chicken or pork, and smashed potatoes.

Think big! Live big too!

Spicy Lemon Date Spread

adapted just slightly from Party Like A Culinista

Print this Recipe!

makes about 2 cups of spread

2 1/2 cups pitted, chopped dates (dates don’t get peeled)

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

2 cups water

1 tablespoon lemon zest

2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger (ginger gets peeled)

1 teaspoon ground cumin

scant 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon sea salt

warm naan or pita bread

extra virgin olive oil for serving

Place a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add chopped dates, lemon juice, water, zest, ginger, and spices to the pan.  Simmer until almost all of the water is evaporated.  The dates will begin to break down, and the simmering mixture will resemble a very thick stew., about 30 minutes.

Remove from the heat and allow to cool for a few minutes.

Place mixture in the bowl of a food processor fit with a blade attachment. Puree mixture until smooth.  That’s it!  Serve it up.

Spread is delicious warm and at room temperature.  Spread will last, covered in the fridge, for up to 5 days.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mariam Zeeshan

    This is glorious… I love this with crackers and Brie. I would love to make a few bottles as gifts for my friends is there any way I can preserve this for longer?

    Reply

  3. Sam

    Has anyone tried having peanut butter with this date spread? It’s a fantastic sub for jam/jelly!! SO GOOD. Also dates simply stuffed with peanut butter are delicious.

    Reply

  4. Katie

    I made this last weekend for a party and received a lot of compliments! This week I’ve mixed the leftovers in oatmeal (yum!). But the best discovery has been spreading this on toasted whole grain bread with some tahini. It is like a delicious, grown up PB&J. I will definitely be making several more of these until this spread runs out. Great recipe – thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  5. Amy

    Joy, thank you so much for this. I made this yesterday night for a potluck I was hosting and it’s perfect on warm naan. I’m so glad there are leftovers…! Very, very delicious with blue cheese.

    Reply

  6. Annie

    This stuff is amazing! Made it as an appetizer tonight, followed by a Moroccan-style chicken dish and orange + black olive salad. We love the spicy kick!

    Reply

  9. Erin

    I made this and I am totally addicted to it! I have been eating it on baked chickpea pancakes (I can’t eat gluten) and it is fabulous. Thank you so much for the recipe!

    Reply

  10. shannon

    This sounds so awesome, even though I can’t quite imagine how it must taste–I don’t have much experience with dates (always went for figs instead). I love all of the other ingredients so much that I obviously have to make this now.

    Reply

  12. Paula

    I made this yesterday as a belated gift for a couple coworkers who gave me gifts for Christmas. I’m not sure it’s going to make it out of my refrigerator. I could down a cup of this in one go. I’m not saying my digestive tract would be happy about such quantities of dates, but my mouth sure would be.

    Reply

  14. Lisa

    YUM!
    that sounds fantastic!
    i think i’ll use an immersion blender at the end though! less messy!
    thanks again as ALWAYS for the great recipes!
    happy new year!
    xx

    Reply

  16. Audra

    Good new/ bad news review.

    Good news- almost no dishes to wash because I used the pot for the mixing bowl and used my immersion blender in place of food processor.

    Bad news- don’t lick your immersion blender like you do your mixer paddle no matter how super awesome this spread is! Just don’t do it- you’ll be tempted.

    Reply

  19. Jessica @ The Desert Abode

    I’ve never thought of using dates for anything other than eating! We always get some locally this time of year from Sphinx Date Ranch in Phoenix. Might have to try this…

    PS-I made your Honey Cranberry Cornmeal Quick Bread for edible Christmas gifts the second year in a row. It’s always a hit!

    Reply

  20. Bluebirds and Butterflies

    Hi Joy,
    I love dates soooo much! I am looking forward to making this recipe! I just discovered your blog and will follow you and see what great things you come up with in the kitchen. I am looking forward to your book! Hope you have a great Christmas! xoxo Kim

    Reply

  22. Jess

    That is going to go so well with the cold turkey on Boxing day. They have to be some of my favourite spices and flavours. A little tip if I may – if you can get hold of them use Medjool dates, they are in a league of their own. I put together a Moroccan Spiced Green Tomato Chutney earlier in the year ready for the cold Christmas turkey, but I think I might have to try this too – where do you come up with such exciting recipes, Joy!

    Reply

  26. Shushmi

    when I read the title for this I thought it was a Spicy Lemon spread for a date…as in the perfect spread for a date. my mind is clearly not on the ball! lol.

    Reply

  32. Katerina

    I loved the bit about sticky texting!
    I love how you put the “less close-up” pictures up too! It’s all so “real life” as you call it (I call it human!) I enjoy reading your posts and listening to your podcasts. Hope your book becomes a big success!

    Reply

  37. Erin

    Oh this sounds perfect! It would be very good on a the fennel scented, sweet paratha that my sister posted a while back. Your cat is actually making me drool almost as much of the food. SO FLUFFY!

    Reply

  46. Ann P.

    I love garlic naan, but with this spread, I am sure it’s even better! you did such a great job with this, and I can’t wait to try it and put it on all those things you suggested–on a sandwich?! sublime :)

    Reply

  49. Charlene Joy

    Hey Joy, I just want to say thanks. Thanks for sharing all of these recipes with us. After so many years of looking for the perfect red velvet, looking for someone to make me the perfect red velvet. You blessed me with a tried and true recipe. Icing and all. Trying a new recipe is like borrowing that gorgeous dress from you bff. It changes things up for a little while.

    Happy Holidays

    Charlene J.

    Reply

  50. Megan

    I always text my mom to find out about what’s going on with foods. I’m totes glad we have people to text about foods that are all crazy.

    This looks tasty and fun and your cat is a fluffball! Cute.

    Reply

  53. Ashley @ Cooking for one

    In my opinion, anything served with garlic naan is almost undoubtedly delicious. But this spread sounds awesome! Dates are so sweet that they must taste great when paired with tart lemon flavor. Great idea! I wish I could pack this up and take some on the plane with my tonight.

    Reply

  57. DessertForTwo

    This sounds so interesting! I’d love to try it! We’re big date people in my family.
    That table you’re shooting on: is it right underneath a sky light?? You have the most amazing light right there!

    Reply

  58. Mallory

    Oh I laughed at the peeling dates part! I feel your pain, I didn’t realize I bought shelled edamame beans the other day and I had to shell an entire bag. Anyways this spread looks so good.

    Reply

  60. Karen @ Mom in the Muddle

    You crack me up. Peeling dates. It reminds me of peeling grapes. I hope you never have to peel grapes. Don’t. It’s not necessary. Ever. I’m so glad dates don’t have to be peeled or I wouldn’t make this. This looks delicious.

    Reply

  64. Eliz. K

    1– Have you ever eaten dates as a snack? I love them! (Though when I was in college, I had friends asking if I was eating cockroaches– eww!)

    2) Do you make your naan??? I love naan and have wondered how to make it!

    Reply

  68. Kathryn

    I’m so used to eating dates whole that I would never have thought to make them into a spread let alone combine them with such wonderful flavours. I love how it’s sweet and spicy and lemony all at the same time!

    Reply

  71. Emily

    I’m not going to lie, when I first read this I thought it was Spicy Lemon ‘Date’ Spread. Like something to eat on a date to kick it up a notch. Which actually, now that I think about it, hell yeah this is total date food.

    In general I’ve really been into spreads a lot lately. Perhaps it’s the stress of everything and the fact that fingerfoods are the best things to eat all the time. But have you tried Nigella Lawson’s Red Kidney Bean Dip from Feast? It’s like this, but instead of dates, red kidney beans and instead of lemon – limes! It’s pretty glorious and feels healthy. Win-win!

    Reply

  72. Eggton

    Joy, where’d you get that amazing green chest that you sometimes take photos on? It’s beautiful. Have you had it for long? I struggle so with backdrops. Most of my Christmas list is like “a white shudder from an old house,” “a wheathered piece of wood, pink” and my family is like “come again?”

    Reply

  75. Kirstin

    I’m still kinda stunned that you got your cat a couple months after I got mine, and he’s SOOO much bigger than mine! Not that I’m calling Jules fat or anything… no, I swear I’m totally not. Maybe my cat is just oddly small, or less fluff? Who knows, cats rule.

    Reply

  76. Patty Tomaskovic

    OMG! Just in the knick of time…..I was trying to come up with a new idea for a dip or spread for the Holidays! This sounds so delicious! Wonder if it would work well coating a piece of Boursin or Brie? Any thoughts?

    Thanks Joy, and you have my wishes for a joyeous & blessed Holiday to you and your Family!

    Reply

  81. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga

    It looks fabulous. And you know who would love love this? My four year old! She loves dates and also eats lemons out of my husband’s water like they are orange slices. And spicy things…she’d be all over this even more than me :) But I would be all over it too, of course!

    Reply

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