Ranginak - Persian Engagement Dessert (Recipe #2)

We are inwards the midst of خرما پزان - khorma pazan season, a term used past times locals inwards the southward of Islamic Republic of Iran when the temperature reaches its peak of 100+ degrees Fahrenheit combined amongst an elevated humidity higher upwards lx percent, hence making outdoor activities unbearable. However, it's due to this intense oestrus that dates operate fully ripened/"cooked" piece on the tree too ready for harvest. This recipe is an ode to the traditional Khuzestani-style رنگینک ranginak, a delicious appointment too walnut dessert. This is an slow recipe that requires simply a piddling fighting of patience to materials the plump pitted dates amongst lightly toasted walnuts, adjust them onto a platter too slather them amongst a warm mixture of melted butter too flour infused amongst cardamom too cinnamon. The sweetness sense of savor of ranginak brings dorsum memories of home.

Dates select been a business office of the Western Farsi cuisine for hundreds of years. The palm dates grow southward along the Western Farsi Gulf too the warm regions of Ilam, Bushehr, Fars, Khuzestan, Sistan & Baluchestan too Kerman. To most people, pomegranates may last considered the national fruit of Islamic Republic of Iran but inwards my see dates are the national fruit of Khuzestan! Many years select gone past times since I lived at that topographic point but it's the many images too memories that yet run through my mind. I recollect Khoramshar's vast fields of appointment palms, the stacks of tin sack buckets filled amongst dates inwards modest shops, barely-ripe or half-ripe bunches of dates spread well-nigh on the woven mat too so of class my mother's appointment dessert.

Dates were a snack for when nosotros got dwelling from schoolhouse dorsum so too straightaway whether they are fresh, dried, large or small, dates volition operate perfectly amongst your hot loving cup of tea anytime of the day. They are so addictive that you'll last tempted to accomplish for a appointment amongst every sip too permit the sweetness of the dates mingle amongst the odor too slightly bitter sense of savor of the strong, freshly brewed unloosen leafage chai. Dates are naturally sweetness too substantially tastier than whatever other sweetness fruits too they come upwards inwards many dissimilar varieties too depending on when they are harvested dates may gain from unripe to partially ripe or fully ripe.

I wrote my mother's version of this recipe a long fourth dimension agone which is a fighting less fourth dimension consuming than this version. In that recipe, instead of stuffing the dates 1 past times one, you lot would combine them together too oestrus them through earlier you lot add together the butter too flour mixture since you lot don't involve to 1 past times 1 materials the dates amongst walnuts. My mother's approach to cooking was a no-fuss, no-frills agency of cooking. On an ordinary solar daytime she had to educate meals for her large identify unit of measurement too cooking was the exclusively affair that she did non similar to delegate at all.

Ranginak

Ingredients:
Makes well-nigh 24 pieces

1 pound dates, pitted
two cups all-purpose flour
1 loving cup (8 ounces) unsalted butter
1/2 loving cup walnuts, halves
iii tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
2-3 tablespoons pistachios, finely crushed

Method:

1. Toast walnuts inwards a modest dry out skillet for 3-5 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring oft until fragrant. take Stuff the toasted walnuts into the cavity of the dates.
2. In medium sized skillet toast the flour for well-nigh five minutes over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the edges plough a lite golden brown. 
3. Add the butter too gear upwards for 15-20 minutes over medium-low heat. Add the cinnamon, cardamom too sugar, stir well. Cook for 10 minutes over medium-low heat.
4. Spread 1/2 of the batter on the bottom of the serving platter too adjust the stuffed dates inwards a unmarried layer on the dish.
5. Spread the remaining batter over the dates, gently press down. Garnish amongst pistachios. Let cool for a brace of hours.

Serve amongst hot tea.

Enjoy!

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