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–+ servings

Homemade Date Paste With Lemon for Full GAPS

Smooth date paste made from pitted dates, measured soaking water and fresh lemon juice. About 1½ cups for Full GAPS. Allow at least 15 minutes, plus any extra softening or cooling needed before the Ninja puree.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Minimum Soaking Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 1.5 cups
Course: Condiment, Full GAPS
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups pitted dates without syrup, flour coatings or other additions; check for pits
  • 1 cup water heated for soaking; reserve after draining and add back only as needed
  • 1 lemon juiced; seeds removed

Equipment

  • Heat-safe soaking bowl
  • Small saucepan
  • Strainer
  • Bowl for reserved liquid
  • Ninja BN801 food processor bowl
  • Measuring cups
  • Citrus juicer
  • Spatula
  • Clean covered jar or container

Method
 

  1. Check the measured pitted dates for remaining pits or hard fragments. Put them in a snug heat-safe bowl. Heat the measured water and use it warm for soaking.
  2. Add the warm water and lemon juice to the dates, arranging the fruit so the liquid reaches over it. Soak for at least 10 minutes, or longer until the dates are soft and easy to press apart.
  3. Drain the dates through a strainer into another bowl and reserve the lemon-water liquid. Cool both the dates and reserved liquid completely to room temperature before using the Ninja. Do not process hot liquids.
  4. Put the cooled softened dates into the Ninja BN801 food-processor bowl. Add a little reserved liquid and puree. Stop before opening or scraping the bowl and secure the lid before processing again. Add only enough of the reserved liquid to reach a smooth, thick, honey-like consistency, with no large date pieces. The whole cup of soaking water does not have to go into the finished paste.
  5. Transfer to a clean covered jar or container and refrigerate for up to 10 days. Use a clean spoon for portions and return the covered jar to the refrigerator. Expect about one and a half cups, depending on the dates and retained liquid.

Notes

Full GAPS after dates and lemon are introduced. Use dates without syrup, starch coatings or other additives. No dairy, egg or nut ingredients in this paste. Not sugar-free or No-Plant.
Timing is a minimum: five minutes preparation plus at least ten minutes soaking, at least fifteen minutes total. Firmer dates need longer; allow additional time whenever the fruit or liquid still needs to cool completely before processing. No hot liquid in the Ninja.
The measured water and lemon juice are for soaking. Drain and reserve that liquid, then blend only enough back into the dates for the smooth honey-like endpoint. Do not add an unmeasured fresh cup of water or another lemon.
Yield is about one and a half cups and varies with the dates and retained liquid. Measure finished paste when another recipe calls for it. No universal one-for-one baking substitution for honey is assumed.
Store covered in the refrigerator for up to ten days. Serve as a separate topping or use where a recipe calls for date paste.

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