MELÍFERA WITH 13TH CENTURY RECIPE FOR DATE AND HONEY QURSAS

Nectar
Photo from: Johanna Sörensen

nectar flowers; flowers containing nectar used by bees to make honey. [Ares. “Comidas.” 1994:127; and Silva. 1994:173:174]

DATE AND HONEY QURSAS ADAPTED FROM HUICI’S TRANSLATION OF ANÓN AL-ANDALUS #466 DULCE DE DÁTILES Y MIEL, p 255

Ingredients

1 lb dates

1 lb honey

Chewy Date and Honey Sweeties
Photo by: Lord-Williams

¼ c almonds

¼ c walnuts

canola oil

Preparation

Remove pits from dates. Pound them in a mortar. Put them in a pot and cover with water. Slowly bring to a boil. Add honey. Stir until a thick syrup results. Add coarsely chopped nuts.  

Pour the mixture it over a heat resistant surface greased with canola oil. With it you make qursas (round cakes). Cut it with a knife in big or little pieces.

As the mixture was so soft, the first time balls were formed like bonbons.

ANOTHER INTERPRETATION OF THE RECIPE BY THE MEDIEVAL SPANISH CHEF

Qursas with Almond Flour
Ever So Hummy!

Photo by: Lord Williams 

Add ¾ c almonds and ¾ c walnuts to the date and honey mixture in the food processor. Fold

 ¼ c almonds and ¼ c walnuts into the mixture. Cooked to 200ºF/166ºC.

Grind ½ raw almonds into flour. Scattered some of this over a smooth surface and on a rolling pin.

Let the mass cool. Then roll it out and cut into squares. Sprinkle with flour.

  

Of the two adaptions, the latter is the richer and tastier.

ANÓN AL-ANDALUS #466