These little balls were part of the Middle Eastern style dessert I served on my birthday party. They are incredibly easy to make, require no baking or cooking, are gluten-free, vegan, sugar-free (well almost), dairy-free and most important: delicious! The only two real ingredients are walnuts and dates. Those two are made into a paste in the food processor, rolled into balls and (optionally) rolled in icing sugar. Their taste reminded me of marzipan but with a walnut taste. The dates make the balls moist and sweet but not heavy on the date taste. Will try making them with almonds next time, see if it’s even closer to marzipan.
As this is a recipe that doesn’t require any baking or cooking, I’m sending it over to Grace of A Southern Grace for her event Beat the Heat.
Halawa tamr or date and walnut balls (from the Dutch edition of A New Book of Middle Eastern Food by Claudia Roden)
250 g (9 oz) walnuts
250 g (9 oz) dates, stoned
icing sugar (optional)
Process the walnuts and dates in a food processor until they are a paste. Roll into small balls and roll through icing sugar if desired.
btw ever seen such a short recipe?
lindakovacevic 
I love dates!! They must taste divine!! And no, I’ve never seen such a short recipe; they must’ve taken you exactly 5 minutes to make (including cleanup).
They look delicious!
Claudia Roden’s works are great!
Cheers,
Rosa
It can’t get much more simple than that! And with dates and walnuts, i’m sure the taste is great, and the non baking is a plus with all the heat now!
Walnuts and dates are a great match. That’s definitely the shortest recipe I’ve come across. too!
I didnt know she did a booh strictly on the Middle East.Great recipe. I would like to try with Almond as well.
these are so unique and they sound heavenly! thanks again for sending your entry my way. 🙂
i m sure these are yummy. i tried once making something like these but using dates, peanuts and cinamon they were good too.
Oh I absolutely love short and easy recipes like this. Must give it a try!
This is great Linda. I can’t believe how simple it is too. Just wish I had this recipe when I had some friends over on Sunday 😦
I love dates and its funny–from the photos, I owuld never know how “simple” the ingredient list is for this dessert. They look delicious!
How wonderful- I love recipes that only have 2 or 3 ingredients and taste divine! They sound much healthier than the average treat, too. 🙂
Thanks for this recipe, and visiting my blog. Looking forward to your entry in red:)
Are they really that easy? OMG, thank you, Linda!
I recently had a really delicious dessert that was very similar to this, except the dates had been processed separately and whole pistachio nuts were rolled into the mixture afterward. Either way, SO good! Thanks for the recipe.
Walnuts and dates?!!! sounds like a winner combo mmm hmmmm
thanks so much for dropping by my blog and yes.. I’ll have to definitely do this month’s challenge… I AM SO EXCITED
you’ve been soo busy.. just looking at some of the stuff you’ve created lately makes my mouth water mmmmm…
These are a great idea! You had me at, “like marzipan but with a walnut taste.” Delicious.
ooh yes this combination is really lovely isn’t it? dates and walnuts are my fave additions to oats for a nourishing, satisfying brekkie!
Linda, this is a great idea! Very easy, and I’m sure, very tasty.
Dates and walnuts? I’ll love to give it a try.
Btw, happy belated b’day Linda.
This looks amazing, and so easy!