Date and Nut Pastries

(pic : foodrepublic)

Ingredients :

450 gr / 4 cups plain (all-purpose) flour
225 gr / 1 cup unsalted (sweet) butter, cut into cubes
45 ml / 3 tsbp rose water
4-5 tbsp milk
icing sugar for sprinkling

For the filling
225 gr dates, pitted and chopped
175 gr walnuts, finely chopped
115 gr blanched almonds, chopped
50 gr pistachio nuts, chopped
half cup water
half cup sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon


How To Make :

1. Preheat the oven to 160 Celsius Degrees or 325 Fahrenheit Degrees. First make the filling ; place the dates, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, water, sugar, cinnamon in a small pan and cook over a low heat until the dates are soft and the water has been absorbed.

2. Place the flour in large bowl and add the butter, working it into the flour with you fingertips.

3. Add the rose-water and milk and knead the dough until it's soft.

4. Take walnut-size lumps of dough. Roll each into a ball and hollow with your thumb. Pinch the sides.

5. Place a spoonful of date mixture in the hollow and then press the dough back over the filling to seal.

6. Arrange the pastries on a large baking sheet. Press to flatten them slightly. Make little dents with a fork on the pastry. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Do not let them change color or the pastry will become hard. Cool slightly and then sprinkle with icing sugar and serve.

Makes 35-40
Source : Lucia Perez