Chocolate Date Truffles with Miso
I love the idea of using dates but seldom do. Dates are shelf stable, fairly easy to find and one of few common sweeteners that come with nutritional benefits like fiber and antioxidants. Plus, the date vendor at the farmer’s market I go to is a really nice guy.
Yet, too often using dates results in something that is so sweet it gives me a slight headache and a need for a nap. I thought about how I could reverse engineer this. What savory and neutral ingredients could I use to tamp down and balance the sugar?
Enter Chocolate Date Truffles with Miso, which receive balance from toasted walnuts, sesame seeds and Shared Cultures Butter Bean Miso. Many think of miso as solely a savory ingredient, but this recipe flips that notion on its head. Simple to make but rich in flavor, these truffles are perfect for hikes, traveling or as an afternoon snack.
INGREDIENTS
¾ c (215g) Medjool dates, pits removed, packed
½ c (60g) toasted walnuts
½ c (40g) cocoa powder, plus extra for dusting
¼ c (33g) toasted sesame seeds
2 -3 Tbsp Shared Cultures Butter Bean Miso
DIRECTIONS
Place the Medjool dates in a food processor and blend until they form a sticky paste.
Add the walnuts and cocoa powder. Process until the mixture is smooth and the walnuts are finely ground. A few larger pieces here and there is fine.
Add sesame seeds and 2 Tbsp of miso to the mixture. Process until the sesame seeds are incorporated and crushed a bit. Taste and add more miso if you desire a stronger flavor.
Using a small spoon or simply your hands, portion out the mixture and roll into balls. Use your judgment here as to how big you would like them to be. 1” in diameter is a good starting point.
Place a couple spoonfuls of cocoa powder into a shallow dish. Roll each truffle in the powder to coat evenly.
Place the truffles in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to firm up.
Enjoy the truffles chilled or at room temperature. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Yield: 15-20 truffles, depending on your size preference
NOTES
You can use other dates for this recipe but Medjools were chosen specifically because they are so moist. If you use other kinds of dates you may need to add some binding material like tahini or reduce the amount of cocoa powder.
I like to keep it simple and roll the truffles in cocoa powder but there are plenty of other things that you could use like: shredded coconut, toasted sesame seeds, crushed cereal or crushed pistachios.