Here in Upstate New York, we occasionally find ourselves indulging in good old California dreaming. We know that our friends who live in California also have similar fantasies, so it probably doesn’t really have much to do with the actual place but with an imagined state of mind. Date-Walnut Shake is one result … or could be a cause of dreaming.
With vegan ice cream, this creamy and thick shake is vegan.
Yields 2½ cups
Serves 2
Time: 15 minutes
1 cup crushed ice (or more)
¼ cup walnuts, toasted
⅔ cup chopped pitted Medjool dates
½ cup boiling water
Pinch of ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1 cup vanilla or coconut ice cream, or vegan ice “cream” or sorbet
Put the dates into a small bowl and pour the boiling water over them. Set aside to soak for 10 minutes.
In a blender, crush ice cubes to yield at least 1 cup of well-crushed ice. (You may want a bit more if you prefer a thinner shake). Remove the crushed ice and set it aside. In the blender, whirl the walnuts, soaked dates and their soaking liquid, the cinnamon, and salt until a coarse thick paste forms. Add the ice cream and the crushed ice, and purée. You may need to poke and stir the mixture to get it moving freely. Blend until smooth. We like this shake so thick it will support a straw upright, but if you prefer a thinner shake, add more crushed ice or a little cold water.
Pour (or spoon) the shake into two glasses and serve immediately.
Whip up this shake when you want a quick, special treat for two. For a meal with retro appeal, serve Date-Walnut Shake as a beverage to go with one of our burgers (here). Or serve it as a frosty dessert after Quinoa Tabouli with Pomegranates and Pistachios or Mujadara.