Batheeth

EVENT: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP
THEME: #265 EMIRATI EATS
RECIPE: BATHEET
What is Batheeth?
Nothing can be so full of dates than this sweet, sugar free, easy to prepare Batheeth. Batheeth is a traditional Emirati dessert made from date paste, wheat flour, spices, and nuts. It is usually served in the ball form or in the crumb style. Its usually served with the traditional Gahwa or Arabic Coffee. Some call it a no cook cookie but to me it doesn’t look like a cookie at all. The texture is more like a wheat halwa that we make. Whatever, its called, hubby dear throughly loved it as its sugar free. The warm flavour of ginger powder, aromatic flavour of cardamom, the nuttiness from wheat flour, crunch from sesame seeds and nuts and the natural sweetness from the dates makes an exquisite dessert.
What are the Emirates?
Before I go into today’s recipe, first need to stress what the Emirates actually is. United Arab Emirates or UAE as its popularly referred to consists of seven places, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al Quwain. Each emirate is maintains its own independence to a large extend. The UAE is governed by the seven Emirs who appoint the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. Over time this quiet desert area has become one of Middle East’s most important economic hub.
Memories
I’ve had the opportunity to visit Dubai thrice and Abu Dhabi once. We made the trip from Dubai to Abu Dhabi to visit the famous Grand Mosque. Most aptly named, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. The architecture of the mosque design was inspired by PErsian, Mughal and Alexandrian mosque Abu al – Abbas al – Mursi Mosque of Egypt. The archways are Moorish, the dome and floorpan are inspired by the Badshahi Mosque of Lahore. Marble, gold, semi precious stones, crystals and ceramics have been used to build this mosque.
Emirati Cuisine
When one thinks of UAE, the first thing that comes to mind is Burj Khalifa, the souks, desert safari and international food. Especially Dubai, its a hot spot for street food to gourmet meals right from Asian to European and American outlets. When Kalyani suggested Emirati Eats as our theme for this week, immediately I began to research and found out that what I may have sampled as street food at the Marina beach is actually not authentic Emirati food but from other Middle Eastern countries. The knafeh I had so relished has its origins in Palestine.
Traditional Emirati Cuisine
Traditional Emirati Cuisine consists of a mixture of the Bedouins diet of meat and camel milk, fishermen’s diet which mainly consists of fish and the farmers diet which mainly was dates. A blend of these three diets, sprinkled with spices like cinnamon, cardamom, saffron, ginger, turmeric, that came from surrounding region is what the current traditional diet is. Traditionally meat, grains, and dairy are used with easy to grow vegetables like tomato and cucumber. Dried lemon too is used widely.
Check out what my friends have made for this theme:
- Poonam made the famous Middle Eastern dip Baba Ganoush
- I’m definitely trying out Karak Chai that Priya has made.
- Archana prepared the famous Mutabal – a Middle Eastern eggplant dip
- Kalyani has made the famous Machboos. Generally made using chicken but she has given it a whole new vegan avatar.
- Now that I have Preethi’s home made Bzar, Emirati Spice Blend, can use it to prepare some veggie versions of their curries and stews.
- Sujata prepared the famous and delicious Maamoul Cookies.
And you may want to check out these:
- Shorbat Adas – Middle Eastern Lentil Soup
- Manakeesh – famous Middle Eastern Bread
- Khabees – Bahraini breakfast
- Masoub – famous breakfast dish from Saudi Arabia
FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP GROUP
Our 265th theme is Emirati Eats. Kalyani who blogs at Sizzling Tastebuds, suggested that we make a dish that is from the Emirati Cuisine or something that is easily available in the Emirates but comes from the neighboring countries. If you are looking for vegan meals then you’ve got to check out Kalyani’s blog as she has a large collection of vegan friendly recipes. As for me I’ve bookmarked her Javvarisi Carrot Payasam and Okra Raita.
My Choice – BATHEETH
I was totally drawn to the traditional breakfast dishes which all so exciting right from the khameer, balaleet, chebab and raqaq. But these dishes will have to wait till the fasting month get over as I need to use eggs for some of them. Karak Chai was the easy recipe for me but my daughter opposed the idea.. “Mum, its so like our own masala chai”…this coming from a Dubai resident took me back to the drawing board. I didn’t want to make luqaimat as they are similar to the Swahili Kaimati. Hubby suggested I think of dates. My research took me to Chef In Disguise, and decided that Batheeth its going to be.
Ingredients Required for Batheeth
- Date Paste – since I don’t get date paste here, I made it at home. Remove the seeds from the dates, add some water and cook it over low heat till the dates become into a paste. Remember to stir the mixture constantly.
- Wheat Flour – whole wheat flour or atta which we normally use for roti or paratha.
- Ginger Powder
- Cardamom Powder
- Coarse nut powder of your choice – I used pistachio
- Sesame Seeds – to coat or sprinkle on top
- Desiccated Coconut – to coat – optional
- Melted Butter
Dietary Tip
- Suitable for Vegetarian
- Diabetic friendly
- For Vegan version replace butter with coconut oil or vegan ghee
Watch The Step By Step Video On How To Make Batheeth:

BATHEETH
Ingredients
- 250 g dates with seeds removed or ½ cup date paste
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup wheat flour
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- ¼ tsp cardamom powder
- ¼ tsp ginger powder
For Coating:
- some roasted sesame seeds
- coarse nut powder
- dessicated coconut
Instructions
PREPARATION OF THE DATE PASTE:
- Add deseeded dates and water to a heavy bottom pan.
- Heat over low heat and press the dates with a spatula.
- Mix and press till you get a paste.
- Allow the paste to cool a bit.
PREPARATION OF BATHEETH:
- Add wheat flour in a heavy bottomed pan. Place it over low heat.
- Roast the wheat flour, stirring all the time till it becomes golden brown.
- You will get a nutty aroma and smoke will begin to come out from the pan. That's when you remove the pan from the heat.
- Add the date paste.
- Return the pan on to the low heat.
- Mix and heat the mixture, mixing it till you get a soft mixture and flour has been mixed into the paste. This will take about 2-3 minutes.
- Add ginger and cardamom powder. Mix well.
- Add melted butter and mix well.
- Remove the pan from the heat.
- Allow the mixture to cool down a bit, just enough that you can roll the balls if you want to.
- Take about a tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a ball.
- Coat it with sesame seeds, coarse nut powder or coconut.
- Serve with Qahwa or Black Coffee.
Notes
- weigh the dates without the seeds.
- Be careful not to burn the flour, keep stirring it until it turns golden brown.
- can use almonds, walnuts, cashew nuts or a mixture of nuts.
- If you want to shape the mixture into balls, make sure you do so while the mixture is still warm.
Pin for Later:
A little request:
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962
27 Comments
priya vj
September 22, 2020 at 6:57 am
Mouthwatering presentation and setup . Totally loved this sugar free recipe with the goodness of dates and richness of dryfruits . Like the way you have rolled the ladoow in pistachio crumbs and til .
mayurisjikoni
September 22, 2020 at 8:33 pm
Thank you so much Priya. Both add a different taste.
Poonam Bachhav
September 22, 2020 at 7:04 am
My family loves dates and i often make dates and nuts ladoo. I just loved this dessert which uses dates paste and whole wheat flour with hints of ginger and cardamom . Best part is that you have used very little butter in this diabetic friendly dessert. Can’t wait to give it a try.
mayurisjikoni
September 22, 2020 at 8:33 pm
Thanks Poonam. It tastes very different from the usual date and nut laddoo we make, so go on try the recipe.
Renu
September 22, 2020 at 5:55 pm
Love, love love this recipe. Did not knew such dish existed. Me and my son will go crazy with this delicious bites. I like that it is sugar free too. Bookmarking this.
mayurisjikoni
September 22, 2020 at 8:25 pm
Thank you so much Renu, I too didn’t know it exists till I did research for Emirati Cuisine. I’m glad I tried out this recipe as I’m not using eggs for this Adhik month. If it were not for that I’d probably would have made the date crepes. Glad I made batheeth.
Swati
September 22, 2020 at 8:50 pm
First of all Mayuriji I loved this pic. with the rustic look!! this sounds a very nutritious dessert..and which is sugar free too. Festive season is here, will try this recipe .
mayurisjikoni
September 22, 2020 at 10:52 pm
Thank you so much Swati. Please do try the recipe and its very easy to make. I too am thinking of making them to give away as Diwali Presents.
kalyani
September 23, 2020 at 12:08 pm
That picture is a showstopper 🙂 wow wow … I had batheeth on my mind while I made the Emirati Platter, but chanegd it later to make it completely vegan .. I am now bookmarking this. and thank you for sharing the lovely memories of ur Dubai stay…
mayurisjikoni
September 24, 2020 at 10:57 pm
Thank you so much Kalyani. Please do try batheeth, am sure you’ll enjoy it.
Jolly
September 25, 2020 at 6:44 am
Can’t take my eyes off these small bites beautiful and mouthwatering. Batheeth looks to be a very simple but delicious recipe. This is drool worth trying.
mayurisjikoni
September 25, 2020 at 4:06 pm
Thank you so much Jolly, its a simple and very delicious recipe. Just have to make sure that the flour is dry roasted well.
Archana
September 25, 2020 at 7:55 pm
I am in love with these beauties. The fact that it uses dates and hubby can have them is most attractive.
Bookmarking it.
mayurisjikoni
September 25, 2020 at 8:28 pm
Thanks Archana, its a healthy sweet treat for diabetics.
Sujata Roy
September 28, 2020 at 5:41 am
Loved your presentation and click Mayuri. Date balls looks so beautiful and super tempting. Now I have one more recipe with dates to make for my hubby. Bookmarking it try soon.
mayurisjikoni
September 28, 2020 at 5:22 pm
Thank you so much Sujata and do try the recipe. Its a good after dinner or lunch treat without sugar. Hubby is enjoying them but now only one is left!
Preethicuisine
September 26, 2020 at 9:06 am
This Emirati dessert looks insanely delicious. I am yet to visit Dubai and Sharjah. Live these refined sugar free balls with goodness of ginger powder. Can snack on guilt free. Love the balls coated with sesame and pistachios. Beautiful click.
mayurisjikoni
September 26, 2020 at 4:26 pm
Thank you so much Preethi and yes they are totally a guilt free indulgence and healthy.
Vasusvegkitchen
September 27, 2020 at 8:48 pm
Loved your version batheeth di, the way you rolled it in sesame seeds, pistachios is just amazing. Hubby loved this batheeth a lot, I am going to try your version soon. Without any guilt we can have this sweet as it prepared using dates. Also loved reading about memories and other recipe collection 🙂
mayurisjikoni
September 28, 2020 at 5:25 pm
Thank you so much Aruna, I totally had to rely on my hubby’s and neighbor’s feedback before I put the recipe on the blog. Both of them loved Batheeth. As you can see I left the crumble too, but hubby says he loves the balls though both are same.
Brock Dinitto
April 23, 2021 at 10:46 am
Thanks for finally writing about > Batheeth – Mayuri's Jikoni butter, cardamom, dates, desiccated
coconut, emirati cuisine, Emirati dessert, ginger
powder, Middle East Cuisine, pistachio, sesame
seeds, wheat flour < Loved it!
Chef Mireille
April 15, 2023 at 3:44 pm
love this. It is kind of like the Middle Eastern version of a truffle with all the different coatings you can put on the outside. Can’t wait to try thsi!
mayurisjikoni
April 17, 2023 at 3:58 pm
Thanks Mireille. Enjoy batheeth when you make it.
Neha (My Culinary Expressions)
April 18, 2023 at 2:19 pm
Good to see your Interest in Emirati cuisine. Loved this healthy dessert. You have clearly laid out the steps and tips for making batheeth. I love to make dessert with dates. Shall try it over the weekend.
mayurisjikoni
April 18, 2023 at 8:13 pm
Thank you so much Neha. I too like desserts with dates. Am sure you will enjoy batheeth.
Seema Sriram
April 20, 2023 at 5:43 am
That mouth-watering photograph left me wanting the Arabic coffee with batheeth. Since this is fairly easy to make so will make some with coffee for the weekend.
mayurisjikoni
April 21, 2023 at 1:11 pm
Thanks Seema, enjoy them with or without coffee. I make them for Diwali to give to guests as most get tired of eating mithai.