☕ Dates with Arabic coffee
Dates with gahwa is the classic hospitality pair of the Gulf: three dates served beside a small cup of light Arabic coffee brewed with cardamom. The coffee is pale gold, thin and slightly bitter, balanced by the honey-sweet dates. It is offered to guests on arrival, at majlis gatherings, at weddings and to break the fast in Ramadan.
Diets
Allergens
None of the 14 major allergens in a typical recipe.
What it is made of
Recipe
Ingredients
- 500 ml water
- 2 tbsp lightly roasted Arabic coffee, ground
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- A few saffron threads (optional)
- 12 dates
Method
- Bring the water to the boil, add the coffee and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes.
- Add the cardamom and saffron and simmer 2–3 minutes more.
- Let it settle, then pour into a dallah or thermos, leaving the grounds behind.
- Serve in small cups with three dates per person.
How to make it lighter
- The coffee itself has almost no calories; the dates carry the energy.
- Stick to three dates per round rather than refilling the plate.
- Do not add sugar to the gahwa; the dates provide the sweetness.
History
Serving Arabic coffee with dates is a central custom of hospitality in the Arabian Peninsula; in 2015 Arabic coffee was inscribed on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage as a symbol of generosity.
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Values are estimates per 100 g for a typical recipe; home and restaurant versions vary. Diets and allergens are worked out from the ingredients of a typical recipe — always check with whoever cooked the dish. Not medical advice. Nutrition data: Me Nutrition dish database v13. How we count →