Date Shake {Summer Sips Series}

This week, I’d like for us to tip our hats to a tasty shake in honor of the holy month of Ramadan. This year marks my very first solo attempt as a newlywed to prepare the elaborate food spread to break fast. Aside from some failed food experiments, I have managed to perfect a drink that ties a traditional iftar element, the date, with the perfect blend of sweet, subtle lusciousness in milkshake form.

There are two versions to appease health nuts and ice cream junkies alike. I personally fall into the unhealthier category, but calories don’t count in Ramadan. (That was a joke. They totally count.)

Shake #1 (Ice Cream Aficionados- makes 2 drinks)

Ingredients:

2 cups chilled milk (2% or whole)
3 tablespoons of sliced almonds (or 5-10 almonds whole)
6 soft medjool dates, deseeded, chopped
2 scoops vanilla ice cream (Haagen Daz is perfection)

How-To:

1. In a blender, crush 5-6 cubes of ice.
2. Add the dates, almonds and 1 cup of the chilled milk to the blender. Blend until the dates are well combined and smooth.

3. Add the remaining milk and vanilla ice cream. Blend until frothy.
4. Taste and adjust consistency by adding milk to thin the shake or ice-cream to thicken/sweeten it.
5. Pour into glasses (or mason jars) and serve with a straw for easier drinking. Serve cold!

Shake #2 (Health Nuts- makes 2 drinks)

Ingredients:

½ cup dates (pitted/deseeded ~5-6 whole dates)
½ cup plain yogurt
½ cup milk (2%-whole)
5-6 almonds (try the cinnamon raisin variety from Costco!)
2 tablespoons honey

How-To:

1. In a blender, crush 5-6 cubes of ice.
2. Combine all of the ingredients (dates, yogurt, milk, almonds and honey) and blend until the mixture is smooth.
3. Pour into glasses (or mason jars) and serve with a straw for easier drinking. Serve cold!

Feel free to substitute vegan friendly substitutes to put your own twist on this drink! If you made your shake differently, do let us know in the comments section! And don’t forget to try drinks from our other summer sips series recipes like the Jaipur Mocktail or Lucknow Lemonade Spritzer. Cheers!