Imqaret Surprise (Deep-fried Date Pastry)

Deep-fried Date Pastry (Imqaret Surprise) is a traditional Maltese sweet treat that is perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth cravings. This pastry is filled with a delicious date mixture and deep-fried to golden perfection, resulting in a crispy and indulgent dessert.

Vegetarian Dessert Maltese Maltese Dessert Deep Fried Pastry Date Pastry
Imqaret Surprise (Deep-fried Date Pastry)

Ingredients

  • 500g pitted dates, chopped
  • 200g all-purpose flour
  • 100g semolina
  • 100g unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • Water, as needed
  • Vegetable oil, for deep-frying

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, mix the chopped dates, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and vanilla extract until well combined. Set aside.
  2. In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and semolina. Gradually add the melted butter and mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  3. Add water, a little at a time, to the flour mixture and knead until a smooth dough forms. Divide the dough into small balls and flatten each ball into a disc shape.
  4. Place a spoonful of the date mixture onto each disc of dough. Fold the dough over the filling to encase it completely, then gently press the edges to seal.
  5. In a deep saucepan, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Once hot, carefully add the filled pastries in batches and deep-fry until golden brown and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
  6. Serve the deep-fried date pastries warm and enjoy!

Cooking & Preparation

Preparation time:
20 minutes
Cooking time:
15 minutes
Total time:
35 minutes
Cooking method
Deep-frying

Nutritional facts per 1 serving

Calories
250 per serving
Carbohydrates
35g
Fat
10g
Protein
3g

Supplies

Large mixing bowl Small bowl Deep saucepan Slotted spoon Paper towels

Tools

Knife Spoon Rolling pin

Serving suggestions

Serve the deep-fried date pastries with a sprinkle of powdered sugar or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delightful dessert experience.

Tips & tricks

For a variation, you can add chopped nuts or citrus zest to the date filling for extra flavor and texture.

Cost

$10