The first comprehensive cookbook on an ancient superfood and the cultures that revere it. Mesmerizing and art-packed, Hot Date! features 99 mouthwatering, date-centered recipes that are the perfect mix of traditional favorites and inspired new creations.This is not simply a cookbook about dates. It is a love song, a celebration of food and culture from a global perspective. Every page is a surprise in this highly colorful volume, with recipes ranging from Brooklyn to Babylon.

Author Rawaan Alkhatib draws inspiration from her Middle Eastern and Indian cooking background to bring a unique perspective to her topic. As a global citizen who has lived and traveled throughout the world, she explores both the significance of the fruit and its chameleon-like characteristics in cooking. 

Divided into six chapters, Hot Date! features recipes that are big on flavor and low on fuss, ranging from Party Food (stuffed dates of all kinds!) to Breakfast; Mains; Soups, Salads & Sides; Sweets; and Drinks & Condiments (the Date Chili Crisp is a life changer). Informative sidebars that read like a scrapbook, how-to content, timelines, and historical snippets feature Rawaan's watercolor illustrations, patterns, and elegant hand-lettering, exploring such topics as:



Date-growing cultures, history, and visits to date farms in Palm Springs, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt
The evolution of the classic Palm Springs date shake
How date palms are pollinated (entirely by hand, to this day—millions of them!)
How to stuff dates
Dates at different stages of ripeness
Shopping and sourcing suggestions
Extensive suggestions for more reading to enter the world of the date


Hot Date! is doing away with the Western practice of viewing dates as a sugar-free substitute and instead gives the fruit the platform and profile it deserves: an entire book filled to the brim with praise, knowledge, and delicious recipes for date novices and connoisseurs alike. Perfect for:



Date lovers 
Home cooks of all ages 
Anyone interested in Middle Eastern-inspired cooking 
Whole food-oriented cooks seeking flavor-rich recipes 
Anyone looking to switch up the menu for an Iftar gathering
Gift-giving to food lovers, cookbook enthusiasts, and art book collectors

Photographer(s): Linda Xiao