Seasonings
500 g (about 1 lb) cornmeal, 100 g (about 1/2 cup) brown sugar, 150 g (about 1 cup) small red dates, 75 g (about 1/2 cup) all-purpose flour, water as needed.
Ingredients
5 g baking soda.
Instructions
1. Wash the small red dates, place them in a bowl with enough water to cover, steam until tender, then remove and let cool.
2. Place the flour in a bowl, add water and stir to dissolve, then pour in the cornmeal and mix into a soft dough to ferment. Once the dough has risen, add baking soda and brown sugar, and stir until well combined.
3. Wet a piece of cheesecloth and line the steamer basket, then pour the dough onto it, using your hand dipped in water to smooth it into an even layer about 2 cm thick. Arrange the small red dates evenly on top, pressing them in gently. Steam over high heat for 30 minutes until cooked through. Turn out onto a cutting board and cut into diamond-shaped pieces. This cake is a refined take on coarse grains—soft, fluffy, and sweet, rich in carbohydrates, protein, fat, and nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc.