Enjoy Your Polyphenols with Medjool Dates, Apricots and Wild Rice Casserole

Source: US Dept of Agriculture (Graph: Bard Valley)

Did you know that Dates have more Polyphenols then Plums and Apples? Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants that protect plants from the damaging rays of the sun. They’re found in many fruits as well as tea, coffee, chocolate and red wine. Studies have been showing that many types antioxidants found in food can combat oxidation in our bodies. 

Bard Valley Natural Delights Medjool Dates produces dates and delicious date rolls, such as Almond Clusters, nutty Pistachio, and tropical Coconut and has created several healthy Medjool-date inspired recipes, and I've included the Medjool Dates, Apricots, and Wild Rice Casserole below.

Enjoy!

---

Medjool Dates, Apricots, and Wild Rice Casserole
Ingredients:

• 1 cup Medjool Dates pitted and chopped
• 4 cups Cooked Wild Rice mix (we like brown rice/wild rice mix)
• 1 Onion chopped
• 2 Celery Stalks chopped
• 3 Tbsp Butter
• 1 tsp Dried rosemary
• 1 Tbsp Dried thyme
• 1 Cooking apple, peeled, cored and chopped
• 2/3 cup Diced ham
• 1/2 cup Dried apricots, diced
• 3/4 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Pepper
  
  

1. Cook Wild Rice mix as instructed to yield 4 cups.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Sauté onions and celery in butter on medium high heat for 4-5 minutes, or until soft. Stir in rosemary and thyme and remove from heat.
4. In a large bowl, combine cooked rice with onion-celery herb mixture and add chopped Medjool Dates, apple, apricots and ham. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon into a buttered 2-quart baking dish.
5. Cover and bake for 30 minutes or until hot.

Serve immediately.
Serves 6

---