Imqaret ( Maltese Deep Fried Date Pastries)

This is a typical Maltese traditional sweet.

• Ready In: 50 mins
• Yields: 12 maqrut

Ingredients

• 250  g pitted dates, chopped
• 1  tangerine, zest and juice
• 2  tablespoons  sambuca romana
• 2  tablespoons icing sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper (optional)

• Pastry

• 250  g plain flour
• 50  ml olive oil (or 75g margarine)

Directions

1. Soften the dates in a sauce pan with 3 tbsp tangerine juice and 2 tbsp water ( about 5 minutes).
2. Stir in the other ingredients, cool.
3. Pastry: rub the oil in the flour and bring it with enough water to form a dough. Rest for 30 minutes at room temperature.
4. Cut in half and shape each piece into a rectangular shape. Spread the filling along the middle of the rectangle then fold the two sides and seal.
5. Cut into squares and deep fry or brush generously in oil and bake in a preheated oven at 200C for about 20 minutes.
6. Eat while hot.