Newsletters
What if your favorite Ramadan treat could be just as delicious but far healthier? At Izmir University of Economics, chefs and gastronomy students are doing exactly that reinventing the traditional Turkish dessert gullac by swapping refined sugar for naturally sweet date syrup.
The result is a dessert that’s not only rich in flavor but also packed with minerals like magnesium, potassium, and iron.
Traditionally, gullac is made with layers of thin pastry, milk, rose water, and sugar, creating a sweet, creamy dessert that has graced Ramadan tables for centuries. At the Izmir University of Economics kitchen, however, the chefs are taking a modern, health-conscious approach.
The process begins with softening pitted dates over a gentle simmer for at least 30 minutes. Once tender, the dates are blended into a smooth puree and strained through cheesecloth to extract the naturally sweet date syrup.
Mixed with milk and fragrant rose water, this syrup is poured generously over layers of gullac pastry. To finish, nuts like hazelnuts, walnuts, and almonds are sprinkled in for a satisfying crunch and earthy aroma.
Aypar Sati, the driving force behind this innovation, explained why the team opted for dates: “Refined sugar has a high glycemic index, causing blood sugar to spike and crash. Dates, on the other hand, are packed with minerals and provide a natural sweetness that works beautifully in gullac.”
She added that those who tried the dessert were pleasantly surprised slightly less sweet and visually darker, yet fully satisfying for traditionalists. Sati also emphasized that this method echoes the Ottoman culinary tradition, where chefs often used natural sweeteners like honey and molasses.
Beyond just one dessert, Sati encourages students and home cooks to experiment with date syrup in other milk-based desserts, combining flavor, nutrition, and tradition in every bite. By teaching students to innovate within classical recipes, she hopes to instill a philosophy that prioritizes both taste and health.
“We want our students to create versions of traditional recipes that are functional and wholesome, without sacrificing the flavors that make these desserts so special,” she said.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
