Content
It happens that when buying a melon comes across a hard, unsweetened fruit. This is not a reason to get upset, but, on the contrary, is a good opportunity to learn something new and try to make candied fruit out of it for the first time. These are candied pieces of pulp that taste very much like candy. Candied melon fruits will be loved not only by kids, but also by all adults.
Useful properties of candied melon fruits
Melon fruits, like most vegetables and fruits, are very beneficial for humans due to their rich nutritional composition. They contain:
- Sahara;
- cellulose;
- fats;
- nitrogenous substances;
- volatile aromatic compounds;
- folic and niacin;
- vitamin C.
Most of this useful composition is retained after heat treatment during the preparation of candied fruits. Thanks to this, candied melon fruits saturate a person not only with nutrients, but also have a therapeutic and prophylactic effect on the body. They act as natural diuretics and have mild laxative properties.
Candied melon fruits cheer up, have a calming effect on the nervous system, they are good for snacking with a depressed mental state, depression. Help with kidney diseases (nephritis, pyelonephritis), liver (chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis) and gallbladder pathologies.
The fiber contained in candied fruits cleanses from excess cholesterol - the culprit of atherosclerosis, and the supply of vitamins helps to fight anemia, rejuvenates the skin. The cleansing effect of the pulp is used for diseases of the circulatory system:
- hypertension;
- chronic heart failure;
- with heart disease.
Candied melon fruits have a supportive effect on the body, they are recommended for people who have undergone serious illnesses, operations, as well as in old age. They also help with some gynecological diseases, they are recommended to be introduced into the menu of those women who are being treated for various forms of adnexitis.
Which melon is best for making candied fruits
For the manufacture of candied melon, you need to choose not overripe. You can determine the ripeness of a melon with a small test. It is necessary to scrape the skin of the melon anywhere. If you can easily get to the greenish layer, then the melon is ripe.
You also need to pay attention to the place opposite to the tail (should be dry), where the flower was. A ripe melon has a slightly pliable nose, an overripe melon has a very soft nose. An unripe melon will have a green tail and a firm opposite tip (nose).
How to make candied melon fruits
The technology for making candied fruits has been known since ancient times. It was invented in the East as a way to preserve the harvest in extreme heat. In Europe, candied fruits were called hard (dry) jam and were considered exotic for a long time, but over time they learned how to cook them no worse than their eastern neighbors. The recipe turned out to be very simple: the fruit or peel must be boiled in sugar syrup and then dried.
How to make candied melon pulp
Rinse the melon, cut into two parts, scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Then the fruit must be peeled and cut into strips. If your home has an electric dryer, place the cut pieces into sections and stack them on top of each other. Close, turn on the vegetable dryer, set the temperature to +58 degrees and the timer for 8 hours. After the expiration of the time, change the sections so that the last one becomes the first.Extend drying in the same mode for another 4 hours. When the time is up, the candied fruits will be ready.
Cut the pulp of an unripe melon into large cubes, as thin pieces wrinkle during cooking and lose their appearance. Then pour boiling water over everything and leave it until morning. The next day, drain the water, pour in fresh boiling water and repeat this for 4-5 days. The harder the melon, the more it needs to be soaked. Next, follow the recipe for making candied melon at home:
- make a syrup: for 400 g of crusts, take 400 g of sugar and a glass of water;
- pour the melon and bring to a boil several times for 2-3 days and leave to soak without removing the crust from the syrup, do so until the crusts become transparent;
- cool and carefully put in glass jars, being careful not to damage, pour over syrup and store as jam;
- spread out on a wide dish and let dry.
The easiest recipe for candied melon peels
Usually candied fruits are prepared in 3-4 cooking doses. In this simple recipe, candied melon can be made in one day. This means that there will be only one brew. Melon peelings will serve as the basis for cooking. You need to do the following:
- remove a thin layer of skin with a knife and cut into cubes;
- blanch for five minutes, remove from boiling water and immediately rinse with cold water;
- then you can start preparing sugar syrup - for 700 g of melon cubes, you need to take such an amount of sugar and 180 ml of water, add a tablespoon of lemon juice;
- put fruit cubes in boiling syrup, bring to a boil again and keep on low heat for 3 hours;
- put on a sieve and let the water drain completely;
- then put it on parchment paper and take it out into the street so that they are weathered and dry, do not forget to turn it over or leave it in a well-ventilated room, in this case drying will take much longer;
- mix starch with powdered sugar and roll each crust separately.
This method of making candied fruits from melon rinds is also very simple, there is only one cooking. You will need the following ingredients:
- soda - 1 teaspoon;
- melon peels - 0.5 kg;
- sugar - 0.3 kg;
- citric acid - 1/6 teaspoon.
Wash the melon, cut it and eat it. Remove the remnants of edible pulp and rind from the crusts. To cut in cubes. Then proceed according to the scheme:
- prepare 1 liter of soda solution, immerse melon peels there and keep for three hours;
- after the time has elapsed, drain the solution, rinse the crusts with clean water;
- pour water, bring to a boil, drain;
- pour 1 liter of water into a saucepan, throw in 100 g of sugar and melon rinds, boil for 20 minutes;
- then add the second 100 g of sugar, bring to a boil and boil the same amount;
- throw the third portion of granulated sugar into the pan, continue cooking as well;
- dilute citric acid with a tablespoon of warm water, pour into a saucepan, stir, cook for another 10 minutes;
- if the syrup remains, increase the heat and cook for another 2-3 minutes;
- pour candied fruits into a colander, leave for half an hour;
- transfer to a deck covered with parchment paper, dry in the oven for 5 hours at a temperature of + 60 C.
To cook candied melon fruits in the oven, you need to use only high-quality parchment. Store closed in the refrigerator for no more than 3-4 months.
Calorie content of candied melon
Candied fruits made from melons do not have a very high calorie content, despite the fact that they contain quite a lot of sugar. One hundred grams of the product accounts for 320 kcal.This makes candied fruits useful for those who want to lose weight, as they are filled with vitamins and fiber, and the calories are half that of chocolates.
Terms and conditions of storage
If you store candied fruit incorrectly, they can become either too hard, or, conversely, watery and stick together into a single lump. Such a product not only loses quality, but also becomes harmful. Candied fruits in high humidity conditions are susceptible to mold and therefore become hazardous to health. Escherichia coli can also easily get on sticky candied fruits.
In summer, it is especially necessary to ensure that the candied fruits are protected from dust, flies that carry bacteria, and worm eggs. It is fraught with salmonellosis, various poisoning and allergic reactions. There is such a terrible disease - intestinal myiasis. These are the larvae of flies that enter our body and begin to multiply and grow there. This disease affects people who have low acidity of gastric juices. Larvae do not die in such conditions, develop, cause diarrhea, vomiting and other symptoms of the disease.
Conclusion
Homemade candied melon is a rich source of vitamins on cold winter days. They will be a great addition to a hot cup of tea or a substitute for chocolates for children, as well as for weight-conscious women.
