Jam, jam, jelly, jam and jam ... Many of us mistakenly believe that the listed berry treats have minimal differences. Experienced housewives and chefs fundamentally disagree with this point of view, because the process of preparing each dessert has its own characteristics.
What is confiture?
The mysterious word “confiture” came to us from the French language and translates as “cooked in sugar”. Confiture is considered whole (crushed) berries and some types of vegetables, cooked in sugar with the addition of agar-agar or pectin.
The first semblance of a jelly-like fruit treat was invented in Hungary, but it was the French culinary specialists who significantly improved the recipe. For the first time, gelatin was used to make dessert, which was later replaced with inexpensive beet sugar.
The benefits of sweets
Sweet jam recipes have always been popular, and it's not just about great taste. Preparation of the product in special vacuum systems over high heat preserves a lot of minerals, vitamins, dietary fiber, which play an important role for the gastrointestinal tract.
Vegetables, fruits and healthy ingredients - this is what confiture is. As we have already said, for the formation of a jelly-like mass in dessert add one of three components:
- Agar agar. Obtained from brown and red algae. The product contains a large amount of calcium, iron and iodine. Agar-agar stimulates the liver, cleanses the blood and body, normalizes glucose and cholesterol.
- Gelatin. Source of collagen. It beneficially affects the condition of nails, hair and skin, and also strengthens the heart muscle and stimulates brain activity.
- Pectin. Helps to normalize metabolism, removes heavy metals from the body and improves the digestive tract.
Confiture made with gelatin, agar-agar or pectin can be safely called a useful treat. The exception is only for patients with diabetes, but for them there is an alternative - a dessert based on fructose, that is, without sugar.
Carrot recipe
What is confiture, we have already figured out and in the second part of the review we will get acquainted with the most delicious recipes.
To make an unusual confiture you will need:
- 500 g of carrots;
- 400 g of sugar;
- two lemons;
- 2 tbsp. l cognac;
- almonds (about 10 pcs.).
First step. Preparation of the main ingredient: clean the carrots and cut into large rings. We put it in a pan and fill it with cold water so that it covers the vegetables a little. After boiling, cook until tender (15-20 minutes), and then grind with a blender.
Second phase. Squeeze the juice from two lemons, remove the zest from only one fruit. Carrot puree, sugar, lemon juice and zest are laid out in a wide pan. The mixture is brought to a boil and left for 25 minutes. At the very end, add ground almonds and cognac. Pour the finished product into small jars.
Even if your guests know what confiture is, they will definitely not be able to guess the name of the main ingredient. Carrot treats are eaten with cottage cheese or yogurt, and spread on white bread on top of the butter.
From the common cold
One of the most useful desserts in the winter season will be confiture from oranges, lemons and ginger.
List of ingredients:
- three oranges and three lemons (total 1.3 kg);
- fresh ginger - 150 g;
- water - 200-250 ml;
- sugar - 1.5 kg.
Wash citrus fruits thoroughly and cut into small slices, then pass through a meat grinder or grind in a blender. Add water to the resulting mass and after boiling wait two minutes.
Pour sugar in a saucepan, bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes. We clean fresh ginger, grind it in a blender and add it to the finished confiture. We spread the dessert in small jars and store it in the refrigerator - the best cold medicine is ready.
With seasonal fruits
Sweet recipes with the addition of agar-agar are the most popular among beginning cooks - it is almost impossible to spoil such strawberry jam.
Cooking method:
- Take a pound of strawberries and use a blender to turn the berries into a mashed flavor.
- Transfer the mass to a pan with a thick bottom, add sugar (200 g) and put on a small fire. After boiling, cook the strawberries for ten minutes.
- At the same time, we add agar-agar (1 tsp with a slide) in 100 ml of cold water and wait about 15 minutes for swelling.
- We add agar-agar to the cooked strawberries and leave it for another ten minutes to completely dissolve after boiling.
According to this recipe, you can cook peach, blueberry or cherry jam. Experienced culinary experts offer to diversify the dessert with hints of vanilla, cinnamon and even mint. For example, to get a minty aftertaste, take a small bunch of herbs and pour a glass of boiling water for one hour. Then just add peppermint water while cooking fruit, this will give the treat a freshness and remind you of the hot summer days.
The variety of fruits and vegetables that are used for making confiture suggests that such a dessert simply cannot be tasteless. We advise you not to be afraid of experiments and the next weekend to go to the store for the necessary ingredients.