Turkish delight is a famous oriental sweet. It can often be found on store shelves and in markets. As a rule, they serve it in the form of small chopped pieces, after sprinkling them abundantly with powdered sugar. By the way, precisely for its appearance this sweetness got its name. Indeed, in the literal translation from Turkish, this means "a convenient piece." An interesting feature: this sweetness has become so beloved in the East that many bring it with them as a sweet souvenir. It comes in all colors and tastes, with various fillers.
Composition of sweets
The main constituents of Turkish delight are starch, water and sugar. Starch for this sweet should be slightly boiled in water, because in the frozen state it provides a characteristic soft consistency of a confectionery product. Dessert and sweet taste, in turn, gives it sugar.
The listed ingredients are the only ones for white Turkish delight. But any other type of this sweetness differs in taste and color; for this, food additives, synthetic and natural dyes are added to it.
Initially, various fruit juices were used to prepare Turkish delight. Sugar and starch were added to them, getting original candies with an unforgettable taste. Often they were stuffed with peanuts or nuts. Sometimes honey was added. Turkish delight with rose petals was considered especially refined. It was a real delicacy.
We emphasize that all the components that make up this sweetness stand for a certain time in order to obtain a product with the appropriate properties and quality.
The benefits of Turkish delight
Many rightly consider Turkish delight, the photo of which is in this article, a very useful sweet. In many ways, this is true. Sweetness is even called a sweet battery for the body. Indeed, honey is often found in Turkish delight, a generous source of energy for the brain and muscles.
Starch also benefits. It is a simple sugar that is collected in long chains. In the body, they break down, releasing a large amount of energy necessary for a person.
Even greater benefit from Turkish delight, which refers to walnut or fruit varieties. But there is one condition: natural juice must be used. If the sweets are flavors and dyes that are diluted with water, then there will not be much sense from this.
Good mood
Rose petals, nuts and natural juices contain certain vitamins and mineral components that are very beneficial for the body. It is only necessary to take into account that some of the nutrients in natural juices can be destroyed after heat treatment. But nuts in this regard are more resistant, so this Turkish delight is considered the most useful.
By the way, another interesting aspect. Lokum, as, indeed, any sweetness, cheers up a person. There are both physiological and psychological prerequisites for this. The fact is that sugars, which are part of Turkish delight, lead to the release of a large amount of serotonin into the blood. It acts on the nerve endings in the brain, contributes to its activity and increase mood.
But there is harm
But it is worth noting that there is harm caused by Turkish delight. After all, this is primarily sugar. And although it makes the taste sweet, it can lead to negative consequences in large quantities. Turkish delight is strictly contraindicated for people who suffer from diabetes.
It should be noted that the increase in blood sugar does not occur immediately, moreover, with a certain amount of starch, this level may slightly decrease.
In addition, if there is a lot and often this is an oriental delicacy, then you may have problems with your teeth. Although this sweet is not as dangerous for enamel as kozinaki or lollipops, it should be feared because of the large amount of powdered sugar that accumulates in the mouth.
In addition, carbohydrates are present in Turkish delight, which are quite easily absorbed, so this sweetness should not cause serious metabolic disorders. Therefore, it will be very difficult to provoke diabetes or obesity due to its excessive consumption. But if you actively combine Turkish delight with other sweets, for example, chocolate, cakes, rolls, then the sad consequences can not be avoided.
Harmful substances
Another point that should alert fans of oriental sweets is that, unlike in ancient times, nowadays manufacturers are increasingly adding many harmful and even unsafe ingredients to Turkish delight. First of all, it is food additives and all kinds of dyes. This can be seen for both domestic and foreign manufacturers. Even in Turkey, which is considered the birthplace of Turkish delight, E-components can often be found in sweets.
If to summarize everything, then we will come to the conclusion that it is impossible to unambiguously consider lokum a useful or harmful product. This is a gastronomic pleasure, which has its own advantages and disadvantages. Almost everyone can eat it, but it is necessary to do this in moderation. Otherwise, you will cease to feel its unique taste characteristics, and only harm will be done to the body. And it is best to choose natural Turkish delight, eat it little by little, enjoying every bite. Then it will definitely have a positive effect on your health and overall emotional state.
The legend of oriental sweets
Since ancient times, Turkish delight has been taken with tea or fruit juices. The most interesting thing is that there is a special legend dedicated to him. It says that once upon a time in the East there lived a very capricious ruler who loved sweets most of all in his life. Moreover, he was so demanding that no one could please him.
But he had a court confectioner, whose name was Ali, who did not give up hope of receiving approval and praise from his master. One day he prepared for him a wonderful treat, taking syrup from rose petals, adding spices, honey and crushed almonds to it. He gently warmed up the mixture and poured a little starch into it. When the dish thickened, let it cool, and then cut it into small pieces. Beautifully laid out on a golden dish, sprinkled with powdered sugar and served to his sovereign.
Almost for the first time in his life, Vladyka was delighted. Turkish delight turned out to be tasty and soft, he called it "tender slices." Soon lukum came to the taste of the entire eastern nobility. They even began to store him in special boxes, attributing the divine origin.
Varieties of sweets
Nowadays, there are a large number of varieties of this sweet, which mainly differ in the composition of the product. The classic recipe for Turkish delight includes sugar, which can be replaced with molasses, starch, nuts and water. To improve the taste, you can add natural juices, spices, dried fruits and zest.
It differs in form and composition. Most often in the form of all kinds of figures, rolls and cubes. Turkish delight is also one-piece or two-layer.
In composition, it is considered one of the most popular with nuts, fruit or flower filling. White oriental sweetness without additives or honey delight also enjoys deserved love.
How to distinguish good Turkish delight?
High-quality Turkish delight, as a rule, is not difficult to distinguish. It should be as transparent as possible, which indicates that it is made of good starch. If you choose between sweets sprinkled with coconut or powdered sugar, then the first is considered much more useful.
It is not recommended to buy a product that stretches too tight. This is evidence that the technology was not followed in its preparation. If the dessert is good, then it should have a delicate gelatinous consistency.
At home
Few people know, but you can cook homemade Turkish delight. This is not a complicated recipe at all, for which you will need to take one glass of water, sugar and powdered sugar, as well as 1/4 teaspoon of vanillin and quite a bit of citric acid.
Start cooking Turkish delight at home with the preparation of syrup. To do this, mix sugar and water thoroughly. After that add gelatin, citric acid and vanillin. Cook until thickened, and then allow to cool.
The finished mass is poured into molds, and the already frozen Turkish delight is cut into small rectangles, crushed in icing sugar. This sweet is best stored in a cardboard box.
Recipe for seasoned chefs
If you are willing to spend enough time developing a recipe for Turkish delight at home, then take this method into service. For it will need such ingredients:
- juice and zest of orange and lemon;
- one and a half glasses of water;
- 3 tablespoons of powdered sugar;
- 2/3 cup starch;
- Scarlet food color.
So, cooking according to this recipe of Turkish delight at home involves the presence of a pot with thick walls. The zest of orange and lemon is placed in it and poured with a mixture of their juices. Powder and water are sent there.
The mixture is boiled over low heat until the sugar is completely dissolved, it must be constantly stirred and finally brought to a boil. At this point, set minimal heat and leave for five minutes, without stirring.
Combine dye and starch in parallel and fill with half a glass of clean water. Only warm water should be added to gelatin; in a quarter of an hour it should swell enough.
The container is placed in a water bath, it should be constantly stirred. The main thing is that the gelatin does not boil. Then combine all the ingredients together and cook over medium heat. The mass should be a glossy shade.
When this happened, carefully remove the zest, pour the future sweetness into containers. At 6 o'clock, the Turkish delight form is placed in the refrigerator. Sprinkle already prepared sweets with powdered sugar, cut and serve.