What is coconut manna, can it be made at home? Nutritional value and nutrients in the composition, possible restrictions when added to the diet. Recipes for dishes with a sweet product and interesting facts about it.
Coconut Manna is an organic product (bioproduct) made specifically for the dairy-free ketogenic diet from coconut. The color is white, the consistency varies with temperature. When cooled, it resembles halva; when heated, it resembles thick butter. Melting point - 75 ° C. The aroma is completely similar to the original product, the taste is creamy, sweetish. It is offered to the consumer packaged in glass jars with a tight lid, on which the shelf life is indicated. The most popular is the coconut manna of the Nutiva company. In the bank 425 g.
How is coconut manna made?
The industrial production of a product begins with the collection and preparation of raw materials. Ripe nuts are selected, let it brew to make the pulp thicken. Then it is opened with a machete and the juice is drained. The pulp is removed and used to make butter. Copra, left over after cold pressing, is the raw material for coconut manna. That is, it can be considered a product of secondary production.
Partially defatted coconut pulp is loaded into special mixers and processed for a long time to achieve a pasty consistency, the liquid is periodically drained until a dense paste is obtained. It is then cooled and sent directly to the company that supplies the product under the brand name "Nutiva". At the food factory, manna is pasteurized, ensuring 100% safety in terms of hygiene requirements, and is packaged in glass jars.
Making coconut manna at home, especially if you have ripe fruits on hand, is very easy. The pulp is loaded into the bowl of a food processor and left to stand for 10-12 minutes. Do not turn off. If the starting material is too dry, add a little coconut oil. If you use a blender instead of a food processor, the process will take a long time. You will have to periodically stop the unit and clean off the adhering mass.
There is another way - coconut flakes and shavings are used. Coconut flakes or shavings are placed in the bowl of a food processor - 5 or 4 cups, respectively. If the starting material is fresh, it is pre-dried. Add 1 tbsp. l. coconut oil, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract or powder. Beat for at least 15 minutes.
No matter how the product is prepared at home, it should be stored in the refrigerator in a glass jar.
The name "manna" is patented by the "Nutiva" company, which specializes in the production of other tropical nut products - milk, paste and butter. The difference from the latter is the relatively low fat content, the nutritional value is 20% lower.
Composition and calorie content of coconut manna
The nutritional value of a product depends on the additional ingredients used in the manufacture and the quality of the raw materials.
The calorie content of coconut manna from Nutiva is 334 kcal per 100 g, of which:
- Proteins - 3, 3 g;
- Fat - 30.0 g;
- Carbohydrates - 10, 0 g.
Since you won't be able to eat a lot of product, then, when calculating the daily calorie content, you can use other data. In 2 tbsp. l. manna - 180 kcal, of which:
- Proteins - 2 g;
- Fat - 17 g;
- Carbohydrates - 2 g.
Since the product is made from unprocessed coconut, coconut manna contains up to 65% lauric acid. It contains medium chain triglycerides, the most beneficial substances for the body. They induce satiety without causing fat to form. Thanks to these components, the product is quickly absorbed, does not cause cholesterol deposits, and is quickly converted into energy.
The beneficial properties of coconut manna are provided by the following nutrients and acids:
- Vitamin B4 - improves liver function, prolongs the life cycle of hepatocytes, prevents the accumulation of phospholipids.
- Vitamin B9 - stimulates the production of the hormone responsible for good mood, serotonin.
- Potassium - is responsible for the stable functioning of the kidneys and the cardiovascular system, controls the absorption of magnesium by the body.
- Calcium - promotes the formation of bone and cartilage tissue, increases immunity and improves the functioning of the nervous system, reduces the production of histamine.
- Magnesium - improves thermoregulation and normalizes acid-base balance.
- Sodium - prevents the loss of fluid necessary for life.
- Phosphorus - performs transport functions, distributes energy to all organic systems.
- Iron - participates in intracellular metabolism, reacts with oxygen and stimulates the production of hemoglobin.
- Glutamic acid - allows you to get rid of muscle pain after intense physical activity, normalizes the function of the central nervous system. This substance is designated as E620 on the product packaging.
Coconut manna, like the rest of Nutiva's products, is popular with vegans, vegetarians, bodybuilders, and those who are losing weight. This organic paste, despite its high nutritional value, allows you to replenish the energy supply and the reserve of nutrients, thanks to which, despite the nutritional characteristics, you can do without correcting the daily routine.
The cost of the product is quite high - currently, packaging is offered for 1400-1600 rubles. One can is enough for a long time; it is not necessary to store it in the refrigerator.
Health Benefits of Coconut Manna
The Nutiva product is purchased by people who care about their own health. When losing weight, you can satisfy the need for sweets without gaining weight. Fatty acids provide the feeling of satiety, and the restriction in use is a somewhat sugary taste. Not all sweet tooths can eat more than 2 tablespoons.
Benefits of Coconut Manna:
- The antimicrobial effect has a positive effect on the functioning of the immune system, stimulates the production of macrophages, reduces the release of cholesterol, and reduces the likelihood of developing autoimmune processes.
- Normalizes blood glucose levels. Consult a physician prior to use by patients with a history of diabetes mellitus.
- Reduces cholesterol levels, protects blood vessels from deposits.
- Prevents the appearance of diseases of the cardiovascular system.
- It accelerates peristalsis, improves the functioning of the stomach and intestines, and stops the development of peptic ulcer disease.
- Reduces the load on the liver, accelerates the neutralization of toxins, and helps to cleanse the body of harmful substances.
- Restores the condition of bone and cartilage tissue, promotes the production of synovial fluid, reduces the likelihood of diseases, the symptoms of which are degenerative-dystrophic changes in the body.
- Accelerates metabolic processes at all levels.
- It has a positive effect on the nervous system, increases stress resistance, allows you to recover from nervous breakdowns and emotional instability.
There are no restrictions on the introduction into the diet, since there are no trans fats in the composition of coconut manna. This sweetness does not worsen the condition of the teeth. Due to the high calcium content for vegetarians, it replaces not only sweets, but also dairy products.
You should pay attention to the gentle paste for men. For women, her smell and taste are an aphrodisiac.
Coconut manna can be added to home cosmetics to improve hair condition and to nourish and moisturize the skin. Coconut peeling is the most gentle. When dead cells are removed, damage does not appear on the face, acne disappears, and if there are small wounds and scratches, everything heals quickly.
Contraindications and harm of coconut manna
If you are allergic to coconuts, you can not enter a delicate sweet paste into the diet. No other absolute contraindications for use have been identified.
The use of coconut manna can cause harm in diabetes mellitus, if food restrictions are not observed, in chronic pancreatitis, in acute intestinal diseases. You should not abuse sweet paste for chronic diarrhea, increased flatulence, intense bile secretion.
During pregnancy, you can eat this product, but you need to analyze your own feelings. Even if a woman has never had a coconut allergy, she may appear in this condition.
Also, with caution, sweet paste is introduced into the diet during lactation, only one should focus on the condition of the baby. If the allergy has not manifested itself, there are no restrictions on use.
Coconut Semolina Recipes
Producers call the product "pleasure of the soul", "heavenly" - they do not skimp on epithets. But in order not to be disappointed "from the first spoon", before using it for food, it is necessary to remove the top layer (2 cm of coconut oil) or stir until smooth. To soften the manna, the jar is dipped in boiling water for a few minutes.
Delicious Coconut Semolina Recipes:
- Dessert … Mix the chocolate and vanilla paste separately. For chocolate paste, combine 5 tbsp. l. manna, 3 tbsp. l. maple syrup and cocoa, 1 tbsp. l. coconut oil and a pinch of biovanilla, for vanilla - 3 tbsp. l. manna, 0.5 tbsp. l. syrup and vanilla to taste. Spread in a transparent container first a layer of chocolate, then vanilla, leave for 3 hours in the refrigerator on the shelf. By using organic products, you can get the perfect dessert for vegans.
- Hawaiian pasta … Beat with a whisk in an enamel bowl. Cut into small pieces 250 g of cream cheese, add pineapple jam - 2 tbsp. l., coconut flakes - 1/3 cup. Bring to a homogeneous consistency, and then cool for at least 2 hours, having previously decomposed into molds. Ideal for sandwiches.
- Sweet sauce … Mix equal parts coconut with powdered sugar and add a little refined sunflower or olive oil. Bring to a homogeneous consistency. In Thai cuisine, this sauce is used for cooking chicken. The bird is gutted, then the inside is rubbed with hot spices and salt, and the outside is smeared with sweet sauce. They are baked on the grill or over a fire, strung on a spit. Regardless of how it is cooked, it is generously poured over with sweet sauce during cooking. You can bake the meat in the oven, but the taste will be softer.
- Candies … Sesame seeds are poured into a plate. Coconut manna, 250 g, cooled, mixed with 100 g of crushed pine nuts, add 100 g of honey, bring to a homogeneous state. Since the manna is difficult to mix, it has to be rubbed. Sweets are formed, rolled in sesame seeds and laid out on a wooden board covered with food parchment. Put in the refrigerator for 1, 5-2 hours.
- Biscuits … The electric oven is turned on at 230 ° C and left to warm up. A third of a glass of water is poured into a container for kneading the dough, a glass of coconut flour is poured (if there is no ready-made one from Nutiva at home, dried coconut flakes are ground in a coffee grinder), 1, 5 tsp. baking soda and 0.5 tsp. salt, 2 tbsp. l. coconut sugar and 3 tbsp. l. manna. The dough is kneaded well - it should turn out to be soft, but dense enough so that you can roll it into layers and cut out the cookies with a glass. Bake on a baking sheet greased with sunflower oil for 10 minutes. You can add raisins or crushed nuts to the dough. An equally tasty dessert is obtained if you use semolina instead of flour. Only in this case, not flat cookies are formed, but balls.
- Coconut balls … Grind 0.25 cups of cocoa beans with a handful of frozen coconut manna. In an enamel saucepan, mix 0.25 cups of grated chocolate, 0.5 cups of coconut sugar, take a little less manna, 2 eggs, a glass of chopped pitted dates. Simmer the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly so as not to burn, until the consistency is completely homogeneous. After 4-5 minutes, remove the pan from heat. Pour in cocoa beans, 0.25 cups of chia and hemp seeds, a little vanilla extract. Knead the dough from all the ingredients, form balls, roll in coconut flakes and put them in the freezer for 30 minutes.
On the basis of a delicate paste, you can prepare a vitamin smoothie. Oatmeal, a third of a glass, is steamed overnight in a glass jar. In the morning, the water is drained, pieces of pear, halves of an apple, a few raspberries and strawberries, steamed oats and no more than 2 tbsp are spread into the blender bowl. l. pasta, otherwise it will be too sweet. The smoothies are chilled before serving and each glass is garnished with a mint leaf.
Coconut manna is used in the same way as other products - it is spread on bread, added to desserts, cereals and dairy products. When cooking, it replaces coconut butter and butter.
What to cook with coconut semolina - watch the video:
