Product description. What useful properties does it have, can it harm the body if consumed excessively? Culinary recipes with marshmallows.
Marshmallow is a sugary dessert made by grinding a gelling ingredient, fruit and protein puree. The result is a viscous air mass. Therefore, from the French language, a confectionery product is translated as "caressing breeze". Various acids, flavors, dyes and essences are used to create a product with an unusual color and aroma. There is no indication of the exact shape of the homemade marshmallow. It depends on the flight of imagination and culinary abilities of the person. The closest "relatives" of the dessert are crembo and belevskaya marshmallow.
Composition and calorie content of marshmallow
Dessert is a dietary product. Studies have shown that the calorie content of marshmallow is 326 kcal per 100 g, of which:
- Proteins - 0.8 g;
- Fat - 0.1 g;
- Carbohydrates - 79, 8 g;
- Organic acids - 1 g;
- Dietary fiber - 1 g;
- Water - 17 g;
- Ash - 0.3 g.
Vitamins per 100 g:
- Vitamin B2, riboflavin - 0.02 mg;
- Vitamin PP, NE - 0.2 mg.
Macro and microelements per 100 g:
- Potassium, K - 46 mg;
- Calcium, Ca - 25 mg;
- Magnesium, Mg - 6 mg;
- Sodium, Na - 27 mg;
- Phosphorus, P - 12 mg;
- Iron, Fe - 1.4 mg.
Digestible carbohydrates per 100 g:
- Starch and dextrins - 5 g;
- Mono- and disaccharides (sugars) - 74, 8 g.
The minerals that make up marshmallows help to improve mental and muscular activity, stimulate metabolism, affect hormonal levels, and maintain the electrical potential of membranes. They also prevent the leakage of fluid from the blood vessels and control the percentage of acids and salts in the body.
Useful properties of marshmallow
Dessert has an anti-inflammatory effect, relieves puffiness, improves peripheral circulation and has a beneficial effect on the skin. Most of the micro and macro elements are aimed at strengthening the musculoskeletal system and stabilizing the thyroid gland.
Marshmallow benefits:
- Strengthens muscle fibers … Proteins and minerals included in marshmallow function as a building material, helping to restore connective tissue faster.
- Removes heavy metal salts and toxins … Due to the high percentage of pectin, the dessert cleanses the body, reduces blood cholesterol levels and normalizes metabolism.
- Improves the condition of hair and nails … Phosphorus, iron and calcium are responsible for intercellular metabolism, have a beneficial effect on the epidermis. The skin becomes soft and smooth, the hair becomes thicker, and the nails stop exfoliating.
- Stimulates brain activity … For this reason, marshmallows are recommended for use in kindergartens and schools. Neural metabolism improves and attention is significantly increased.
- Strengthens the immune system … The components of the product increase the body's susceptibility to viral, infectious and bacterial agents.
- Helps during pregnancy and lactation … The dessert contains a lot of valuable minerals that are necessary for the full development of a child. With mother's milk, he receives building material for his muscles, joints, teeth and nails.
- Accelerates the wound healing process … The components affect blood clotting and help with external and internal bleeding.
- Positive effects on the liver … The work of this organ is stabilized, the synthesis of immunoglobulins, somagomedins and fibrinogen occurs. Dessert ingredients stimulate bile production and regulate lipid metabolism.
- Strengthening the cardiovascular system … The chemical composition of marshmallow allows you to remove toxins from the blood, has a positive effect on blood vessels, makes them elastic and resilient.
In addition, marshmallow has a beneficial effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract. The assimilation of food is normalized, and excess fats are not retained in the body. In addition, the dessert significantly reduces the risk of malignant tumors.
Contraindications and harm of marshmallow
All food products, no matter how wide range of useful properties they have, can harm the body if consumed excessively. There is a high likelihood of developing problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
Note! The daily rate of marshmallow is 100 grams.
Marshmallows can harm the body with the following diseases:
- Diabetes … Due to some components of marshmallow, appetite begins to increase, the urge to urinate becomes more frequent, there is a tingling and numbness sensation in the fingers. Blood pressure also rises and your head is dizzy.
- Obesity … The person has apathy, drowsiness, increased sweating, irritability, and peripheral edema. There is nausea, accompanied by vomiting, constipation and flatulence.
- Caries … The components of the dessert stimulate the demineralization of the enamel, the sensitivity to sour, cold and hot foods increases. With mechanical action, the pain is short-term, but has a sharp character.
- Allergy … The mucous membranes begin to swell, breathing becomes difficult, and red spots appear on the skin that itch. The person experiences dizziness, nausea, accompanied by vomiting.
- Pancreas problems … Digestion processes are disrupted, energy metabolism fails, the stool becomes mushy and has a greasy appearance. Insulin and glucagon no longer control the percentage of blood glucose. The person is rapidly losing weight.
Before adding marshmallows to food, you should find out if you have an individual intolerance to certain components.
Marshmallow recipes
This dessert can be served as an independent dish with tea, coffee, milk, hot chocolate or yogurt. It is often added to fruit salads and poured over topping.
Marshmallows are used to decorate biscuits or biscuits. It is also used in the process of making cakes.
The product can be coated with yoghurt, chocolate icing, coconut flakes, powdered sugar, chopped nuts or waffle crumbs.
To distinguish a quality marshmallow from a spoiled one, you should pay attention to its color. A good product has pastel shades and the glaze (if any) is evenly distributed. Colors that are too bright indicate an excess of food coloring. So be careful when adding dessert to your dishes.
Below you will see recipes with delicious marshmallows:
- Fruit salad … 2 kiwi, banana, peach and pear are peeled. Fruit, together with 70 g of marshmallows, are chopped into cubes. 100 g of strawberries should be cut into small wedges. 200 ml of cream is passed through a blender or mixer. In large glass glasses, marshmallow is put in the first layer, then whipped cream and chopped fruits go. Season the dessert with the remaining cream and place in the refrigerator for a few hours. Before serving, you can decorate the salad with mint petals and coconut flakes.
- Sweet pizza … In a large saucepan, combine 10 g of vanillin, 2 chicken eggs, 80 g of butter, 200 g of cane sugar and tangerine zest. The components are poured into 50 ml of milk and mixed. Pour 250 g of wheat flour and a pinch of salt there. Next, knead the dough, give it the shape of a ball, wrap it in cling film and place it in the refrigerator for an hour. Then it is distributed in shape and baked at 175 degrees for about 15 minutes until golden brown. Set aside the dough and let cool. 200 g of marshmallows and 80 g of butter are heated in the microwave for 30 seconds. The resulting mixture is thoroughly beaten with a mixer for at least 5 minutes. Then it is combined with 500 g of curd cheese and distributed over the cooled cake. Cut 2 kiwi, 50 g strawberries and orange into small pieces and sprinkle the pizza on top.
- Jelly with marshmallows … Pour 30 grams of gelatin with water and leave to swell for 40 minutes. After that, the excess liquid is drained. The gelatin is placed in a water bath and, after 12 minutes, combined with 300 ml of cherry juice. 300 g of cherries are pitted, spread over the bottom of the mold and filled with a gelatinous mixture. The contents are placed in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. 300 grams of marshmallow is divided into halves and cut lengthwise into circles with a sharp knife. The cherry jelly should be cut into the same shape. Now the marshmallows and jelly are stacked on top of each other to make them look like a cake. You can distribute layers in any order. The dessert is again placed in the refrigerator for an hour. It is then garnished with whipped cream and mint petals.
- Marshmallow and strawberry cake … 600 grams of marshmallow is divided into two parts with a heated and damp knife. Distribute over the dish. Half a kilo of strawberries are chopped into small slices. 400 grams of peeled walnuts are passed through a blender. Beat 500 ml of cream (35%) with a mixer until a thick foam appears. Then it is applied to a layer of marshmallows, sprinkled with chopped nuts and strawberries. Layers alternate until the end of the components. In the end, you only need to leave cream, a few berries and nuts to decorate the cake. It can be served immediately, but it is better to keep it in the refrigerator for several hours so that the ingredients set well.
- Chocolate cookies with marshmallows … First of all, the oven is heated to 200 degrees. In a saucepan, combine 1/2 cup ghee, 100 grams of white and brown sugar, 2 eggs and half a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Separately mix 400 grams of wheat flour, 40 grams of cocoa powder and a teaspoon of baking powder. Then all the ingredients are combined, a glass of chocolate chips and 100 grams of chopped marshmallows are added. Stir well and spread the dough in small portions on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. You need to bake for about 10 minutes. Cookies are served to the table an hour after cooking.
Often people wonder how to make a marshmallow and keep its density? To do this, you need to cool the egg whites in advance, because then they are quickly converted into foam. Take the time and beat the fruit puree for at least 10 minutes. Then the dessert will take the shape you give it.
Interesting facts about marshmallows
Marshmallow is considered one of the most dietary sweets, as it has a very low percentage of fat.
To make it easier to remove the frozen marshmallow mass, you should distribute it over a cutting board moistened with water.
To increase the shelf life of marshmallows at home, you need to use glucose syrup instead of 1/3 of the sugar.
It is recommended to consume marshmallows between 16:00 and 18:00. Nutritionists have found that it is during this period of time that the percentage of glucose in the blood sharply decreases, and the dessert allows you to restore it.
The fastest eating marshmallow was entered into the Guinness Book of Records - 17 pieces in 60 seconds.
The most common jelly-forming components that are added to a homemade marshmallow recipe include gelatinous mass, syrup-agar syrup, pectin and furcellaran. They not only give the dessert the desired shape, but also have a positive effect on health.
Even inveterate sweets can confuse marshmallows and marshmallows. Outwardly, they are very similar, but eggs are not added to the marshmallows.
In Ancient Egypt, the prototype of the current marshmallow appeared. The main ingredients were marsh mallow (a natural thickener) and honey.
How to make marshmallows - watch the video:
In this article, you learned how to cook delicious dishes with marshmallows and how it is useful. Do not forget that the organoleptic properties of the dessert are preserved for up to 45 days. Use the product with benefit and do not exceed the allowed amount.
