Description of the dacriodes plant. Beneficial substances contained in its fruits and leaves. What properties does it have on the body, a list of possible harmful manifestations in case of abuse. Recipes with dacryodes.
Harm and contraindications to the use of dacryodes
Some studies concerning the study of the species Dacryodes edulis have proven its harmlessness and considerable benefits. Contraindications for dacryodes are few and are mainly related to its calorie content.
The fruit, however, contains some anti-nutritional compounds, among which are oxalate, tannins, phytates, which inhibit the metabolism of trypsin. Most of them are found in seeds, which it is advisable to remove before use, or thoroughly cook them. Sometimes dacryodes fruits sold on the market can be contaminated with heavy metals, but this cannot be determined without chemical analysis.
Consequences of Dacryodes abuse:
- Weight gain … The fruit is high in calories, contains a lot of fat and can be used as a substitute for butter. Therefore, it should be consumed in strictly controlled quantities, otherwise extra pounds cannot be avoided.
- Stomach upset … Despite the fact that dacryodes helps to normalize digestion, a large amount of vegetable fat and fiber in its composition can cause diarrhea.
African pear is prohibited in case of individual intolerance, be careful during the first tasting, as well as when using cosmetics with dacryodes oil.
Dacryodes recipes
The preparation methods for this fruit are many and varied. It is eaten raw and chilled, fried, boiled, mashed, used for filling and flavoring baked goods, not to mention as an oil substitute.
Dacryodes recipes:
- Fried dacryodes … This dish will require the following ingredients: a large African pear, 1-2 zucchini, a few cloves of garlic, two tablespoons of soy sauce, 2-3 sweet potatoes, olive oil for frying, table salt, pepper to taste, fresh rosemary. Wash, cut and add all vegetables and fruits to the frying pan. Crush or chop the garlic, finely chop the rosemary greens, mix with oil, salt and pepper. Turn on the oven and preheat it to 190 degrees Celsius. Pour the seasoning mixture over the vegetables and start baking. After 10 minutes, add the soy sauce to the stew, then bake for about 10 minutes. Serve with chunks of lime or pickled ginger before serving.
- Dacriodes with corn … One of the most popular “street food” in Nigeria is grilled or boiled corn, which is eaten with safou, or boiled dacryodes. You can also make a nutritious and fiber-rich salad from the ingredients. To do this, choose sweet, ripe corn and boil it in water without removing the leaves (this will give the finished dish a more intense aroma). Prepare dacryodes in a separate container, cutting it into slices or boiling it whole, so that the fruit retains more nutrients. When the components of the salad have cooled, cut the dacryodes into cubes and remove the corn kernels from the cob. Mix vegetable and fruit in one plate, season with a spoonful of cream or any other favorite sauce, as well as salt, pepper and grated coconut pulp. Stir well and chill in the refrigerator to cool off in the hot African climate.
- Dacryodes rice sauce … The sweet, creamy taste of this sauce goes well with most side dishes and meat dishes. Take for him 20 prunes, 250 ml of water, a pound of peeled tomato pulp, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, 1 large lemon (grated), 1 large dacryodes processed in the same way, a teaspoon of cardamom seeds, salt, sugar, and pepper to taste. Rinse the prunes, cut into wedges, and soak in warm water until soft (about 5 minutes). Drain, heat the peanut butter in a skillet, fry the prunes with lemon zest and cardamom seeds in it for a few minutes. Add tomatoes, water, dacryodes, simmer for about 10 minutes. Season with sugar, salt, your preferred spices, and serve with pre-cooked rice.
- Rolls with dacriodes and bananas … The traditional Filipino dish "turon" is reminiscent of fruit-filled pancakes. To prepare it, take a large pita bread (in the original, the dough is rolled out of flour and water, after which it is baked in the oven), 3 tablespoons of dacriodes jam, 3 bananas, cut lengthwise. Jam is spread on a sheet of ready-made dough, a banana is placed on top, the lavash is wrapped and lightly fried in a hot pan. Top "Turons" can be poured with honey or sprinkled with powdered sugar.
- Vegan Milkshake … Take a spoonful of dacryodes puree, 200 ml of coconut milk, a spoonful of vanilla ice cream with vegetable fats, a teaspoon of peanut butter and process in a blender. Add powdered sugar, honey, or whipped soy cream if desired.
Interesting facts about dacryodes
Not only the fruit, but many other parts of the dacryodes can be used to great advantage. The local population collects the sap and resin of the tree for the manufacture of medicines, makes household utensils from wood, fertilizes the fields with leaves and feeds livestock. Dacryodes green spaces are designed to stop soil erosion, as the tree grows quickly and has a powerful root system. On the streets of African countries, dacryodes is prepared in all possible ways, sold as a simple and affordable dish for quick satiety.
To select the ripe fruit, avoid fruits with reddish skin as this indicates immaturity. The most ready-to-eat specimens acquire a rich purple and even black hue, their flesh lightens from intense green to almost white. Various oils present in it contain linoleic, palmitic, oleic and stearic acids.
If a raw fruit seems firm enough to you, do not miss the opportunity to see for yourself its unique characteristics. Since dacryodes contains a lot of vegetable oils, they soften at a fairly low temperature. Chew on a piece of the fruit and notice how it instantly softens. This is due to the fact that the oils begin to melt under the influence of the heat of the oral cavity. For the same reason, you should not leave the fruit in the heat or in an airtight container - it can “cook” right in a closed container.
Like avocados, dacryodes can be a valuable vegan diet replacement for animal fats.
Dacryodes oil is an effective cosmetic product that is stored for a long time and does not lose its healing properties. It prevents skin irritation, intensively nourishes and moisturizes the integument, helps in healing wounds and eliminating scars.
The leaves, stems, bark of the tree are used in folk medicine to treat dysentery, anemia and tonsillitis. Many Congolese people believe that eating dacryodes increases sex drive in both men and women.
Watch the video about Dacryodes:
Dacriodes, also known as the African pear tree, has a rich and highly unusual composition. It contains vitamins of groups A, B and C, many organic acids, as well as almost 30% of the oil, which is characterized by antioxidant, diuretic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. The fruit is useful for high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, it should be taken in small doses to prevent cancer and strengthen bones. It is advisable to remove dacryodes seeds before eating - they contain anti-nutritional components, and are also poorly digested.