Description of licorice root, its taste and useful properties. The content of vitamins and other substances in the composition. Contraindications to use and a selection of recipes for how to eat the product. Licorice rhizome is effective for peptic ulcer, gastritis, rheumatism, inflammation of the genitourinary system. But its uncontrolled use can harm rather than benefit.
Harm and contraindications to licorice root
Abuse of this product can result in heart pain, high blood pressure, migraines, and swelling of the face and legs. With such symptoms, you should immediately exclude it from the menu. Men should not get carried away with them because of the decrease in testosterone levels and an increased risk of developing impotence. Also, the harm of licorice root is undeniable for people suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system, since it removes potassium useful for it from the body.
There are the following contraindications for the inclusion of the product in the diet:
- Cirrhosis of the liver … Its causes (alcoholism, hepatitis, inflammation) do not matter, absolutely everyone should be careful because of the presence of alkaloids in the composition.
- Violation of the water-salt balance … Licorice root draws moisture from the body, therefore, it is not recommended for use in this case.
- Hypotension … The product lowers the level of blood pressure, which for those suffering from this problem can result in apathy, nausea, dizziness or even loss of consciousness.
- Pregnancy … The rhizome is too sweet, saturated with various acids and essential oils, which can cause allergies in expectant mothers and their children.
- Diabetes … It is one of the most high-calorie and sugary foods, and for people with high glucose levels or impaired glucose tolerance, it contains too many mono- and disaccharides.
- Excess weight … Here, the ban on the use of licorice root is associated with the high calorie content of the product and the high content of carbohydrates. Due to this, it can negatively affect body weight, accelerating its gain.
Since licorice flushes potassium from the body, during its use it is necessary to include dried fruits rich in it in the diet - dates, raisins, dried apricots.
How to make licorice root
Raw materials are harvested in March or November. Only roots older than 3 years are suitable for use. They are dug out without affecting the ground part, and they take no more than 75% from one plant, this is necessary to restore the root system. It will be possible to turn to him again only after 6 years.
The resulting raw materials are cleaned from the ground, washed and dried for 1-2 days. After that, the sticks are divided into two parts, cut lengthwise, laid out on paper and taken out to dry in the sun. Here they are left for several days, bringing them overnight. You can also use a dryer or oven, where the roots are kept at a minimum temperature of 5 to 12 hours.
They are considered ready to eat after they begin to break when bent. To obtain juice from the roots of licorice, drying is no longer required, they are immediately boiled. If it is necessary to prepare licorice candies, then after that the remaining raw materials are vacuum dried and pressed. Before use, the resulting product is crushed either into shavings or into powder.
Licorice Root Drink Recipes
On its basis, teas, coffee, infusions, kvass, beer, cider and other alcoholic beverages are prepared. It goes well with honey, sugar, various dried fruits. It can be added to compote, jelly, cocoa.
Here are some simple recipes:
- Sousse … Soak the main ingredient in water and leave overnight, it should be absorbed in the morning, and the root should darken. Then put it in a bag of gauze, tie it and hang it over a container in which dripping liquid should accumulate during the day.
- "Coffee" … Fry the chopped root (50 g) until golden brown without oil in a hot skillet. Then fill it with boiling water, the amount of which is determined depending on taste preferences. On average, you need about 200 ml for 1, 5 tbsp. l. ingredient.
- Tea … Mix the powder of the main component (2 tbsp. L.) And boiled water (0.5 l), keep the composition on low heat for 5 minutes. A few seconds before turning off, add 1 tbsp. l. honey or condensed cream. Before drinking, soak the tea for 2-3 hours under the lid, then strain and heat.
- Infusion … Powder the licorice root (15 g) and mung bean (60 g), combine them together and put them in a thermos. Pour boiled water (1 l) here and leave the mixture for half an hour.
- Compote … Root (not powdered!), Which you need 5 g, mix with peeled and diced green apple (1 pc.) And coriander (20 g). Pour boiling water over the mixture (500 ml) and cook for 20 minutes. Strain it and add honey before use.
- Kvass … For him, this is one of the rather popular ingredients. To make this drink, it (100 g) needs to be boiled. Then drain the water, grate the zest of one lemon and combine it with yeast (15 g), cinnamon (pinch), rowan juice (200 ml). Combine all the components, pour the liquid into a jar, cover it with a lid and put it in a warm place for fermentation for 2 days. When the drink is ready, add the raisins to taste and bottle them.
Licorice recipes
Rhizome is added to meat dishes, combined with dairy products, used to prepare various sweets, from sweets to sherbet. It is put in cereals and soups to add flavor. Preservation is prepared with it, especially pickled apples. It perfectly complements all kinds of fruits and berries - cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, persimmons, bananas. Licorice root has found a place for itself in pastry baked goods.
We have selected several popular recipes for you:
- Candies … Pour sugar (200 ml) into water (70 ml) and cook the mixture over low heat until it begins to darken. Then pour 200 ml of licorice root syrup into it (you can prepare it according to the recipe below) and a glass of any berry fruit drink. Next, stirring the mass, add 1/4 tsp into it. powder of the main ingredient. When the mixture looks like caramel, stir it well, cool and mold the candy in the shape you like. Next, put them on a plate and send them to the freezer to solidify.
- Braised duck … Fry it (200 g) in oil, then put it in a saucepan. Pour the sorted out, washed and dried mung bean (180 g) into it, pour in water (1 l) and put licorice root cut into small pieces (5-6 pcs.). Season with salt and simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes.
- Soup … Rinse and soak 40 g white beans overnight. In the morning, put them to simmer in 500 ml of water and, when it boils, add mung bean (30 g) and soybeans (30 g). Add powdered licorice (9 g) to the dish before removing it from the stove.
- Puree … Grind the roots as much as you need and boil them in water until they begin to soften and absorb moisture. Then add a pinch of vanilla and cinnamon, put the resulting mass in the jars, roll them up and sterilize for 20 minutes in boiling water. The mashed potatoes can be eaten neat or used as a filling for pies.
- Sherbet … Beat one protein until frothy, add applesauce (300 g), licorice powder (2 tablespoons) and lemon juice (50 g). Then let this mixture sit in the freezer for about 3 hours.
Since licorice root is eaten not only in desserts, it can be used to make various sauces and marinades.
Interesting facts about licorice
A useful extract is obtained from licorice root, which is popular in the food industry. In Japan, it is used to give beer a thick foam and flavor to nicotine-free cigarettes. Here antioxidant preparations are prepared from it. In Kyrgyzstan, it is replaced by regular black tea. In the Caucasus, dye for wool and felt is made from this product; it is also used in the production of shoe polish, ink and ink. In Europe, it is used to create a foamy mass in fire extinguishers. Licorice syrup is quite popular, which is needed for the preparation of cocoa, coffee, kvass, flour products. It is sold in stores and pharmacies. It is easy to make and independently, for this, the ingredient is crushed (10 g) and the resulting mass (60 g) is poured with boiling water. Then it is put on fire and kept for 20 minutes. After this time, the finished broth is drained and diluted with boiling water (1: 1).
The medicinal properties of rhizomes have been known since 2000 BC. BC, around this time for the first time the plant and its root system were described in detail in the work "Ben Cao Jing" by Shen-Nun. Since that time, oriental medicine has put licorice on a par with ginseng in terms of its benefits. Ancient Chinese doctors saw in her a guarantor of youth and strengthening of the body. Licorice roots have been recognized as an effective anti-inflammatory agent in Egypt and Sumeria. This is mentioned in the ancient encyclopedia "Papyrus of Ebers". Their experience has successfully reached the Middle Ages, in those years the French doctor Odo from Mena treated pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, gastritis, cough with this product. Its benefits were confirmed by the famous professor Mozheiko A. V. A study by Soviet biologists, conducted in 1964, discovered the anti-inflammatory properties of the product. At the beginning of the 21st century, Japanese scientists discovered here substances that suppress HIV infection. For the treatment of cough, a remedy is used made from a crushed ingredient (1 tbsp. L.) And boiled water (200 ml). They need to be combined together, kept in a water bath for 20 minutes and insisted for 2 hours. After that, the mixture is filtered, honey is added to the composition to taste and it is drunk in 1 tbsp. l. 5 to 7 times a day. Treatment continues for a month, with improvement, the dosage is reduced by half. Herbal tea made from licorice root, Icelandic moss, rose hips and plantain leaves helps with gastritis, each of which needs 1 tbsp. l. They must be mixed, after which licorice juice (2 tablespoons) should be added here. It should be brewed like regular tea before drinking. It is enough to drink it 2-3 times a day for 1-2 weeks. In case of inflammation of the prostate gland, licorice root in powder form is recommended to be combined with crushed perennial burdock at the rate of 1.5 tbsp. at 3 tbsp. l. Boiled water (500 ml) should be poured into this collection. Then the composition must be kept for a day, strain and, starting from the next day, take 3 tbsp. l. at one time on an empty stomach until you feel better. Watch a video about licorice root:
It is impossible to list all the recipes with licorice root, as it is a very popular ingredient in cooking. Each of them is interesting in its own way and deserves attention, as well as the useful properties of this unusual product.
