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It happens that when buying a melon you come across a hard, unsweetened fruit. This is not a reason to be upset, but, on the contrary, a good opportunity to learn something new and try to make candied fruits from it for the first time. These are candied pieces of pulp that taste very much like candy. Candied melon will really appeal not only to kids, but also to all adults.
Useful properties of candied melon
Melon fruits, like most vegetables and fruits, are very beneficial for humans due to their rich nutritional composition. They contain:
- Sahara;
- cellulose;
- fats;
- nitrogenous substances;
- volatile aromatic compounds;
- folic and nicotinic acids;
- vitamin C.
Most of this beneficial composition is preserved even after heat treatment during the preparation of candied fruits. Thanks to this, candied melon saturates a person not only with nutrients, but also has a therapeutic and preventive effect on the body. They act as natural diuretics and have mild laxative properties.
Candied melons lift your spirits, have a calming effect on the nervous system, and are good to snack on when you are in a depressed mental state or depressed.They help with kidney diseases (nephritis, pyelonephritis), liver (chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis) and gallbladder pathologies.
The fiber contained in candied fruits removes excess cholesterol, the culprit of atherosclerosis, and the supply of vitamins helps fight anemia and rejuvenates the skin. The cleansing effect of the pulp is used for diseases of the circulatory system:
- hypertension;
- chronic heart failure;
- for heart diseases.
Candied melons have a supporting effect on the body; they are recommended for people who have suffered serious illnesses, operations, and also in old age. They also help with some gynecological diseases; they are recommended to be included in the menu of those women who are being treated for various forms of adnexitis.
Which melon is better to choose for making candied fruits?
To make candied fruits, you need to choose a melon that is not overripe. You can determine the degree of ripeness of a melon by conducting a small test. It is necessary to scrape the skin of the melon anywhere. If you can easily reach the greenish layer, then the melon is ripe.
You also need to pay attention to the place opposite the tail (must be dry), where the flower was. A ripe melon has a slightly pliable nose, while an overripe one has a very soft nose. An unripe melon will have a green tail and a hard opposite tip (nose).
How to make candied melon
The technology for making candied fruits has been known since ancient times. It was invented in the East as a way to preserve crops in extreme heat. In Europe, candied fruits were called hard (dry) jam and were considered exotic for a long time, but over time they learned to cook them no worse than their eastern neighbors. The recipe turned out to be very simple: the fruit or peel needs to be boiled in sugar syrup and then dried.
How to make candied melon pulp
The melon needs to be washed, cut into two parts, and the seeds scooped out with a spoon. Then the fruit must be peeled and cut into strips. If you have an electric dryer in your home, arrange the cut pieces into sections and stack them on top of each other. Close, turn on the vegetable dryer, set the temperature to +58 degrees and the timer for 8 hours. After the time has passed, change the sections so that the last becomes the first. Continue drying in the same mode for another 4 hours. When the time is up, the candied fruits will be ready.
Cut the pulp of unripe melon into large cubes, as thin pieces shrink during cooking and lose their appearance. Then pour boiling water over everything and leave it like that until the morning. The next day, drain the water, add fresh boiling water and repeat this for 4-5 days. The harder the melon, the more it needs to be soaked. Next, follow the recipe for making candied melon at home:
- make syrup: for 400 g of crusts, take 400 g of sugar and a glass of water;
- pour the melon and bring to a boil several times over 2-3 days and leave to soak without removing the peel from the syrup, do this until the peels become transparent;
- cool and carefully place in glass jars, being careful not to damage them, pour in syrup and store as jam;
- spread on a wide dish and let dry.
The simplest recipe for candied melon peels
Usually candied fruits are prepared in 3-4 cooking steps. This easy candied melon recipe can be made in one day. This means that there will be only one cooking. The basis for preparing the dish will be melon peelings. You need to do the following:
- Use a knife to remove a thin layer of skin and cut into cubes;
- Blanch for five minutes, remove from boiling water and immediately rinse with cold water;
- then you can start preparing the sugar syrup - for 700 g of melon cubes you need to take the same amount of sugar and 180 ml of water, add a tablespoon of lemon juice;
- Place fruit cubes in boiling syrup, bring to a boil again and keep on low heat for 3 hours;
- Place on a sieve and let the water drain completely;
- then place them on parchment paper and take them outside to air and dry, do not forget to turn them over or leave them in a well-ventilated area, in this case drying will take much longer;
- Mix starch with powdered sugar and roll each crust separately.
This method of preparing candied melon peels is also very simple, there is only one cooking. You will need the following ingredients:
- soda – 1 teaspoon;
- melon peels – 0.5 kg;
- sugar – 0.3 kg;
- citric acid – 1/6 teaspoon.
Wash the melon, cut it and eat it. Remove any remaining edible pulp and peel from the crusts. Cut into cubes. Then proceed according to the scheme:
- prepare 1 liter of soda solution, immerse melon peels there and keep for three hours;
- After the time has elapsed, drain the solution and rinse the crusts with clean water;
- add water, bring to a boil, drain;
- pour 1 liter of water into a saucepan, throw in 100 g of sugar and melon peels, boil for 20 minutes;
- then add the second 100 g of sugar, bring to a boil and boil for the same amount;
- throw a third portion of granulated sugar into the pan and continue cooking as well;
- dilute citric acid with a tablespoon of warm water, pour into the pan, stir, cook for another 10 minutes;
- if syrup remains, increase heat and cook for another 2-3 minutes;
- pour the candied fruits into a colander and leave for half an hour;
- transfer to a deck lined with parchment paper and dry in the oven for 5 hours at +60 C.
To prepare candied melon in the oven, you need to use only high-quality parchment. Store covered in the refrigerator for no more than 3-4 months.
Calorie content of candied melon
Candied fruits made from melon do not have a very high calorie content, despite the fact that they contain quite a lot of sugar. There are 320 kcal per hundred grams of product. This makes candied fruits useful for those who want to lose weight, as they are filled with vitamins and fiber, and have half the calories of chocolates.
Terms and conditions of storage
If candied fruits are stored incorrectly, they can become either too hard or, conversely, watery and stick together into a single lump. Such a product not only loses quality, but also becomes harmful. Candied fruits exposed to high humidity are susceptible to mold and therefore become hazardous to health. Sticky candied fruits can also get E. coli very easily.
In summer, it is especially necessary to ensure that candied fruits are protected from dust, flies that carry bacteria, and worm eggs. This is fraught with salmonellosis, various poisonings and allergic reactions. There is such a terrible disease - intestinal myiasis. These are fly larvae that enter our bodies and begin to multiply and grow there.This disease affects people who have low acidity of gastric juices. In such conditions, the larvae do not die, develop, and cause diarrhea, vomiting and other symptoms of the disease.
Conclusion
Homemade candied melon will be a rich source of vitamins on cold winter days. They will be a great addition to a hot cup of tea or a substitute for chocolates for children, as well as for women watching their figure.
