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Pastila is one of the most unique ways to preserve all the beneficial properties of fresh fruits. It is considered an excellent dessert, and due to the fact that sugar is not used during its preparation or is used in small quantities, it is also a healthy sweet. It can be prepared from various berries, fruits and even vegetables; one of the most aromatic and sweet is melon pastille.
Features of preparing melon marshmallows at home
Melon itself is very sweet and juicy, making it ideal for making dried sweets. To do this, it is best to choose the most ripe, but not overripe, fruit with a pronounced aroma.
Before preparing melon marshmallow, you should wash it thoroughly, even though the skin will be removed. It is also necessary to remove all internal seeds and fibers. After all, to prepare such a sweet you only need sweet, juicy pulp.
The dried leaf treat can be made from fully pureed melon pulp or from finely chopped pieces. The simplest recipe involves drying only the crushed pulp of the fruit. Often, to make melon pastille more elastic, water and a small amount of sugar are added to it.
Ingredients
To prepare healthy melon marshmallow, you can use the simplest recipe, which contains only melon pulp without adding other ingredients. Of course, to diversify the taste, you can add various spices, nuts or other fruits; it all depends on the preferences of the hostess. In addition, there are more complicated recipes that require preliminary heat treatment with the addition of water and even sugar.
But if there is no particular desire to complicate the cooking process, the ideal is still a simplified version, where you only need melon. It is taken in medium or larger sizes. You will also need a small amount of vegetable oil to lubricate the flooring on which the layer of melon pulp will dry.
Step-by-step recipe for melon marshmallows
To prepare marshmallows, you should choose a medium-sized melon. It is thoroughly washed and dried with a paper towel. Then place on a cutting board and cut in half.
The cut melon halves are cleaned of seeds and internal fibers.
The peeled halves are cut into slices 5-8 cm wide.
Separate the crust from the pulp by cutting it off with a knife.
The separated pulp is cut into pieces. They shouldn't be too big.
Cut the melon into small pieces and place it in a blender bowl. Grind it until smooth.
The resulting melon puree is poured into pre-prepared trays. If the tray in the dryer has the form of a lattice, then first lay parchment paper on it for baking in several layers. It is lubricated with vegetable oil to make it easier to remove the layer after drying.The thickness of the layer should not exceed 5 mm, its surface should be leveled so that there are no compactions, this will help it dry evenly.
Trays of melon puree are sent to the dryer and the desired time and temperature are set.
The readiness of the marshmallow is checked by its stickiness in the densest place (center); as a rule, the finished sweet should not be sticky.
The finished marshmallow is removed from the dryer. Immediately remove it from the tray and roll it into a tube while it is still warm.
Cut it into small pieces.
The melon pastille is ready and can be served almost immediately with tea.
Terms and conditions of storage
Since marshmallow is a completely natural sweet, its shelf life is short. And in order to enjoy such a healthy dessert for as long as possible, you need to know the rules for storing it.
There are 3 types of storage:
- In a glass jar.
- In a cloth bag soaked in salt, which is placed in a tin container.
- Wrapped in parchment paper, the marshmallow is placed in a plastic container and tightly closed.
The optimal conditions for storing it are a temperature of 13-15 degrees and a relative humidity of no more than 60%. It can be stored for about one and a half months.
You can also store the marshmallow in the refrigerator, first wrapping it in parchment paper and then in cling film.But it is not recommended to store it in the refrigerator for a long time, as it softens and becomes sticky.
Despite the short shelf life, some housewives manage to use the finished product throughout the winter.
Conclusion
Melon pastila is a very aromatic, healthy and tasty sweet. With proper preparation and storage conditions, such a dessert can become the most enjoyable treat in the winter season.
