Marzipan: health benefits and harms

What is marzipan, probably, everyone knows who loves sweets or somehow comes into contact with confectionery art. In addition to excellent taste, this product has a high nutritional value and a rich beneficial composition, which allowed it to be used even as a medicine once.

Marzipan is an ancient delicacy that was loved by almost all the peoples of the world. The composition of such a delicacy provides a mixture of grated almonds and powdered sugar. Instead of almonds, it is not recommended to use another type of nuts, because in this case the special structure of the sweetness will be lost. This is due to the fact that this ingredient contains almond oil, which is able to give a certain form of marzipan. But, as you know, this dessert is used by confectioners to create different figures.

At first, such a treat was considered a luxury for the average person. Marzipan was present only on the tables of rich people. Currently, the housewives have learned to create such a masterpiece with their own hands at home.

As for the origin of such a dish, there are so many versions. The most popular is the one that says that the delicacy was created in Italy.

According to legend, sweetness appeared here in the most lean year. Then the inhabitants of the state were left almost without food of plant origin. In such adverse weather conditions, only almonds, not picky about the climate, could be born. In order not to starve to death, Italians learned to grind this kind of nut to a powdery consistency, while receiving something like flour. It was possible to bake bread and various pastries from it. It is believed that this is the progenitor of the widely known dessert today. From that moment on, the cooking principle has not changed much.

According to another hypothesis, marzipan is of Spanish origin. In this case, mountain explorers are possible pioneers. More than a thousand years ago, in battles against the Moors, people got the hang of combining sugar with almond dust. It is believed that this discovery was made by the monks from the monastery of San Clemente as a result of the fact that the ministers of the church faced hunger. Although the Spaniards won this battle, a large number of men died. This led to the fact that there was simply no one to work on the ground, which negatively affected the productivity indicators. So, the monks began to use these two components to create a specific nutrient mass.

There is another version of how such a delicacy appeared. It is considered the most likely. So, it is assumed that the earliest references to this recipe have oriental roots. Here, the confectioners of the Ottoman Empire should be thanked, since they began to cook unusual goodies at the beginning of the VIII century.

To date, there has been ongoing debate among historians regarding the pioneer of such a dessert. However, experienced specialists claim that in all these states, residents could independently begin to combine these ingredients, not even suspecting that such a delicacy is being created by culinary specialists in another country. A lot of European countries, one might say, are fighting for the right to call themselves the birthplace of marzipan. In Germany, in France, in Italy they really love such a delicacy and know how to cook it exquisitely.

The word "marzipan" in translation from Italian means "March bread". During a period of insufficient wheat, this variety of nut has become a source for sweet pastries, which also has a high degree of nutrition. There is also an opinion that European countries produced marzipan as a medicine for various diseases associated with impaired nervous system functions, such as apathy and depression.

What is marzipan?

So, as already mentioned, marzipan is a confectionery product that is made from a mixture of crushed almond flour and powdered sugar or syrup. Sometimes marzipan is considered to be a mass consisting of other varieties of walnut. The name also refers to food prepared from this component. For example, buns called marzipans are very popular. They contain peanuts.

What are they made of

Today's marzipan has three essential ingredients. They are sugar or syrup, as well as sweet and bitter almonds. All these components are taken in certain parts.

In recipes, you can use almond oil, cocoa, citrus zest, various spices and other inclusions. As auxiliary ingredients, food colors, vegetable oils, vanilla, eggs, etc. Some manufacturers are used to using peanuts, as well as pine and walnuts instead of almonds.

Today, there are many options for the manufacture of marzipans. As for the varieties, it is almost impossible to calculate them. So, for example, in Europe today more than five hundred types of this sweet are known. Marzipan is a delicious dessert, which is always present at the New Year and Christmas holidays. It can be used not only as a sweet, but also as a valuable product that will benefit the body.

Kinds

Marzipan can be prepared in several ways. So, according to the manufacturing method, the product is divided into the following types.

The hot way is that initially the nuts are chopped and then poured with sugar syrup, which acts as a sweetener.

A cold cooking method is also known. In this case, all the ingredients are carefully ground and mixed well. This method involves the use of eggs in the recipe.

In addition, marzipan differs in composition and method of use. So, the mixture may be white. It is a decoration for various pastries and desserts. Yellow marzipan is formed as a result of white staining. This variety is used for pouring desserts. There is also raw marzipan, which is used for enrobing.

What is the difference between marzipan and mastic

The difference between marzipan and mastic is in the composition of these products. So, to obtain mastic, powdered sugar is used, as well as gelatin, condensed milk and starch. Traditional marzipan consists only of almonds and powdered sugar. In addition, mastic is quite easy to prepare yourself. To get delicious marzipan, professional skill is required. Therefore, it will not be so easy to cook it at home.

Another difference between these confectionery products is the scope. For example, mastic is often used to decorate cakes and create various figures. Marzipan is characterized by a wider range of uses. It can be used for the production of liquor, sweets, cookies, and for creating different shapes. Marzipan is not very suitable for decorating baking, since it crumbles heavily.

Composition and calorie content

Traditionally, this confectionery sweet is made from almonds with powdered sugar. Moreover, the walnut content should be at least 1/3. Like any other dish, such a treat has changed over time. Today, in its composition you can find pine nuts, lemon zest, oranges, pineapple, egg yolk, etc.In any case, the ratio of almonds to sugar is strictly observed.

Germany is the best producer of marzipan. It is here, in one of the cities of this country, that the best confectioners live, who keep the recipes of this delicacy secret. It is believed that the secret is that they add one bitter almond nut per hundred sweet.

Marzipan is useful thanks to natural almonds. The nut used here, therefore, the product itself is quite high-calorie. So, almost 480 kcal per 100 g of product. This suggests that two of these sweets will be a great snack.

Almonds are characterized by many useful properties. For example, it contains a lot of tocopherol. This vitamin is considered a strong antioxidant substance, which helps protect body cells from adverse environmental factors and can withstand stress and emotional stress. Also in the almonds are concentrated B vitamins. They are designed to strengthen the heart muscle, as well as joints. In addition, they provide the removal of bad cholesterol from the body, improve liver activity. It should be noted that ascorbic acid and vitamin PP are also contained here.

Of the minerals in the composition of such a treat contains calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and sulfur.

What is useful marzipan

General benefit

The benefit of such a dessert for the human body directly depends on the ingredients that make up its composition. A treat is characterized by the same valuable qualities that a nut possesses.

Among the beneficial properties of marzipan, the following features can be distinguished. This product is able to strengthen the body's defenses, as well as prevent the development of depression. As already mentioned, in the composition of such a product there is a high concentration of vitamin E. This component is very useful for the overall emotional state, the functioning of the brain and central nervous system.

Since almond is present in marzipan, the treat is very useful. This also happens because the product is not subjected to heat treatment during manufacture. This allows you to save all the valuable components of the nut.

The benefit of marzipan is the content of B vitamins. Even the sugar present here provides the production of the hormone of joy. This quality of goodies was previously used to combat depression, nervous breakdowns and apathy.

It should be remembered that the uncontrolled use of sweets negatively affects the condition of the teeth and material metabolism. The presence of sugar in the product is a limitation of its use by patients with diabetes.

In general, marzipan is a very tasty and healthy confectionery. If you comply with the standards and use it in moderation, you can safely enjoy such a delicacy.

For women

Due to the presence of almonds in the composition of marzipan, vitamin E is also found in large quantities in this variety of walnut. Since this substance is an antioxidant, it protects the cells of the body from various pathogenic microorganisms and provides their protection against changes that often occur in various diseases. In addition, tocopherol helps to cope with stress and emotional stress.

There is also a beneficial effect on the health of hair and nails. The ingredients used to make the dessert are rich in healthy minerals and vitamins. A significant part of the recipes does not involve heat treatment. This allows you to save all the valuable elements in the finished product.

It should be borne in mind that marzipan, unfortunately, does not apply to dietary products. Even if you use no more than 100 g of goodies per day, this will greatly affect the total calorie content of foods eaten all day. A high concentration of fats and carbohydrates can adversely affect the figure. For this reason, the product is not recommended for ladies who monitor their weight.

For men

For the male half, such a confectionery product is useful in that it helps strengthen blood vessels and cleanse them of excess cholesterol. All this allows you to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, improve liver function. In addition, the components of this product provide strengthening of the joints and protective functions of the body.

Another important advantage of marzipan is that it is able to quickly make up for a lack of energy. Due to the high calorie content, a feeling of satiety with fast snacks remains for a long time.

During pregnancy

Since the main component of marzipan is almond, the finished dish will have the appropriate calorie content. Therefore, you should not eat such a delicacy in large quantities, otherwise it will negatively affect the figure.

If you are prone to allergies, you should be careful even when choosing products that contain marzipan. During the bearing of the fetus, it is recommended to abandon the use of such a confectionery product. Since the most persistent food allergy is an allergy to nuts.

When breastfeeding

As noted above, nut allergy is the most common. In order not to provoke an allergic reaction in the baby, it is necessary to use no more than 2 tablespoons of goodies. More will affect breast milk. Such restrictions must be adhered to until the baby is 3 months old.

Before buying this treat, it is important to study the composition, check the date of production. After using marzipan, you must constantly monitor the reaction of the child.

For kids

Marzipan is a natural product that will appeal to many children. But to this day, there is debate about whether to give the child this product. Some believe that giving such a treat to children can be done without fear, since it contains only sugar syrup and almonds, and this is not able to harm the child. In fact, this opinion is erroneous. After all, as you know, nuts are considered a strong allergen. Excess sugar can cause tooth decay. Therefore, if the baby has an increased sensitivity to food, you should not give such a dessert. After all, even a minute pleasure from eating such a treat is not worth the fact that subsequently you have to deal with allergies and be observed by the dentist.

When losing weight

For the preparation of marzipan, sugar, crushed almonds and, in some cases, additional components are used. Sweetness has a rich taste and dense texture. Eating a lot will not work. It is possible to introduce such a product into the diet of diet food, but in small quantities. Marzipan sweets have many useful elements and various vitamins. All this is able to positively affect the process of losing weight. However, it is important to consider that the calorie content of marzipan is quite high, and exceeding the permissible norms can contribute to weight gain.

Harm and contraindications

Unfortunately, marzipan is not only a sweet confectionery, but also a rather unhealthy dish in some cases. Such a delicacy is a common component of various desserts, pastries, which are regularly used by sweet lovers with great pleasure. The negative sides of this confectionery are at some points.

First of all, you need to remember that in the composition of this delicacy are only sugar and almond kernels, mashed to a powdery consistency. Almonds differ in the content of a substance such as amygdalin.This component is converted into a compound, which is a toxic substance and, when it enters the bloodstream, has a toxic effect on the body. Yes, it is important to take into account the norm, but good is still not enough. The greatest danger is bitter almonds, because it contains more dangerous substances. To reduce the likelihood of intoxication, it is recommended to use a sweet nut instead of a bitter nut.

It should also be borne in mind that peanuts are often used instead of the main nut as an alternative. And this type of nut is the most powerful allergen that can provoke serious consequences in people with intolerance to this product. But even almonds can lead to allergies.

The danger is also the high energy value of marzipan. As you know, almost 500 kcal, a lot of fats and carbohydrates are concentrated in 100 g of goodies. For this reason, it is dangerous for those who seek to lose weight. Speaking of a significant degree of calorie content, it should be borne in mind that it is rather hard to digest by the stomach. In this regard, the use of goodies should be limited to people suffering from diabetes, having diseases of the liver, pancreas. However, a rather large amount of marzipan, more than 20 kg, is life-threatening. Naturally, no one can eat such an amount of goodies.

Nutritionists warn that the daily dosage of almonds, regardless of its type and method of processing, should not exceed one handful. Therefore, it is better to eat a little less sweetness, and then the likelihood of developing any health problems will decrease.

In order not to harm the body, it is recommended to give preference to marzipans, cooked at home. If you still need to purchase a store dessert, you need to buy only the product, which does not contain chemical impurities that are harmful to health. Therefore, it is recommended that you carefully study the composition first.

How to choose and store

It is now fairly easy to find marzipan on store shelves. Before buying, you need to make sure that the product has a sealed packaging and a label that shows all the information regarding the manufacturer, production date, shelf life and storage conditions.

This treat should be stored in the refrigerator. A freezer is also suitable for storage. In this case, you must initially wrap the product in cling film or place in an airtight container. The optimal storage temperature of marzipan is from +10 to -6 degrees. The delicacy is able to maintain its taste and healthy properties for three months. Before use, the marzipan mass must be kept for some time at room temperature, and then knead it by hand.

How to make marzipan: recipes

It was noted above that there are two main methods for making such a nutty delicacy: hot and cold.

By hot method

The recipe for hot marzipan is very simple. You must first make a water bath. In a metal container, mix 4 egg whites and 150 g of sugar, previously ground to a powder. Heat the resulting mass in a steam bath until a thick, homogeneous paste is formed. In this cream, add a few drops of lemon juice, 400 g of chopped sweet almonds and a few bitter nuts. If there is no bitter almond, you can replace it with a few drops of almond essence. Now mix the mass until a smooth and durable dough is obtained. The product can be used for its intended purpose - to form various shapes from it, or simply put it on a dish.

By the cold method

Cold marzipan is even easier to make.If you follow the instructions, you get a marzipan dough, which is perfect for creating various shapes. So, you need to knead the dough by combining 200 g of honey and 500 g of powder obtained from sweet almonds. If there is no beekeeping product, you can use powdered sugar. When mixing, you need to add a few drops of water. This is required to give the test elasticity. It remains only to form from it sweets or other figures that are necessary in a particular case.

French recipe

Marzipan is prepared differently in European countries. To cook such a treat at home, you can use the French recipe. In this case, you will need 0.5 kg of sweet almonds, 10-15 nucleoli of a bitter variety, 0.5 kg of powdered sugar and cognac or lemon squeeze to taste.

Pour the nuts and leave for a few minutes. After this, drain the liquid, peel the nuts. Next, put the nucleoli in a pan and dry over low heat with constant stirring. Then grind the fried almonds with a blender.

Now combine the nut mass with powdered sugar and cognac or lemon juice. It remains only to knead the dough until a homogeneous mass is obtained. If it is very soft, you can add powdered sugar, if it is friable - a small amount of water.

Sugarless

Cooking marzipan involves the use of nuts and a lot of sugar. However, there is still a recipe for creating a treat, which does not require a sweetener. With this method of preparing a confectionery product, there is no need to add sugar syrup, which facilitates the task of the hostess. At the same time, dates will act as a sweetener and an ingredient that provides the delicacy with the desired texture. It is important in this case to choose the highest quality product. The number of dates depends on their size.

To prepare marzipan without sugar, you need 200 g of almonds and 6-7 dates. First, it is necessary to keep the almonds in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, peel and dry. Grind the peeled nucleoli in a blender. Now add pitted dates to the almond mass. Beat and knead the dough again. To give the finished marzipan the desired shape, then wrap it with foil and send it to the refrigerator for storage.

Useful Tips

There are several recommendations that, when followed, will make delicious marzipan with your own hands.

First, it should be noted that for the manufacture of such a treat you need to use only fresh almonds, which have no rancid taste. Applying bitter almonds in this case is not necessary. However, it does reveal a unique aftertaste.

In some cases, it is advised to add almonds to speed up the cleaning process with boiling water. In fact, this allows you to clean it faster, but at the same time the unique taste is lost, and also part of the almond oil is washed off, which gives the mass plasticity.

Ready marzipan should be stored in the refrigerator, previously wrapped with cellophane. To achieve a uniform consistency, you can place the mixture of ingredients in a steam bath. If the nuts are slightly dry and produce little oil, you can add a small amount of water to the mass. This will allow the almonds to become more ductile.

So that during modeling, marzipan does not stick to hands, it should be sprinkled with sugar. If you want to get a treat of a certain color, you need to use only food coloring.

As you know, the shelf life of marzipan is one month, provided that it is in the refrigerator. If eggs were included in the manufacturing process, it is advisable to eat the resulting sweetness as soon as possible.

To fasten the individual parts of the figures, it is recommended to use egg white. This substance is an excellent food glue.

Interesting Marzipan Facts

1. The standards for making marzipan are very simple. It is only necessary to take into account that the amount of sugar should not exceed the volume of marzipan paste. When sugar is added, the mixture is more dense and solid.
2. The best marzipan is being prepared in Germany, namely in the city of Lübeck. The confectionery factory in this city has a reputation as the best producer of this delicacy in the whole world. Moreover, the percentage of almonds in this delicacy is almost 70 percent.
3. There is a marzipan museum in Hungary.

Photos of marzipans