How to cook carob. Carob - what is it and how to use it? Comparison of cocoa and carob

Good day to all!

Today we’ll talk about proper nutrition again. For a person like me, who has been accustomed to eating healthy for five whole years, this topic has long ceased to be new. Proper nutrition implies the rejection of everything harmful and chemical with a preference for natural and healthy products.

Of course, eating right doesn't mean you have to eat the same thing all the time. If you wish, you can diversify your diet.

I recently came across the wonderful website Royal Forest, which offers healthy dietary treats. I ordered there roasted carob, who is the hero of this review.

What is carob?

Natural carob powder.

How is it useful?

Carob can be boiled like cocoa, added to baked goods, or made into chocolate.

In this review I will tell you in detail and show you how to brew a delicious drink from carob, but for now let’s look at the packaging.

The packaging is a cardboard bag, inside of which there is carob powder itself in a foil bag.

The volume of the bag is 100 grams.

Price - 90 rubles.

All the necessary information about the product is written on the bag.

Energy value and nutritional composition of the product:

Nutritional composition: carbohydrates - 40%, proteins - 4%, fats - 1%, fiber - 15%

Energy value: 222 kcal

The packaging also states that carob has a low glycemic index.

Now I will demonstrate step by step, how to brew a delicious drink from carob.

We will need:

1. small saucepan
2. measuring cup
3. 1.5 tbsp. carob
4. 250 ml milk
5. 200 ml water
6. 1 tbsp. sugar

Stage one: pour the carob into a saucepan, pour water and milk on top.

Stir it all. Carob is very difficult to stir, lumps float on the surface for a long time. It is still advisable to stir them.

Stage two . We put it all on the stove.

We continue stirring, and this is where our lumps begin to gradually dissolve.

This thing is cooked until it boils.

Stage three.

A few seconds before boiling, add sugar. If you don’t eat it on principle, you don’t have to add it, carob itself is sweetish.

When the drink boils, turn it off and remove it from the stove.

Stage four. Our drink is ready. Can be poured into mugs.

Carob is an overseas miracle product that has long been loved by adherents of healthy eating and fans of culinary experiments. What are the benefits of carob and how can you use it to improve your usual dishes?

Sweet gift of nature

Externally, carob is a flat, long pod with brown beans inside. These are the fruits of the carob tree, which grows in the Mediterranean countries. Raw seeds are absolutely unsuitable for food. How to use carob? The beans are carefully dried in the sun and ground into powder. At first glance, it is practically no different from dry cocoa, except that it has a lighter brown tint. But carob tastes much sweeter. It is only this natural sweetness that makes the product so useful. It is enough to compare the calorie content of carob and cocoa. 100 g of carob contains 222 kcal, while cocoa contains as much as 374 kcal.

Pantry benefits

The chemical composition of carob is impressive with an abundance of useful elements. It contains a fair amount of potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper and manganese. It is rich in vitamins A, group B and D. The protein present in carob reduces cholesterol intake. Slow carbohydrates provide the body with energy for a long time. Tannins bind and remove toxins. The beneficial properties of carob include the fact that it is caffeine-free. This means that high blood pressure, depletion of nerve cells and addiction do not threaten you, even with frequent use. Unlike chocolate, carob does not contain harmful substances that cause acne and allergies.

Not an ounce of harm

How is carob used in cooking? Mainly as a sugar substitute in homemade baked goods and desserts. Mix 100 g of wheat and oat flour, 2 tbsp. l. rye flour and 1 tsp. baking powder. Add 2 tbsp here. l. carob, ½ tsp. cinnamon and turmeric, ¼ tsp each. crushed cloves and cardamom. Pour 100 ml of boiled water and 3 tbsp into the dry mixture. l. vegetable oil, 200 g medium chopped nuts to your taste. Knead the dough, form identical gingerbread cookies and place in an oven preheated to 180°C for 20-25 minutes. Let them cool and brush with honey. This simple but delicious dessert can be enjoyed even if you have diabetes. Carob makes it useful and absolutely harmless.

tropical vortex

Any pastry chef will tell you how to prepare a delicacy with. It is used to make delicious icing, for example for cupcakes. Using a blender, puree a mixture of 200 g of pitted dates, ripe banana and 100 ml of orange juice. Pour 130 ml of coconut or any other vegetable oil into it. Pour 250 g of flour with 1 tsp. soda, a pinch of vanilla and knead the dough. Place it in muffin tins and bake for 30 minutes at 180°C. Meanwhile, mash ½ banana with 2 tbsp. l. coconut oil and 1 tbsp. l. carob. Spread the tops of the cupcakes with this glaze and decorate with berries. If you have vegetarians in your family, they will be the first to approve of this dessert.

Pleasant trifles

There is also an excellent way to prepare carob for those who are crazy about delicious sweets. Melt 10 g of butter over low heat. Pour in 1 tbsp. l. cream and honey, pour 4 tbsp. l. carob and continue cooking. Scald 70 g of prunes with boiling water, dry and finely chop. Place it in a saucepan with coffee glaze, season with 1 tsp. cinnamon and a pinch of ginger, mix well. Place in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Make round candies from the cooled mass, sprinkle with fine almond crumbs and place in the refrigerator overnight. You will have a wonderful dessert for a friendly party.

A cheerful morning without caffeine

In the form of a delicious fruit smoothie. Soak a handful of raw almonds in water overnight and peel them in the morning. This way the drink will taste better and be absorbed much better. Place a ripe banana, cut into slices, a cup of frozen raspberries and peeled almonds into a blender bowl. Add here 150 ml of coconut milk, 3 tbsp. l. carob and beat the ingredients into a homogeneous air mass. Pour the smoothie into glasses and sprinkle with crushed hazelnuts. This hearty cocktail will be a great start to the day and will charge your body with fresh energy.

We hope your acquaintance with carob was not in vain. If so, it's time to move from theory to practice. And if you have long discovered this wonderful product, share interesting recipes using it.

Carob fruits are known as a substitute for cocoa and chocolate. But the beneficial properties of carob can be used much more widely, and this is well known in countries where ceratonia grows and bears fruit generously. Residents of the Mediterranean enjoy using dried and roasted carob, replacing sugar, cocoa and coffee. A tasty drink is brewed from crushed dry pods, which quenches thirst and does not have the stimulating effect of long tea.

Although the sweet taste and nutritional value of the pods has been known since time immemorial, the plant mentioned in the Bible experienced a period of semi-oblivion after the introduction of beet and cane sugar. Only folk healers continued to prepare potions from carob for various ailments, fed domestic animals with the pods, and the poor ate the sweet fruits as food. Interest in carob dishes has surged again when people think about healthy eating and its connection with quality and life expectancy. Nowadays, carob powder, chocolate, syrup, gum and tea are very popular - the beneficial substances contained in carob pods are well preserved during heat treatment, and the pleasant sweetness with a minimum of fat and low calorie content make it possible to classify the product as dietary.

Benefits of carob tea

Even if you are completely healthy, do not suffer from excess weight, digestive problems or vitamin deficiency, carob tea will be useful as a source of pleasant taste sensations. The drink is good hot or cold, it has a wonderful sweetish taste and a delicate fruity aroma.

The tea does not have such a rich taste as drinks made from carob powder - it is brewed from crushed pods. The result is a tasty drink, reminiscent of dried fruit compote, but without refined sugar. Not everyone likes the heavy aroma of carob coffee and cocoa, but a drink made from brewed dried pods turns out to be light and pleasant. At the same time, all the beneficial properties of the plant are preserved in the tea:

• The absence of and, which are not always beneficial for the cardiovascular system.
• allows you to consume carob in limited quantities for diabetes.
• The abundance of iron restores the composition of the blood, helps to gain strength after illnesses and injuries.
• Magnesium and potassium are good for the heart and blood vessels, normalize blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels.
• Potassium acts as a diuretic, promotes the elimination of toxins and stimulates electrolyte metabolism.
• Carob substances normalize digestion, prevent diseases of the stomach and intestines, eliminate diarrhea, gas formation, nausea and other unpleasant phenomena.
• Tea has a good effect on the voice, even gargling with a decoction helps cure a sore throat and colds. Professional vocalists know about this property of carob.
• Tea lotions soothe inflammation of the eyes, relieve fatigue and prevent the development of cataracts.
• Natural sugars make you feel full, which is beneficial for weight loss.
• Carob is approved for children as a preventative against rickets and vitamin deficiency. A child who regularly drinks carob tea with black or green tea is less likely to catch a cold and recovers quickly.

There are practically no contraindications for use. Tea, powdered drinks, chocolate, syrup are allowed even for women during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and children. Carob extremely rarely causes allergies, but it is still not worth consuming it in unlimited quantities, especially if you have diabetes and fructose intolerance.

How to make delicious carob tea

The pleasant taste, lack of caffeine and allergens make this tea simply irreplaceable - adults and children can drink it every day. Kids usually like a drink made from carob with milk; it can be prepared like cocoa - pour a spoonful of powder or crushed pods with a glass of milk and cook for a minute or two. There is no need to add sugar, the sweetness of the carob beans is enough.

Carob tea, unlike powdered drink, is made from crushed fruits. They are not as sweet as ground pods, but they are also spicy and tasty. The herbal tea turns out transparent, with a brownish tint, characteristic of dried fruit compote.

How to cook:

1. Rinse the teapot with boiling water.
2. Add 2-3 teaspoons of crushed carob.
3. Pour slightly cooled boiling water (+90-95oC).
4. Stir, close the lid, leave for 15 minutes.

After brewing, the tea is ready to drink. You can dilute it with boiled water or not, sweeten it with sugar if the drink seems not sweet enough.

Dried pods can be used as an additive to black or green tea or mixed with dried herbs. Carob will add aromatic notes and a sweetish taste to the drink.

Green tea with carob

In Cyprus, Greece, Egypt, Israel and other Mediterranean countries, green tea with carob can be tasted in any cafe. In combination with tea, the drink acquires a tart taste, softened and decorated with aromatic carob, perfectly quenches thirst and helps you survive the midday heat more easily.

The benefits of green tea are widely known. Nutrients help maintain health, antioxidants prevent the aging process and keep a person in good shape. Together with crushed carob pods, green tea blossoms with new benefits, in particular, it acquires aroma and light sweetness, which tea leaves are slightly lacking.

Prepare green tea with carob according to the usual recipe: pour 2 teaspoons of the mixture into 200 ml of hot water. You can drink it hot or cold. The drink is very refreshing and quenches thirst.

Many manufacturers produce teas with the addition of carob and other fruits and aromatic herbs, but you can prepare mixtures yourself. Rose petals, goji berries, linden complement the taste well - you can experiment with tastes and smells and create your own delicious recipe.

Carob fruits are not a medicine, although their healing properties have long been proven. Try including tea made from crushed pods in your diet and you will see the benefits of this plant.

Carob - what is it? This product is used in dietary nutrition as a substitute for cocoa and chocolate. It is the fruit of the carob tree, from which raw materials are produced in the form of a powder that resembles cocoa in taste and appearance. The finished product does not contain flavorings and various chemicals that are often added to cocoa powder.

Homeland of the carob tree is Mediterranean and is currently cultivated in many countries around the world. The benefits of carob have been known since ancient times; it has been used in European medicine and cooking since the 5th millennium BC. In ancient Greece, the fruits of the tree, having the same size and weight, were used as a measure of weight and were called "carat". Nowadays the concept of carat is used as a unit of mass measurement in the jewelry industry.

Plant quite unpretentious in content and can go for a very long time without watering, which does not affect fruiting at all. The carob tree is not affected by diseases such as wood sponge, so it is not treated with chemicals. Best quality product Produced in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Australia and Cyprus.

Usually , carob fruits may be contained in several types.

Carob is often purchased and stored unprocessed in the form of pods. The advantage of this storage method is the long-term preservation of the beneficial properties of the product. If necessary, the pods are cleaned and ground in a coffee grinder before cooking. The powder is brewed like coffee.

Powdered carob may be raw, not fried. In terms of taste, it has the greatest sweetness and does not at all resemble chocolate. The lightly roasted powder has a light caramel taste with a slight sourness. Medium roast carob is more like dark chocolate, it has a bitter taste and a dark hue. This product in powder form is widely used in cooking for adding to baked goods.

Like natural sweetener carob produced in the form of syrup. It contains a large amount of sugar, while retaining all its positive qualities.

The highest cost is found in raw carob, since the likelihood of counterfeiting is minimal here and therefore it is the most useful. Cheapest product– This is a medium roasted powder. With the growing popularity of carob fruits, cases of counterfeit goods are not uncommon. According to consumer reviews, it is best to buy a quality product in specialized health or sports nutrition stores.

Harm of carob: contraindications for use

Since carob is an analogue of coffee, it is consumed as a drink, mixed with milk, and added to cocktails and liqueurs.

The fruits are used in the manufacture of confectionery products, sweets, for which it is mixed with nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. Used for various dishes and desserts in the form of an additive made from carob powder (photo of dishes below).

Confectionery products made from carob are able to retain their beneficial and tasteful qualities for a long time. Since, compared to cocoa, carob fruits have a lower (10 times) fat content, which oxidizes over time, causing the product to have a rancid taste. If storage conditions are violated, properties of carob products practically do not change.

The gum (resin) contained in the fruit is used in the manufacture of a stabilizer and thickener. Due to this, the finished products have viscosity, thickness, and acquire shine.

This product is not a drug or a panacea. However, if you need an ideal substitute for coffee or chocolate, then an excellent solution is to use carob. Consumer reviews give preference to healthy eating.

Beneficial and harmful properties of carob

Good afternoon, my readers and connoisseurs of healthy, healthy and low-calorie food!

Today I made a wonderful low calorie drink similar to chocolate. For those who are slimming and those who care about the state of comfort in a healthy and beautiful body. Which means for you!

Carob - it's a powder carob, an indispensable product in Mediterranean countries. Used to prepare many delicacies and drinks. It resembles cocoa in taste and color. The difference between carob and cocoa is its healthfulness and natural sweetish taste.

I buy this powder at a health food store in our city. This is the healthiest and most profitable substitute for cocoa powder. My husband and I tried it for the first time in our raw food cafe. I liked it, bought it right away and have been using it with pleasure in our kitchen ever since.

Thanks to its rich vitamin and mineral content natural saturation, it is useful for both children and adults. Carob is completely free of caffeine and theobromine. It improves digestion and has an antioxidant effect. This is a healthy food product in every way! Moreover, it helps you get a slim figure!

I will be posting recipes using the wonderful carob powder in many future posts. Check out “Izuminka” more often, friends! Always glad to see you all!

Carob - a drink recipe for slimming people

Ingredients for 1 serving:

• Carob (powder) – 2 tsp.
• Skim milk (if you want, you can also have fat, but the calorie content increases significantly) or water – 200 ml
• I add ground cinnamon to the finished drink, I really like the resulting taste

My cooking method is normal! (like cocoa)

1. Add carob to cold milk and whisk
2. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly

Carob - a drink for slimming people, ready!

What is most unusual is that the grounds in this pleasantly sweet drink are very soft and can also be enjoyed. The finished drink turns out to be, one might say, two-phase - there is a liquid part and a thick part, two in one. The satiety from carob comes instantly and you don’t want to eat anything else.

Good luck with your cooking! I look forward to your comments.

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