Not everyone has the opportunity to eat bee honey due to allergies to bee products. But not everyone knows about such a beautiful, tasty, satisfying and wholesome alternative, like watermelon honey (or nardek). If you have never cooked and tasted this delicacy, you will be pleasantly surprised by the simplicity of its preparation and the delicious sweet, aromatic taste that this dessert gives. And most importantly, watermelon honey, cooked with his own hands, is a much more economical pleasure than bought plain honey.
What is watermelon honey and will bees be needed?
So, what is the narde? This is a thick sweet syrup from the pulp and juice of ripe watermelons, cooked without the use of sugar. To create it does not require bees and pollen, which is its main advantage. This dessert comes from the countries of Central Asia.
It has been cooked there for several centuries and is rightly considered one of the most healthy sugary foods. He has been known in our camp since the times of Empress Elizabeth, and from then until today he has reliably won national love for his taste and health benefits.
Did you know? Watermelon honey is the basis for making stunning candied fruits.. It is also used in baking instead of ordinary honey, it is ideal as a supplement to pancakes, pancakes, cereals, casseroles, sweet cakes.
Medicinal properties of nardeka
The beneficial properties of watermelon honey is truly no end. The peoples of Central Asia successfully use it instead of drugs in the treatment of diseases such as tuberculosis, bronchitis, anemia, laryngitis, atherosclerosis, and various heart diseases.
Nardek is full of useful substances like calcium, potassium, iron, pectin, magnesium, phosphorus, beta-carotene, folic acid, vitamins C, PP, B and E.
Due to the absence in the recipe of its preparation of sugar, in small quantities, it can even diabetics. With it, you can improve the immune system and the body's resistance to viral diseases.
Learn also about the benefits of pumpkin honey and how to cook it.
It is ideal for people who want to lose weight and diet. Watermelon honey copes with the problems of the gastrointestinal tract, a positive effect on the kidneys and liver, and also increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood. It is very useful in the diet of cancer patients.
Cooking rules
Watermelon honey is easy to make. The main thing is to use only fully ripe or even overripe berries. Then the honey turns out really sweet and has a beautiful rich scarlet hue.
The process of cooking nardek is, in fact, evaporation of watermelon juice - this is quite a long time occupation. However, it does not require a lot of effort, and the end result overshadows memories of the time spent.
Important! Be sure to consider the fact that the juice, as it is, decreases many times in volume. Prepare more watermelons better to meet your expectations.
What is needed
Before you cook watermelon honey, make sure that you have the following things in your arsenal:
- saucepan suitable size (you can wash);
- piece of gauze;
- sieve;
- skimmer;
- big spoon (preferably wooden).
You may be interested to learn about how you can check the quality of honey.
Step-by-step recipe
- The first thing to do is to wash and dry the watermelons with a towel.
- Then, cutting each into several pieces, fold them into a large pot to collect the squeezed juice.
- With a wooden spoon, separate the flesh from the rind.
- Drain the loose pulp through a sieve, grinding and ridding it of the seed.
- The resulting gruel must be passed through cheesecloth into the pan for cooking.
- Ready juice to bring to a boil, removing skimmer skimming foam, and remove from heat.
- Drain juice through cheesecloth again.
- Boil the syrup, screwing the fire to a minimum (stirring constantly!), Until ready, that is, until it is reduced in volume by 5 times. To make sure that the honey has acquired the desired consistency, drop a drop of syrup on a cold saucer. If ready, the drop will not spread and will retain its shape.
Important! It is very important not to allow the syrup to stick, as the bitter taste and dark color of the product will spoil the impression of it. Choose a pan with a thick bottom and stir the juice more often during the cooking process.
Storage rules
It is necessary to pour ready watermelon nardek into hot, dry, sterilized jars with hermetically twisting lids. They are stored for quite a long time in a cool place without direct sunlight. The best storage place would be a fridge.
Did you know? Natural sugar, which is contained in watermelon, plays the role of a preservative and does not ferment the honey for a long time.
After reading the article, you, probably, were convinced that watermelon honey, the recipe of which pleases with its simplicity, can be added to the list of products that every housewife must cook, at least once in a lifetime. And when you try this rich, fresh, sweet taste and make sure of its exceptional healing properties, the nardek will become a permanent dessert in your family.
