Watermelon honey: name and how to cook at home, properties, benefits and harms
Watermelon honey is a useful product that has a healing effect on the human body. This dish is also called nardek. In structure, it really resembles honey, but it is not made by bees, but by people. To do this, purified watermelon juice is boiled down to achieve a thick consistency. The result is a very tasty and fragrant mass.
The story of the origin of Nardeka
Calling this product watermelon honey is not quite right. This concept came into use due to the fact that it took root among the people. Most likely, this is due to the consistency of the mass, which resembles honey made by bees.At the same time, the delicacy has other names. The official name is "Nardek". The product is also called "bekmez", which means boiled down fruit or berry juice, which takes on the texture of jelly.
Watermelon honey began to be made in Central Asia. It was from there that the product came to the Don Cossacks. The recipe became surprisingly popular among people who were engaged in the cultivation of gourds. During the season, they could not sell all the berries, and therefore they tried to make them harvested.
The Cossacks were engaged in the manufacture of Nardeka in late autumn. By this time, most of the berries had already been sold. At the same time, there were a lot of small watermelons. They were cut into 2 halves, the pulp was pulled out and passed through a sieve. After that, the juice was poured into a large cauldron and put on fire. It was boiled to the consistency of a thick brown syrup. Nardek was stored in clay pots or glass jars.Watermelon honey was kept in the cellar.
Useful properties
It is difficult to overestimate the benefits of the people's party. Regular use of this product helps to achieve the following effects:
- Improve appetite and strengthen the immune system.
- Normalize the state of internal organs. Watermelon honey benefits the liver, kidneys, intestines. It also restores the work of the digestive organs, heart and blood vessels.
- Cope with colds, bronchitis, tuberculosis, laryngitis.
- Increase hemoglobin levels.
- Prevent atherosclerosis.
- Make cancer treatment more effective.
Numerous reviews indicate that watermelon honey is very useful in the cold season, when the body regularly suffers from seasonal pathologies. To strengthen the immune system, it is enough to eat 2 small spoons of the product per day.
Cooking watermelon honey at home
Today there are many recipes for making watermelon honey. This allows everyone to choose the most suitable option.
Classic
To cook nardek according to the classic recipe, you only need watermelons. It is recommended to do the following:
- Wash the berries thoroughly and cut each of them into 2 halves. Scoop out the flesh with a large spoon.
- Crush the mass and strain it through a sieve to get rid of the seeds.
- Squeeze juice through gauze.
- Put the container on the stove and cook over medium heat. Periodically it is required to remove the foam.
- After boiling, the juice must be cooled and again strained through cheesecloth.
- Put the clean mass back on the stove and cook for 4 hours. Stir the syrup from time to time so that it does not burn.
Determining the readiness of the product is easy. The mass should become brownish and not spread when laid out on a plate.
Adyghe
To cook the Adyghe nardek, you will need the following ingredients:
- 3 watermelons;
- 100 milliliters of sour cream or cream.
To make a he althy dessert, it is recommended to do the following:
- Wash and cut watermelons and scoop out the pulp with a spoon.
- Add juice to the mass and crush thoroughly.
- Pass the mixture through a sieve. Bones and veins should be discarded.
- Place the mass in a saucepan and cook over low heat until boiling.
- Stir occasionally. The finished composition should turn brown.
- Add the dairy product to the cooled honey and mix thoroughly.
Ready Adyghe nardek is recommended to be kept in sterilized glass jars, covered with lids. This is best done in the refrigerator.
Mint
To make a delicious mint nardek, it is recommended to prepare the following products:
- 3 kilos of watermelons;
- 500 grams of sugar;
- mint and thyme to taste.
To prepare a dessert, you should do the following:
- Cut the pulp into pieces and squeeze the juice out of it.
- Strain the mixture through a sieve.
- Add sugar and herbs to bowl.
- Cook for 3-4 hours over medium heat. In this case, the product must be systematically stirred.
To determine the readiness of the delicacy, it is recommended to apply a little product on a plate. If the mass does not spread, then the honey is ready. Do not worry if the composition seems watery. After cooling, the sugar will give the mass the required density. It is required to keep the finished product in clean jars in a cold place. Its shelf life is 1 year.
Beauty recipes
Nardek is most often used for body massage. With the help of this product, you can get rid of cellulite and make the body more toned. Also, based on the treat, you can prepare various face masks.
For those with dry skin, mix the following:
- 2 tablespoons of nardec;
- 1 tablespoon starch;
- 1 tablespoon mashed grapes.
All components must be mixed and applied to the skin. It takes 20 minutes to keep the composition on the face. Then you can wash with warm water or herbal decoction.
Contraindications and harm
Dessert is not recommended for people who are allergic to watermelon. Also, caution is required for people with diabetes and overweight. The same goes for pregnant women.
Storage
Ready nardek is recommended to be poured into dry sterilized jars and sealed tightly. Keep the product in a cool and dark place. This is best done in the refrigerator.
Watermelon honey is a unique product with many he alth benefits. There are quite a few recipes for this dessert. Thanks to this, each person can choose the appropriate option.
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