Nougat

It is known that nougat came not only to us, but also to the cuisines of other European countries from the East. This confection belongs to the category of refined oriental sweet dishes, in which the main component that distinguishes this dessert from others is various types of nuts, with the exception of peanuts.

The traditional recipe for making nougat, which can be safely attributed to the simplest, is as follows. Crushed or whole nuts are laid out in a mold approximately 1-2 cm high and poured with thick sugar syrup or honey. If the treat comes out not elastic enough and too liquid, finely grated nuts are added.

After the nougat sets, the layer is cut into small pieces or formed into various figures. After that, the finished products are rolled in powdered sugar, which is often mixed with flour. In order for the nougat not to adhere to the mold, it is previously covered with cling film or oiled paper.

Nougat can be eaten not only as an independent sweet dish, but also prepare a lot of interesting and unusual meals on its basis. So, for example, it can be multi-layered cakes, fragrant desserts, pastries and much more. In addition, industrial sweets that contain nougat include chocolate, sweets, cookies, waffles, toast, cakes.

Composition of nougat

The following ingredients must be present in the composition of nougat: natural honey, egg white and nuts. The last component is mainly fried almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, but in no case peanuts.

The consistency of the finished product can vary to a large extent - from tender and light to thick and hard. It directly depends on the composition of the nougat. In addition, lemon zest, cinnamon, vanilla, candied fruits, dried fruits or chocolate are often added to give the product additional aromatic and taste shades during manufacture.

Currently, two main varieties of nougat can be distinguished - brown and white. Brown nougat (harder and crisper) is made from caramelized sugar, while egg whites are used to make white nougat, which is airy and light.

The benefits of nougat

Representing a high-calorie dish, nougat is especially valuable for those people who are actively engaged in physical labor, in particular athletes. By the way, the calorie content of nougat varies depending on its composition, but is mainly approximately 404 kcal per 100 grams. The benefits of nougat lie in the variety of components that are provided for by the formulation of manufacture.

So, sweets and nuts have a beneficial effect on brain activity, while natural honey and dried fruits in this product contain a lot of vitamins and other substances useful for human health. In addition, in combination with glucose, nuts are considered the strongest natural aphrodisiac, which has a positive effect on both men and women.

Chocolate, which began to be added to this sweetness much later, also increases the benefits of nougat, since it not only gives a special refined taste to this dessert, but also increases mood and contributes to the production of serotonin, the hormone of joy.