Marzipan
Marzipan is a confectionery product made from a mixture of finely ground almond flour with the addition of powdered sugar or sugar syrup. In some cases, marzipan is usually called a mass of other types of nuts. In addition, the name "marzipan" is given to food products prepared on the basis of this delicacy. So, in our country buns - "marzipans" with peanut content are very popular.
History is silent about where this popular delicacy comes from, but a number of countries, including Estonia, France, Italy and Germany, are fighting for the right to bear the proud title of the homeland of marzipan. However, based on the name, which can be literally translated from Italian as “Mart's bread”, there is a high probability that Italy holds the palm.
One of the versions of the invention of sweets is more than prosaic: hunger was the culprit. During the period when wheat was in short supply and almonds were in abundance, bread, as well as other food products, were made from it. According to another version, marzipan was prepared as a medicine for mental ailments, mood disorders, spleen and apathy, since it was believed that sweetness has a beneficial effect on the nervous system.
The composition of real marzipan contains only three ingredients - sugar (and variations based on it - powdered sugar, syrup, sweetener), sweet and bitter types of almonds. The recipe also involves some changes: for example, instead of bitter almonds, the addition of essence, almond liqueur or bitter almond oil is allowed. Sometimes it is completely excluded from the recipe.
Marzipan mass, which is so widely used today for decorating cakes and pastries, does not have the specific taste of real marzipan.
Manufacturers often add as additional ingredients:
- Various flavors, including cocoa, orange peel, a variety of liqueurs, spices, rose water, etc.;
- Eggs;
- Natural or artificial colors.
The methods of preparing almond treats are also different. As a rule, there are three main ones:
- The egg cold method involves grinding all the ingredients and then mixing them together. Powdered sugar is used instead of sugar;
- Cold method without eggs;
- The hot method differs from the previous ones in that sugar syrup is used instead of powdered sugar.
Today the variety of marzipan varieties is barely countable. It is believed that there are no less than 500 types of delicacies. The title of the capital of marzipan deservedly bears the German city of Lubeck, where marzipan is prepared according to old recipes, kept in strict secrecy. One of the largest and most popular marzipan museums is also founded in this city.
Useful properties and calorie content of marzipan
An almond-based treat is an extremely high-calorie product. The calorie content of marzipan is 479 Kcal per 100 g of product, which are composed of proteins in the amount of 6.8 g; fat - 21.2 g and carbohydrates - 65.3 g.
Of course, marzipan is by no means a dietary product. Eating even 100 g per day significantly affects the total calorie content of foods eaten per day. The combination of a large amount of fat and carbohydrates in one product can have a very negative effect on the figure and is not recommended for those who follow a diet.
Due to the fact that almost only almonds are present in marzipan, the delicacy is rich in vitamin E, which this nut contains in abundance. Vitamin, in turn, is a powerful antioxidant that is actively involved in the fight against stress and emotional stress. In addition, vitamin E helps to protect the cells of our body from pathogenic external factors and prevents them from changing caused by various diseases.
Found a mistake in the text? Select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
