Turkish Delight; what is it and what is it made of? Homemade recipe and calorie content of sweets

“Turkish delight - what is it and what is it made from? Homemade recipe and calorie content of sweets”

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Oriental sweets are the dream of every sweet tooth. One of the most common of them is Turkish delight - a product made from sweet sand, molasses, flour, starch and nuts (coconut, almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, etc.).

Turkish delight is not only a unique dessert that brings real pleasure to those with a real sweet tooth, but also a necessary sweetness, the consumption of which lifts the mood and improves well-being. In Turkish, “rahat” means pleasure from eating, and “lokom” means pieces of dessert.

The homeland of Turkish delight is the land of the Balkan Peninsula. Historians say that the product was first made by an Istanbul court pastry chef for the Sultan’s meal at the end of the 18th century, and a little later Turkish delight was brought to Europe, where it found countless fans.

Today, Turkish delight (Turkish, Arabic, cubic, sliced, whole, children's, multi-layer, oriental) is made in more than 50 countries of the world, including in post-Soviet countries, South and North America, and East Asia.

Depending on what Turkish delight is made from, the sweetness is divided into main types:

snow-white (the basis is a traditional recipe without fillers, in other words water, starch and sugar);
fruit (when produced together with sugar, and from time to time without it, juices or purees from sweet fruits are added);
nut or with dried fruits, including citrus zest;
petal (petals of roses and other fragrant flowers are added to the product);
honey (a beekeeping product is used instead of regular sugar);
fig (the pulp of sweet figs provides additional flavor notes of sweetness);
“Vizir” (the unique recipe is kept secret).

Benefits and harms of Turkish delight, calorie content

First of all, Turkish sweetness is a source of vigor and food pleasure. Sugar, honey, fruit juice or molasses, which are the basis of Turkish delight, improve brain activity and quickly replenish the energy potential of the gourmet, naturally, with moderate consumption. Additional portions of glucose activate the production of endorphins (hormones of happiness) and intellectual activity, increase the cognitive functions of the brain, and saturate every cell of the body with energy.

The combination of natural starch and sugar helps stimulate the body's defenses, which most effectively fight pathogens.

Of particular value is Turkish delight with natural fillers and additives, including: bee products, various nuts, seeds, fresh fruit squeezes and dried fruits, because it is no secret that any of the listed ingredients has a beneficial effect on our health.

Thus, nuts and seeds saturate the product with healthy omega-3 acids, which are responsible for the health of the liver, heart and blood vessels, fresh and dried fruits, for example, figs or apples, are a real source of vitamins and organic acids, and honey, provided with microelements and enzymes , is the best remedy for colds and diseases of the digestive tract.

And if you prepare oriental sweets without the help of others, then you can be sure of the absence of synthetic dyes, flavors, flavor enhancers, sweeteners, emulsifiers, stabilizers and other achievements of the modern food industry used in the process of creating factory-made confectionery products.

Don’t forget that any desserts with sugar, in addition to the calorie content, are bad for the condition of your teeth, because glucose decomposes their enamel and provokes the development of caries. And, of course, Turkish delight, which has the highest glycemic index and contains high-energy carbohydrates, is not included in the diet of patients with diabetes.

How to cook Turkish delight without the help of others at home?

Do you want to fully enjoy the natural taste and bring the highest benefits to the body, especially for children? Try creating your own dessert. The unique and tender homemade Turkish delight, the recipe for which we would like to offer you to try in your kitchen, can be prepared even by a novice pastry chef.

You will need:

starch (originally corn starch is used) – 180 g (6 tbsp.);
sweet sand – 100 g;
walnut kernels – 100 g;
sweet and sour apples – 1.5 kg or 8 medium fruits;
water – 230 ml;
coconut flakes.

Step-by-step recipe for making Turkish delight

First, prepare apple jam. To do this, the fruits are peeled, cored and cut into small slices. The prepared apples are loaded into an enamel pan, poured with sweet syrup (the entire portion of sugar is melted in a small amount of water).

The nut kernels are cut into small fractions and added to lightly boiled apples. The jam is prepared by simmering over low heat in a container with continuous stirring. The finished jam takes on a pleasant brown color.

After the boiling mass becomes homogeneous, pour the starch previously diluted in cool water into it in a narrow stream. At 9 st. l. starch, take 0.2 liters of water; starch syrup should not have lumps. Continuously stirring, bring the mixture to a boil. The readiness of Turkish delight is determined by its appearance when the mixture becomes transparent.

A square or rectangular plastic container is lined with cling film. The hot mass is transferred to the mold, straightening the surface with a spoon, and left to cool at room temperature. Then put the Turkish delight in the refrigerator until it hardens.

The jelly-like apple-nut lokum is removed from the container by pulling the edges of the film, laid out on a wooden board, cut into cubes, which are then carefully rolled in coconut flakes. You should not use sweet powder instead of shavings, because the wet mass dissolves it, and the products need to be dried additionally for a number of days in the air.

Instead of apples, you can eat other fruits and berries, although the composition of the ingredients may change depending on the time of year, and Turkish delight is made only for your own enjoyment. The external appearance of the product depends on taste and color preferences, for example, delight from strawberries has a reddish color, from kiwi – greenish, from tangerines – yellowish, from blueberries – purple, etc.

You'll be licking your fingers: delicious recipes for Turkish delight with photos, or what is the delicacy made from at home?

Perhaps the most famous oriental delicacy is Turkish delight, translated from Turkish it means “comfortable pieces”, in Arabic it means “sweetness for the larynx.”

According to legend, Turkish delight was invented for the majestic Turkish Sultan, who at one point broke his tooth on a hard candy and became angry with the confectioner.

The last one was obliged to come up with another soft treat during the night (that is, the dark time of day) . Another legend says that the Sultan was very loving, and the sweet was invented as a unique preliminary treat for the Sultan’s beloved ladies.

What is Turkish Delight made from: calorie content and composition

In Turkey, Turkish delight, photos of which are presented in our article, is a popular delicacy. Today there is a huge variety of types of Turkish delight:

walnut;
fruit;
honey;
snow-white;
fig;
and the rest.

Typically, recipes contain corn starch, flour, nuts, sugar and various fruit ingredients - juice or berries. How many calories are in Turkish delight?

Like other sweets, the calorie content of Turkish delight is 1 pc. quite high - 300 kcal per 100 grams, so you shouldn’t get carried away with the product and consume more than 50 grams per day . We present to your attention recipes for several more dishes of Turkish cuisine, which are easy to create yourself at home: achma, imam bayaldi, gubadia, kurabye and the ayran drink.

Benefit and harm

Let's figure out what Turkish delight is, what it is made from (composition), in order to find how much harm and benefit can be obtained from consuming it.

Turkish delight: recipes

Almost everyone brings Turkish delight from Turkey to themselves and their relatives (the average cost in Turkey is about 7 liras). But you can prepare this delicacy at home. So, how to prepare Turkish delight at home? There are a huge number of options for making this sweet; below we will present a step-by-step summary of the more popular Turkish Delight recipes; photos and videos are also presented below for a better understanding of the cooking process.

Apple

The recipe for apple Turkish delight is quite simple. We will need:

120g. corn starch;
50g. Sahara;
50g. walnuts;
4 apples;
coconut flakes and water.

First you need to prepare apple jam. To do this, pour a little water into the saucepan and add sugar. Peeled, cored and cut apples are dipped into the syrup, where they languish for a little while. Finely chopped walnuts are also added there.
Starch must be dissolved in cool water and poured into the boiling mass in a narrow stream. All this time the jam must be stirred until it becomes thick and transparent. This is the most difficult part of the apple Turkish delight recipe - the sweetness will simmer on the fire for at least an hour.
The bottom and edges of the mold are covered with cling film, where the burning mass is laid out.
After it has cooled, it must be placed in the refrigerator to harden.
After 12 hours, the Turkish delight can be removed from the mold, cut into cubes and rolled in coconut flakes.

You see, you can simply prepare Turkish delight with apples at home according to the recipe, and the video tutorial will make this task easier:

Traditional

To make traditional Turkish delight at home you will need:

800 ml. water;
1 kg. Sahara;
150g. starch;
2 g citric acid;
coconut flakes to taste.

Sugar and starch are added to the heated water until completely dissolved and, with constant stirring, cook for at least an hour. The resulting mass should be viscous and thick. This is the base - snow-white Turkish delight.
Before it cools down, you can add flavorings, or you can use the traditional option - cut the frozen sweetness into shape and roll it in coconut flakes or sweet powder.

It is not difficult to prepare a traditional oriental sweet, but it will require a lot of patience, diligence and time . This is a basic recipe for traditional Turkish delight, which can be improved based on your own taste preferences. The amount of any additive should not be more than a third of the main mass.

The most detailed recipe for Turkish delight is in the video below:

Carrot

For carrot Turkish delight you need:

500 g carrots;
200 g starch;
150 g sugar;
150 g walnuts;
half a lemon;
water;
coconut flakes;

Grate the carrots and put them in a saucepan, add sugar and a little water. The mixture must simmer over low heat for at least 10 minutes.
Then add lemon zest and finely chopped nuts.
Starch dissolved in a small amount of water is carefully poured into the boiling mass, then cooked until thickened.
As in traditional recipes, purchased Turkish delight is placed in a mold, cooled and left in the refrigerator for 12 hours until hardened. After this, you can cut it into cubes and roll in coconut flakes.

The main difficulty in making oriental sweets is the duration. Taking into account all the steps of production and cooling, it takes more than a day.

If you were wondering how to create Turkish delight at home with carrots, then this video {instructions} is for you:

Storage

Now let's talk about how to store Turkish delight:

It is customary to store prepared Turkish delight wrapped in food paper, which will protect it from water, in a cool, dry place. Under these conditions, the shelf life of Turkish delight will be at least six months.
You should not replace parchment with film or foil - they do not protect against water, so the sweetness will quickly deteriorate. Contact with air must also be avoided, so Turkish delight packed in paper is stored in a special container.

Since then, the classic recipes have not changed, and the sweetness remains very popular to this day. And as you have already seen, in order to experience Turkish delight, you don’t necessarily have to fly to Turkey; you can simply prepare it at home if you have certain ingredients. Be patient and you will definitely succeed. But we still recommend going to Turkey, enjoying not only sweets, but also a beautiful beach holiday (the beaches of Antalya, Kemer). Have a unique shopping experience in Istanbul (shopping centers, Grand Market), Antalya (Migras, Mark, Terra City).

How to cook Turkish delight

Translated from Turkish, “Turkish delight” means “pieces of delight.” In general, even the deepest knowledge of the original language will not help to fully describe the taste of this sweet. Despite the fact that it is prepared from the most ordinary ingredients using fairly ordinary technology. Anyone can create this dessert at home. You will learn how to prepare Turkish delight at home in our master class.

The path to the heart of the Sultan

The creator of the famous oriental sweet is considered to be the Turkish confectioner Haci Bekir, originally from the small northern city of Arach, in the province of Kastamonu. From his youth, the boy loved sweets and enthusiastically created various sweets. When he became an adult, he moved to the capital and opened his own confectionery shop there.

Legend says that one day the Sultan announced a competition for the most unusual dessert. And this is what Bekir invented. He mixed sweet syrup, starch, added pieces of nuts and dried fruits, and poured the thick, fragrant mass into a mold. After everything had frozen, he cut the thick layer into delicious cubes. They say that when the Sultan tasted the treat prepared by Bekir, he exclaimed: “The sweetness of my heart! What a delight it tastes!” It is possible that this is where the original title came from.

Golden composition

How to create Turkish delight at home? First of all, choose the right ingredients. The sweets always contain high-quality starch, ideally corn. It must be very fresh and unsullied, without any impurities. You can use rice starch instead. Cheap potato starch can spoil the taste of sweetness.

The second main ingredient of Turkish delight is little sugar. To achieve an impeccable texture, professional confectioners advise passing it through a fine hair sieve or a dense double-weave sieve right before starting production. It is also permissible to use sweet powder instead of small sugar.

To impart a subtle sweetish smell, you can pour puree or juice from natural fruits and berries into the starch mass. They also play the role of dyes. The Turks always add a hidden ingredient to the composition - rose water. It imparts inimitable floral notes to Turkish delight and makes the taste softer.

Gelatin, agar-agar or gum tragacanth are often used to give a particularly elastic texture. To create a really tight elastic mass without lumps and other inclusions, one starch is not enough. If you take too much of it, you can spoil the taste and thickness of Turkish delight.

You can experiment with delicious additives as you please. This could be orange zest, walnut paste, pieces of almond or pistachio kernels, melted chocolate, coconut flakes, dried fruits and berries.

Nuts in sweet amber

How to cook Turkish delight at home? Even in Turkey they will confirm for you that there is no traditional recipe. In fact, every pastry chef has his own. But the manufacturing development is almost identical in every way. To carefully disassemble it, we will prepare snow-white Turkish delight with nuts in coconut flakes.

sugar - 1 kg
water - 1 liter
corn starch - 200 g
citric acid - 0.5 tsp.
any nuts - 100 g
sweet powder - for sprinkling
coconut shavings - for sprinkling

Dry the nuts in a frying pan without oil in advance, peel them and chop them coarsely with a knife. Pour all the sugar into one thick-bottomed pan, add citric acid, and pour 200 ml of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, cook over low heat for 15–20 minutes until a thick transparent syrup comes out. When it is almost ready, combine 800 ml of water and starch in another saucepan, bring to a boil and let it completely disperse. To avoid any lumps, beat the watery starch with a mixer.

Pour the watery starch into the syrup in a narrow stream, bring it to a boil again and, stirring constantly with a wooden spatula, reduce it slightly. Watch closely so that the mixture does not burn.

Pour the nuts into a thick mixture and mix moderately.

Cover a rectangular mold with cling film, pour in the thick mixture, and level with a spatula. Place the mold in a black, dry space for at least 8–10 hours. It is best to leave it there all night (that is, in the dark) .

We cut the frozen layer into careful cubes, roll each one in coconut flakes and sweet powder. Homemade Turkish delight is ready.

Fruit and berry mix

The usual method to make the taste of Turkish Delight more interesting and rich is to add fruit or berry juice. Then the treat will turn out to be catchy and dressed up, and those with a sweet tooth will be even more delighted. In this recipe we will use orange and cherry juice. You can take any other one at your discretion.

small sugar - 400 g
corn starch - 400 g + for sprinkling
orange juice - 200 ml
cherry juice – 200 ml
sweet powder - 200 g

Mix about a third of the orange juice with half the sugar and boil to a syrup. Combine the remaining orange juice with half the starch and dissolve over low heat, then pour the watery starch into the orange syrup in a narrow stream and simmer until thickened. Using the same method, we prepare the second part of the starch base, but now with the addition of cherry juice.

We take two rectangular masses and cover them with cling film. We fill one with orange mixture, the second with cherry mixture. We perfectly level the mass and leave it to harden overnight (that is, in the dark) . In the morning, cut the frozen layers into even cubes and roll them in a mixture of starch and sweet powder.

Delicious squiggles

How to prepare Turkish delight at home in the form of rolls? The ingredients and development remain the same. But the resulting mass will need to be cooled in the form of thin layers so that they can be rolled comfortably. Add multi-colored dyes to the mixture. Then you will get a spectacular treat in the form of colorful curls - this is the kind of delicacy that can most often be found on the shelves of Turkish markets.

sugar - 400 g
corn starch - 100 g
lemon juice - 2 tbsp. l.
water - 100 ml for syrup + 300 ml for starch mass
vanillin - on the tip of a knife
food coloring - reddish, yellowish, greenish
coconut flakes and sweet powder - for sprinkling

As usual, we start with syrup. Mix all the sugar and 100 ml of water, bring to a boil, dissolve and cook until a thick syrup is obtained. Towards the end of production, mix the remaining water with starch and, stirring constantly with a spatula, heat it over the fire so that a thick sticky mass comes out. Gently combine it with the syrup and mix well. We divide the resulting mass into three parts, adding dyes of different colors to each.

We take three baking sheets, cover them with foil and spread starch mixture of various colors in a thick, even layer. Sprinkle each with coconut flakes and sweet powder on top and leave overnight (that is, in the dark) . After this, carefully separate the layers from the baking sheet and roll them into rolls so that the chips are on the outside. Wrap them in cling film and put them in the refrigerator for an hour. Only later can you remove the film and cut the rolls into portions.

Now you understand how to prepare Turkish delight at home. You can find other recipes with photos of homemade sweets on our website. Please your loved ones with a sweet tooth with a real oriental delicacy. Do you like Turkish delight? Which one do you like best? Have you ever made it yourself? Share your favorite variations of this dessert and your recipes in the comments.

What is Turkish delight made from: composition, how to prepare it yourself, types, step-by-step {instructions}

Posted on June 16, 2019 at 08:28 pm

Turkish delight is one of the favorite oriental desserts. Its unique, gentle taste leaves no one indifferent. Surely, everyone has at least once wondered what Turkish delight is made from.

There are a huge number of recipe options. In the homeland of sweets - Turkey, every region has its own variety: with hazelnuts, peppermint, pomegranate. In the town of Afyonkarahisar, a sweet dish was made using 24-karat gold as an ingredient.

What is Turkish delight?

Lokum is a Turkish delicacy in the form of sweet jelly-like candies made from starch, molasses, and sugar. The word rāḥat al-ḥulqūm from Arabic is translated as “pleasure for the larynx.”

The origins of sweets are controversial. According to one version, an unknown confectioner came to Istanbul in 1777 to organize his own business. He opened the confectionery factory of Ali Muhiddin Khachi Beker and invented a recipe for a dessert that became the Sultan’s favorite delicacy.

What is Turkish delight made from: composition and calorie content

The composition of a regular dessert includes water, sugar, and citric acid. If desired, include seasonings, powder, nuts, dried fruits.

Previously, sugar was replaced with molasses, and starch with flour. Depending on the size of the pan, the dish takes about 2 hours to cook. Afterwards it is kept for another 20-24 hours. The next day, the frozen jelly is cut into cubes, sprinkled with starch, powder or shavings.

The main feature is tenderness; when pressed, the candy quickly returns to its original shape without sticking to your hands.

Ready Turkish delight is stored in such a way as to avoid contact with air.

The confectionery product is nutritious, the exact amount of kcal depends on the type of sweetness:

traditional – 320;
pistachio – 387;
fruity – 411;
with chocolate – 348.

It is necessary to eat Turkish delight in moderation, otherwise you can quickly gain excess weight.

How to create Turkish delight at home

The main highlight of oriental desserts is that their production does not require any special ingredients or culinary capabilities. The development of manufacturing lokum is easy, and the range of products is small and affordable. No matter what kind of lady who loves to cook, she can amuse her loved ones with a Turkish delicacy.

Homemade sweets are created with love, only from the best products, without dyes or other “chemicals”.

Traditional Turkish delight

Since the clear origin of “pleasure for the larynx” is not clear, no one understands the traditional version of production. It is believed that a regular product should contain only the necessary products, without additives.

Products:

sugar – 0.4 kg;
water – 1.5 cups;
starch – 60 g;
citric acid – 1/8 teaspoon.

Combine sand, water, lemon juice. Bring to a boil, place on low heat and cook until syrup forms. The mixture burns quickly, it needs to be stirred constantly. Dilute the cornstarch and slowly pour it into the syrup. The thickened liquid is poured into a container greased with vegetable oil in advance. Every other day, the confectionery product is served with tea.

Apple delight

Pregnant women can safely eat this version of sweets.

Ingredients:

apple juice - a glass;
lemon juice - tbsp. l.;
gelatin – 2 tbsp. l.;
sah. sand – 300 g;
walnuts (crushed) - a glass.

The nuts are dried in a frying pan. Combine lemon juice, 1/3 cup apple juice and gelatin. Sugar is poured into a high container and filled with the remaining apple juice.

Heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the gelatin mixture, stir until smooth, add nuts. Pour into a low container and leave overnight (that is, in the dark) at room temperature.

Carrot delight

Carrot jelly candies are not only tasty, but also healthy.

Products:

carrots – 400 g;
sugar – 150 g;
citrus zest – 1 tsp;
corn starch – 150 g;
walnuts – 100 g.

Carrots are passed through a meat grinder and sand is added. Heat until the sugar is completely dissolved, but do not boil. Add the zest and mix well. Dilute the starch, add to the carrot mixture, and cook for 5 minutes. Add crushed nuts, pour into molds, and refrigerate for a day.

Unusual types of Turkish delight: how to cook

There are a huge number of options for making Turkish jelly sweets. In the homeland of sweets in pastry shops, tourists always find it difficult to make a choice. It's stupid to argue about tastes.

For those who love to create culinary masterpieces, a variety of recipes are offered. In almost all of them, it is not necessary to strictly adhere to the indicated amount. Some products can be replaced, for example, strawberries with raspberries, walnuts with peanuts.

Turkish delight with pistachios

Adding nuts to a sweet dessert is not for everyone. Pistachios are considered one of the first nuts to appear on Earth. The remains were discovered by archaeologists in the area of modern Turkey.

Ingredients:

sugar – 0.5 kg;
corn starch – 120 g;
lemon juice – 3 tbsp. l.;
pistachios – 100 g;
alcine and rose water 1 tbsp. spoon;
sweet powder - 1 cup.

Easy to prepare:

dry the pistachios in a frying pan and put them aside;
Combine a glass of water, sugar, lemon juice. Cook over low heat until the mass reduces by half;
combine starch with the remaining water, pour into syrup, cook for an hour;
The sweet mass is divided into 2 parts. Add orange water and pistachios to the first, pink liquid to the second;
the forms are covered with parchment, sprinkled generously with powder;
pour out the viscous liquid and put it in the refrigerator for a day.

The frozen mixture is cut into squares and sprinkled with powder.

With strawberry

Children especially like strawberry dessert. It is better to eat the freshest berries - the dish will have a pronounced taste and smell.

Useful:

strawberries – 200 g;
sweet powder – 150 g;
food gelatin – 15 g;
half a medium lemon;
nuts, coconut flakes - optional.

Strawberries are crushed in a blender until a homogeneous mixture is formed. Add gelatin and set aside for the time specified according to the instructions on the package. Pour in the powder, leaving a little for sprinkling. Squeeze the juice from the citrus and pour it into the strawberry mixture.

Place on fire, heat (Do not boil!) until the gelatin is completely dissolved, cool to room temperature. Beat with a mixer at high speed for 5-7 minutes. The mixture should lighten, become thicker and increase in size. Place into molds until completely hardened.

With added chocolate

An easy homemade chocolate treat recipe.

Products:

sugar – 0.5 kg;
agar-agar – 20 g;
corn flour – 120 g;
powder – 100 g;
lemon juice - tbsp. spoon;
bitter chocolate – 100 g;
vanilla;
cocoa.

Agar-agar is dissolved in 0.5 liters of hot water. Add sugar, heat until the mixture thickens slightly, and set aside. Sift the flour, combine with powder and grated chocolate.

Heat until homogeneous thick water forms. Mix with the previously prepared mixture. Add rose water (tbsp.), vanilla. Place in the refrigerator for 12 hours. The dessert is cut up and sprinkled with cocoa.

Benefits and harms of Turkish delight

There are a huge number of recipes for oriental dessert. The usefulness is determined by the ingredients included. All dishes contain glucose - carbohydrates that provide energy. Monosaccharides are beneficial for the brain (the central part of the nervous system of animals and humans) . Glucose provokes the production of serotonin, the hormone of contentment. Drinking tea with a Turkish delicacy guarantees a good mood.

Starch contains essential minerals: calcium, phosphorus, niacin. Sweets are often made from gelatin, a substance that replenishes collagen and is useful for joint diseases. Agar is used less frequently; it helps lower cholesterol levels (Insoluble in water, soluble in fats and organic solvents.) , normalizes stomach acidity.

Lokum is very tasty, it is difficult to refuse an excessive piece. Abuse of delicacies increases the cholesterol content (Insoluble in water, soluble in fats and organic solvents.) , which leads to obesity and vascular disease. Careless manufacturers add flavor enhancers that can cause an allergic reaction.

Conclusion

Lokum has been known for a long time and has always been considered one of the best desserts. The recipe for the traditional sweet is simple. No matter what kind of housewife, she will be able to give her loved ones delicious pleasure without spending a little time.