Content
Pastila is one of the most unique ways to preserve all the beneficial properties of fresh fruit. It is considered an excellent dessert, and due to the fact that sugar is not used in the process of its preparation or it is used in small quantities, it is also a useful sweetness. It can be prepared from a variety of berries, fruits and even vegetables, one of the most fragrant and sweet is melon marshmallow.
Features of cooking melon marshmallows at home
Melon itself is very sweet and juicy, perfect for making dried sweetness. To do this, it is best to choose the most ripe, but not overripe, fruit with a pronounced aroma.
Before preparing the melon marshmallow, it should be thoroughly washed, despite the fact that the peel will be removed. Removal of all internal seeds and fibers is also mandatory. Indeed, for the preparation of such a sweetness, only sweet juicy pulp is needed.
A leafy dried treat can be made with melon pulp completely mashed or finely chopped. The simplest recipe involves drying only the crushed pulp of the fruit. Often, to make the melon candy more elastic, water and a small amount of sugar are added to it.
Ingredients
To make a healthy melon marshmallow, you can use the simplest recipe, where only melon pulp is present without adding other ingredients. Of course, in order to diversify the taste, you can add various spices, nuts or other fruits, it all depends on the preferences of the hostess. In addition, there are recipes and more complicated ones, where preliminary heat treatment with the addition of water and even sugar is required.
But if there is no particular desire to complicate the cooking process, a simplified version, where only a melon is required, is still ideal. It is taken of medium or larger size. You will also need a small amount of vegetable oil to lubricate the flooring on which the melon pulp layer will dry.
Step-by-step melon pastille recipe
For the marshmallow, choose a medium-sized melon. It is washed thoroughly and dried with a paper towel. Then put on a cutting board and cut in half.
The cut melon halves are peeled of seeds and internal fibers.
The peeled halves are cut into slices 5-8 cm wide.
The crust is separated from the pulp by cutting it off with a knife.
The separated pulp is cut into pieces. They shouldn't be too big.
Cut into small pieces, the melon is transferred to a blender bowl. Grind it until smooth.
The resulting melon puree is poured into prepared trays. If the tray in the dryer is in the form of a lattice, then parchment paper is first laid on it for baking in several layers. It is lubricated with vegetable oil to make it easier to remove the layer after drying. The thickness of the layer should not exceed 5 mm, its surface should be leveled so that there are no seals, this will help it dry evenly.
The trays of melon puree are sent to the dryer and set to the desired time and temperature.
The readiness of the marshmallow is checked by its stickiness in the densest place (center), as a rule, the finished sweetness should not be sticky.
The finished marshmallow is removed from the dryer. Immediately remove it from the tray and roll it into a tube while it is still warm.
Cut it into small pieces.
Melon pastille is ready, you can almost immediately serve it for tea.
Terms and conditions of storage
Since marshmallow is a completely natural sweetness, its shelf life is short. And in order to enjoy such a healthy dessert for as long as possible, you need to know the rules for storing it.
There are 3 types of storage:
- In a glass jar.
- In a cloth bag soaked in salt, which is placed in a tin container.
- Wrapped in parchment paper, the marshmallow is packed in a plastic container and sealed tightly.
The optimal conditions for its storage are a temperature of 13-15 degrees and a relative humidity of no more than 60%. It can be stored for about one and a half months.
You can also store the marshmallow in the refrigerator by wrapping it first in parchment paper, then in cling film. But it is not recommended to store it in the refrigerator for a long time, as it softens and becomes sticky.
Despite the short shelf life, some housewives manage to use the finished product throughout the winter.
Conclusion
Melon pastille is a very aromatic, healthy and tasty sweetness. When properly prepared and stored properly, such a dessert can be the most enjoyable treat during the winter season.
