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Pastila is one of the most unique ways to preserve all the beneficial properties of fresh fruits. 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 various berries, fruits and even vegetables, one of the most fragrant and sweet is melon marshmallow.
Features of cooking melon marshmallows at home
The melon itself is very sweet and juicy, perfect for making dried sweets. To do this, it is best to choose the most ripe, but not overripe, fruit with a pronounced aroma.
Before preparing the marshmallow from melon, it should be thoroughly washed, despite the fact that the peel will be removed. It is also mandatory to remove all internal seeds and fibers. After all, to prepare such sweetness, you only need sweet juicy pulp.
A dried leafy treat can be made from melon pulp completely mashed into a puree or from finely chopped pieces. The simplest recipe involves drying only the crushed pulp of the fruit. Often, to make the melon marshmallow more elastic, water and a small amount of sugar are added to it.
Ingredients
To prepare a healthy melon marshmallow, you can use the simplest recipe, where only melon pulp is present without adding other ingredients. Of course, 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 more complicated recipes that require preliminary heat treatment with the addition of water and even sugar.
But if there is no particular desire to complicate the cooking process, the simplified version is still ideal, where only a melon is required. It is taken in medium or larger size. You will also need a small amount of vegetable oil to lubricate the flooring on which the layer of melon pulp will dry.
Melon marshmallow recipe step by step
For the preparation of marshmallow, you should choose a medium-sized melon. It is thoroughly washed and dried with a paper towel. Then put on a cutting board and cut in half.
The cut halves of the melon are cleaned of seeds and internal fibers.
The peeled halves are cut into slices 5-8 cm wide.
Separate the peel from the pulp, cutting it 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 the blender bowl. Grind it to a homogeneous mass.
The resulting melon puree is poured into pre-prepared trays. If the tray in the dryer has the form of a lattice, then first parchment paper is 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 layer thickness should not exceed 5 mm, its surface should be leveled so that there are no seals, this will help it dry evenly.
Trays with melon puree are sent to the dryer and set to the right 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 marshmallow is ready, it can be served almost immediately with tea.
Terms and conditions of storage
Since marshmallow is a completely natural sweet, 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 tightly closed.
The optimal conditions for its storage are a temperature of 13-15 degrees and a relative humidity of not more than 60%. It can be stored for about one and a half months.
You can also store marshmallow in the refrigerator, wrapping it first in parchment paper, then in cling film. But it is not recommended to store it for a long time in the refrigerator, as it softens and becomes sticky.
Despite the short shelf life, some housewives manage to use the finished product throughout the winter.
Conclusion
Melon marshmallow is very fragrant, healthy and tasty sweetness. With proper preparation and storage conditions, such a dessert can be the most enjoyable treat in the winter season.
