Quince - what kind of fruit is it and how to eat it?

Quince will be miraculously transformed after heat treatment. Exquisite desserts are prepared from it - jelly, marmalade, sweets, jam. Quince pieces are added to meat dishes and salads. We invite you to find out how to get food pleasure from quince and how it is beneficial for the body.

What is quince

What kind of fruit is this - quince? Like the apple tree, the tree belongs to the Rosaceae family. The plant has a 4000-year history, and the Caucasus is considered its homeland. The tree grows large, bright yellow fruits that look like apples. The peel is covered with barely noticeable hairs. Quince exudes a strong aroma as it contains many essential oils.

Today the fruit is grown in Asia, Africa, North and South America, and European Mediterranean countries. In Russia and the CIS, yellow fruits go on sale in late autumn - early winter.

Consumed raw

Is it possible to eat quince raw in principle? Here people's opinions were divided. Some believe that fresh fruit retains a maximum of nutrients - vitamins, minerals, organic acids, essential oils. Others recommend heat treatment so that the fruit does not irritate the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines.

However, there is no scientific evidence that raw quince is harmful. The tart-sour taste is given to it by tannins and some acids in the composition (citric, tartaric). Gastrointestinal upset will occur only if you eat a lot of fruits. But due to the specific taste and astringent effect, this is physically impossible.

Raw quince is eaten in the following ways:

• like an apple (inconvenient);
• peel the peel, remove the core with seeds and cut the fruit into small slices;
• grate on a fine grater and add a little honey to the resulting puree.

The last method is the optimal one. This will solve the hardness problem and improve the taste. Well, honey is a healthy product in itself.

Can diabetics eat quince?

If you have diabetes, you should not eat fruits with a high glycemic index. 100 grams of quince contain 9.6 grams of carbohydrates. Compared to other fruits, this is average. However, due to the fact that the pulp contains a lot of dietary fiber, sugar is absorbed by the body slowly and does not cause sudden surges in the blood. So quince is a product with a low glycemic index (up to 55) and is allowed for diabetes.

Use during pregnancy and breastfeeding

A pregnant woman can eat the fruit if she does not have problems such as high acidity of gastric juice, gastritis or ulcers. It is recommended to consume fruit that has undergone heat treatment.

A nursing mother is allowed to introduce quince into her diet from the moment the baby turns 4 months old. If you pamper yourself earlier, the child runs the risk of allergic reactions, intestinal colic and bloating.

Methods for preparing quince

How to properly prepare quince if the tart taste of the raw fruit does not suit you at all? Here are examples of recipes for delicious and healthy dishes.

Boiled slices

A simple recipe for minimalists:

1. Wash the fruit under running water and remove the peel with a knife.
2. Divide in half, remove the core and pits and cut into 6 equal wedges.
3. Place a pan with 200 ml of water on the burner and boil.
4. Add the slices, turn the heat to low and cook for 15-20 minutes. The boiled quince is ready.

Dessert with honey and cinnamon

Dessert for those who care about their health. The procedure is as follows:

1. Peel the fruit, cut into two equal parts, remove the basket with seeds.
2. Place foil on a baking sheet (so that the fruit does not burn during baking), and place quince halves on top of it.
3. Sprinkle the quince with cinnamon and, if desired, vanilla. Place a tiny piece of butter in the center dimples.
4. Sprinkle each half with 1 tsp. honey You can also use sugar, but then the dessert will not be as healthy.
5. Cover the quince with foil.
6. Place to bake in an oven preheated to 180 degrees.
7. After 20 minutes, carefully remove the top layer of foil. Bake the fruit for another 15-20 minutes. Be careful not to burn the top.

What will happen in the end? The quince will caramelize, acquire a golden color and a delicately sweet taste, and become soft. This dessert is eaten with a teaspoon.

Jam

Why not preserve the beneficial properties of quince for many months? One of the easiest ways is to make jam. You will need 5 medium-sized fruits, half a kilo of sugar, 4 tbsp. l. lemon juice. If desired, you can add a couple of pinches of cinnamon or a handful of crushed nuts to the jam.

1. Cut the peeled fruit into small cubes and place on the bottom of the pan. Fill with water until the liquid barely covers the pieces.
2. Place the pan on the burner and bring the water to a boil.
3. Boil the quince for 20 minutes over low heat.
4. Add lemon juice, sugar, and, if necessary, spices and nuts. Mix thoroughly.
5. Boil the mixture for another 25 minutes.

Then the hot jam can be poured into sterilized jars and rolled up.

There is one little secret that allows you to make the dessert even tastier. After cooking, leave the fruit-sugar mixture to steep for 3 hours. Then repeat the heat treatment (20 minutes). Do this 3-4 times. The jam will acquire a golden color, rich taste and uniform consistency.

Fried chicken with quince

“Golden Apple” makes poultry meat tender, gives a spicy aftertaste, and removes excess fat. That’s why we cook and eat baked chicken with quince at home.

For one bird weighing up to 1.5 kg, take 2 fruits, one large carrot, one lemon and 700 ml of vegetable broth. The procedure is as follows:

1. Cut the carrots into strips and fry a little in sunflower oil.
2. Cut up the chicken. Dip the pieces in flour and fry in a pan until the color turns golden.
3. Add carrots, quince and fry the dish over medium heat for another 7 minutes.
4. Pour the vegetable broth into the pan with the chicken. Cut the lemon into 6 equal parts and add to the mixture.
5. Reduce heat to low. Simmer the chicken for 15 minutes.
6. Remove the lemon from the pan. Simmer the dish until cooked, but no longer than 35 minutes.

Compote

Quince is used to make not only dishes, but also drinks. The easiest way to prepare quince compote.

For one kilogram of quince take 350 grams of sugar and 3 liters of water.Suitable additives include cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and star anise. And, of course, don’t forget about lemon juice - you will need one half of a citrus.

1. Cut the quince into equal slices. When cooking compote, you do not need to remove the peel, just the seeds.
2. Pour water over sugar and turn on the heat. Wait until the crystals completely dissolve.
3. Add the quince and cook until the liquid boils.
4. Pour in lemon juice and add spices. Brew the drink for 10-15 minutes.

Now all that remains is to cool the compote. This drink is useful to drink to prevent colds in the autumn-winter period.

And at the end of the culinary section, we will give one more recommendation. Feel free to add raw, boiled or baked quince pieces to baked goods. You can take any recipe with apples and replace one fruit with another.

Benefits of quince for the body

Quince is eaten not only for pleasure. This fruit has a rich vitamin and mineral composition, therefore it is used for the treatment and prevention of many diseases. These are the substances present in large quantities in quince.

• Vitamin C

100 grams is a quarter of the daily requirement. And this is the prevention of influenza, ARVI, pharyngitis, sore throat and other problems associated with weakened immunity. In addition, vitamin C protects the body from premature aging and cancer.

• Vitamin A

18.5% daily value. Needed to maintain healthy eyes and reproductive system. Improves the external condition of the skin.

• Chromium

39% daily value. Chromium is one of the most deficient microelements for humans. Athletes and other people whose lives involve increased physical activity often experience a lack of it. Chromium regulates blood sugar levels and is necessary for the prevention of diabetes.

• Iron

100 grams of quince cover 17% of the body's need for iron. This element is involved in the production of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to various organs and tissues. The fruit serves as a prevention of anemia (anemia).

Do not rush to dismiss quince just because it is sour and tart in its raw form. A fine grater, honey and many recipes for preparing delicious dishes will help solve the problem. The benefits of this fruit for the body can hardly be overestimated. It is eaten to prevent viral and bacterial diseases, diabetes, anemia, obesity and other health problems.