How to make candied melon at home
Candied fruits are a sweet that children and adults love. Fragrant slices, boiled in syrup or dried in various ways, are used in sweet pastries, as well as as an independent dessert. In this article we will talk about candied melon. You will find out how to prepare a treat in syrup and how to dry it properly.
Which melons are suitable for making candied fruits?
The ripeness of the fruit plays an important role in the preparation of candied fruits. Choose firm melons that are not fully ripe and have green skin.
Best fit varieties Kolkhoz Woman, Koi-bash, Pineapple, Persian. Their skin is thick, and the flesh is juicy and dense. The fruits contain a lot of sugar and the aroma is pronounced.
Homemade candied melon
There are two ways to prepare delicious candied fruits at home:
- traditional - boil in sugar syrup;
- modern - dry in the sun, in an electric dryer or oven.
Those who do not consume sugar will appreciate the second method, in which the product retains a maximum of beneficial vitamins and minerals.
Candied fruits in sugar syrup
Ingredients:
- melon – 1 kg;
- granulated sugar – 1-1.5 kg;
- water – 2 tbsp.;
- citric acid – 1 tsp.
Preparation:
- Wash the fruit, cut in half, remove the core. Divide into slices and cut off the peel. Cut the pulp into 2-3 cm cubes or thin strips.
- Place the pieces in a saucepan with a thick bottom, pour boiling water over them so that the water completely covers the melon. Simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Then drain in a colander and rinse.
- For sugar syrup: add sugar to water, stirring, bring to a boil and cook for 15 minutes. Make sure that the grains are completely dissolved. Cool the syrup, put the melon in it and leave for 10-12 hours.
- Boil the slices in syrup three times. Bring to a boil each time and cook for 5 minutes. During cooking, do not stir the contents of the pan, but shake the container from time to time so that the syrup evenly coats the slices.
- During the third cooking, add citric acid to the syrup. To enrich the taste, stir in vanilla or cinnamon.
- When the melon pieces become elastic and transparent, remove the container from the heat and leave to steep for eight hours.
- Remove the candied fruits with a slotted spoon and place them on a baking sheet lined with baking paper at a short distance from each other. This way they won't stick together.
You can dry candied fruits on the balcony or in a room with good ventilation. Turn the slices over periodically and change the parchment paper at the same time. They will be ready in seven days.
To speed up the process, place the baking sheets in the oven. Preheat it and then turn it off. Mix dried candied fruits with powdered sugar, dry for 2-3 hours and place in glass jars with lids.
Important! There is one more recipe. For syrup, instead of water, use dessert wine, martini, cognac, brandy. The cooking process is no different from the classic one. The peculiarity is that the melon pieces remain dense during cooking and acquire a unique aroma.
Drying candied fruits
Drying or drying melon is a more dietary and natural way of preparing candied fruits. Hot summer days are the ideal time to dry fruit. Plus, this is the easiest recipe.After 3-4 days, candied fruits can be removed from the baking sheets and placed in storage containers.
A gas or electric oven is also suitable for drying melons:
- Preheat it to a temperature of 120°C, place the baking sheets with the prepared melon, and open the door slightly.
- After 30 minutes, reduce the temperature to 90°C and dry for 5-6 hours.
- Turn the pieces over periodically.
An electric dryer is a miracle device that allows you to prepare a variety of delicacies while preserving the maximum beneficial properties of the product:
- Place the slices on trays, heat the device to 70°C and leave for 10-12 hours.
- Change trays during cooking as the temperature below is higher.
- Periodically turn off the dryer for 10-15 minutes to avoid overheating.
- The maximum operating time without stopping is 10 hours. Keep an eye on the slices; you may need to reduce the drying time.
Candied melon peels
Candied melon is prepared not only from the pulp, but also from the peel. To do this, take:
- melons with smooth thick skin – 2-3 pcs.;
- juice of one lemon;
- sugar – 1 kg.
Preparation:
- Wash the fruits, cut the skin up to 2 mm thick. Crusts cut into strips and simmer in boiling water with two tablespoons of lemon juice for 3-4 minutes. Place on a sieve, rinse under running water and leave to dry.
- Prepare a syrup from 500 ml of water and 750 g of granulated sugar, immerse the melon peel in it. Cook over low heat for 10-12 minutes and leave for 8-10 hours.
- The procedure must be repeated two more times. At the last stage of cooking, add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the syrup. Then place the candied fruits in a sieve and leave for one hour.
- Place the crusts on a baking sheet and leave to dry in the oven at 40°C for one hour.Sprinkle the finished candied fruits with powdered sugar.
Advice! To speed up the evaporation of excess moisture, leave the boiled candied fruits at room temperature for 2-3 days.
How to check the readiness of candied fruits
Candied fruits cooked in syrup spring back when pressed, do not release moisture, and have a light yellow translucent tint. Dried or sun-dried melon takes on a dark shade, becomes viscous and sticky.
If desired, the strips can be woven into a braid. Pieces dried in an electric dryer or oven have a light shade. The wrinkled appearance does not affect the quality of taste.
Terms and conditions of storage
After cooking, the candied fruits are placed in dry glass or tin jars with lids. Linen bags, cardboard boxes, and paper bags are also used.
If the preparation technology is followed, the product can be stored for 8-10 months in a dark cabinet at room temperature. If you are preparing candied fruits for the first time and are not sure of the quality of the product, use the refrigerator for storage.
Read also:
Is it possible to eat melon if you have gout and how is it useful?
Conclusion
Candied melon will be an excellent substitute for sweets. Dried or sun-dried melon retains maximum nutrients and has a unique taste. An oven or electric dryer will help speed up the drying process.