The first method is too cumbersome, takes a long time and can't be done in a week.
The second one is relatively better, but it is also very troublesome to do it at home. First, the composition is not uniform, and second, there is no corresponding tool.
Therefore, this paper recommends the "self-made method", which saves time and effort and is simple and easy to use. Of course, it is still the familiar smell, the kind of childhood memory. The whole process can be summarized in one sentence: "Peel the wax gourd"; Cutting > hardening > rinsing > cooking > curing > sand returning = wax gourd sugar.
It seems quite simple, but you must pay attention to the details and do it according to the proportion provided in order to succeed. Don't worry, I will explain some tips and give examples to explain the reasons for failure, so that you can avoid taking a detour.
The method of home version of winter melon candy
Required raw materials: 2.5 kg of old wax gourd, sugar 1 kg, and 20 g of food-grade lime powder. First, popularize a question that everyone cares about: can lime powder be eaten?
There are two main kinds of lime powder, one is industrial lime powder, which is inedible. The other is food-grade lime powder, the main component of which is calcium hydroxide, which is refined to remove heavy metals and sterilized. Its main function is to have the effect of solidification and hardening.
For example, food-grade lime powder is basically added to ordinary ice powder, such as konjac and cake, which can be said to be the earliest gelled curing agent used by the people. So as long as it is used properly, it is edible.
I have read most food bloggers' introduction to the practice of winter melon sugar, but I have misunderstood the use of lime powder. It is actually wrong to soak wax gourd directly in water with lime powder. The correct way is to mix lime powder and water evenly, and then let it stand for precipitation. After that, it can be clearly seen that it is divided into two layers. The upper part uses clear water, that is, the solution of calcium hydroxide, and the lower part has no precipitation.
Well, here's how to do it.
-Production process-
1, wax gourd cutting: wash the old wax gourd, cut into pieces and peel it. If the finished wax gourd candy is light green, don't cut the skin too deep. Then cut the wax gourd in half, remove the pulp and scrape off the soft meat inside. Then, cut into rectangular strips about 5 cm for use.
2. Melon hardening: Pour food-grade lime powder into a large basin, add two kilograms of water, stir well and let it settle for ten minutes.
Put the wax gourd strips into a large basin, pour in precipitated lime water, stir well, and soak in the refrigerator for one night. Because the texture of wax gourd is soft cotton, it needs to be soaked in lime water to change the structure and become firm. The finished wax gourd candy tastes crisp but not soft.
3. Slag washing: The wax gourd is almost soaked the next day. Take it out and wash it for two or three times, and wash the attachments with limewater. Then adjust the water to the minimum and let the wax gourd brew under running water 1 hour. Or soak directly, but the time should be extended, at least 6 hours, and change the water every 2 hours. This step is very important and we can't be lazy. -(the reason will be explained later).
4, melon cooked: after the melon is rinsed, remove it for use.
Add water to the pot, add wax gourd strips, bring to a boil over medium heat, and cook for about 5 minutes. When you see the color become translucent, it is ripe. Immediately take out the soaked cold water and let it cool naturally. Then take it out and drain it. Pay attention to drain the water as much as possible to facilitate the subsequent operation.
5. Marinate and taste: after fully draining water, pour it into a basin, sprinkle with white sugar, stir well, then seal it with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator for one day. Reminder: First of all, the amount of sugar should not be less. Secondly, why should it be preserved for so long? Please see the explanation later).
6. Boil back to the sand: On the third day, take out the pickled wax gourd strips. At this time, it can be clearly seen that there is a large amount of water flowing out of the basin bottom, which is a sugar solution formed by the fusion of wax gourd juice and white sugar, indicating that the pickling is delicious and the next step can be carried out.
Pour the wax gourd with soup and juice into the pot, turn the fire to boil, then stir it gently, pay attention to the range of action, so as not to break the wax gourd.
Then, when the evaporation of the sugar solution is reduced by half, the sugar solution is slowly boiled and stirred frequently to avoid sticking to the pot at first, thus slowing down the reaction of the sugar solution to the sand returning process, which is beneficial to observation and convenient to operate.
Then, when the sugar solution produces dense bubbles and dries quickly, immediately turn off the fire and continue stirring. It is best to blow the wax gourd strips with a fan to speed up the cooling, which makes it easier to stir the sugar sand. Shovel a thin layer of sugar coating on each wax gourd strip to indicate the success of sand return.
Finished product: a white, crisp and tender, sweet and refreshing winter melon candy is made!
Tips for homemade winter melon candy
(1), to make this snack, try to choose the old wax gourd, because the meat is thicker and less pulp, and it will not be boiled into a pot of water. Therefore, the prepared winter melon candy is crisp in taste and does not deform in appearance. Secondly, winter melon candy can be put for a long time without moisture regain, softening and deterioration.
How to choose?
A look: the skin of the old wax gourd is frosty, fluffy and black. After cutting, the meat wall is full and the proportion of melon pulp is small.
Second, the weight of old wax gourd is relatively heavy.
(2) The lime powder used is food grade, so don't mistake it for industrial use. The former half a catty costs nearly 10 yuan, while the latter costs a few cents, so you can't eat it.
(3) Don't overcook the wax gourd, otherwise it will be too soft and rotten to handle. Secondly, soak it in cold water after cooking, so that the meat quality of wax gourd strips will shrink and tighten. Finally, wait until the wax gourd is completely cool, and then drain the water, so that it will not go bad during the sugar stain.
(4) The first operation of the novice is boiling back to the sand stage. It is suggested that the sugar solution should always be kept on a small fire after boiling, which is beneficial to observe the bubbles and color changes of the sugar solution, so as to operate correctly and make zero failure winter melon candy.
Frequently asked questions about content summary
(1), why winter melon brewing for so long, for the sake of what?
Some people make candied winter melon, but the color is not white, but yellow or brown. One of the reasons is that this step cuts corners. Because there is not enough brewing, there is more lime left in the melon, and chemical reaction will occur when cooking at high temperature, deepening the color. Only when the brewing time is enough can the wax gourd return to its original white color. Secondly, the wax gourd is clean, and the taste of wax gourd candy is sweet and astringent, with no peculiar smell.
2. Why do you put so much polysaccharide? Can you reduce it according to your personal taste?
Answer: It is not recommended to put less. At first, I didn't think it was necessary to put so much polysaccharide, but it failed. The reason is that if less sugar is put, less sugar solution will be formed, so even if the sugar solution is boiled dry, it will not be enough to form icing and reach the stage of returning to sand. Put a picture of a failed case and you will understand.
3. Why do wax gourd strips need to be pickled for so long?
First of all, in order to preserve it more tastefully.
The second is to force the water of wax gourd to seep out as much as possible, so that the internal structure becomes tight, not too soft, and it is not easy to be scalded when cooking, and it will disperse when touched.
Thirdly, the amount of sugar formed is large, which is convenient for boiling, and can make each wax gourd strip evenly covered with sugar coating.
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The production of candied wax gourd takes several days, which seems to be time-consuming, but behind many delicious foods, there will always be tedious efforts, and time will prove that everything is worth it.