Halva - benefits and harm to the body. Samarkand halva. Recipe Calorie content of Uzbek chocolate halva

Rarely a sweet tooth can pass by halva - a real oriental sweet, which the inhabitants of harems enjoyed with pleasure for many centuries. Today, halva amazes the imagination of sweet lovers not only with its excellent taste, but also with its many varieties. Almond, sunflower, pistachio, sesame and even coconut - the list of types of delicacies can take a long time. What is the nutritional value of all this splendor, and is it possible to eat it without worrying about your figure? Alas, any halva has a high calorie content. And we’ll tell you which one now.

Composition of halva

Halva was enjoyed back in the 5th century AD; Iran is considered the birthplace of the sweet. Since then, many recipes for the delicacy have appeared, but the basis is most often seeds or nuts. However, there are halva recipes where there is neither one nor the other, but there is ordinary wheat flour.

In a more classical sense, halva is an oriental sweet made from:

Nut or oil seed pastes
Caramel made from sugar and molasses. At home, sometimes the caramel mass is replaced with honey
Foaming agent. It is to him that halva owes its characteristic fibrous structure. Licorice or soap root, or egg whites are mainly used for these purposes.
Sometimes the recipe is supplemented with flavoring and aromatic additives: vanillin, cocoa, chocolate. Of course, in industrial production emulsifiers, antioxidants, etc. are added.

Nutritional value of halva

The nutritional value of halva, as well as the energy value, is directly dependent on the main component - the type of nuts or seeds from which the paste for the delicacy is made. However, the type of halva does not greatly affect the number of calories per 100 grams. The chemical composition of different types of halva is also approximately the same. Only the percentage of substance content changes, and even then only slightly.

In any case, halva is rich in vitamins and minerals:

B vitamins
Vitamins A
Vitamins E
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sodium
Phosphorus
Iron - there is a lot of it in halva, especially sunflower halva. 100 grams of product contain 33 mg, which is almost twice the daily requirement for humans

Halva is a storehouse of essential amino acids for humans, because it is prepared from nuts or seeds rich in plant proteins.

Halva BJU for 100 grams:

Proteins: 11.7
Fat: 28
Carbohydrates: 54

This ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates is typical for sunflower halva. In other varieties of the sweet delicacy, the indicators are slightly different, up or down. But the approximate ratio is the same: the product contains the most carbohydrates, almost twice as much as fats, and in last place are proteins. Unlike most other types of sweets, halva contains a lot of proteins.

Calorie content of halva

Now we are approaching the most interesting thing - the energy value of the product. For young ladies who ardently monitor every calorie that “enters” the body, this information can ruin their psyche. After all, the energy value of oriental sweets is high. One might say, very high: on average, oriental halva has a caloric value of 557 units per 100 grams. Halva can be white, or it can be dark in color - the color of the product also depends on the main raw materials (nuts, seeds, sesame seeds and their combinations).

Let's look at the types:

The calorie content of sunflower halva in 100 grams is 517 kcal
Uzbek halva has 509 calories
Samarkand halva: calorie content 487. This product can be found in retail chains, small kiosks, or made at home. As a rule, for cooking, in addition to nuts, butter and flour are used. Sesame seeds are sprinkled on top, there are products with pistachios, they are added whole, without grinding into flour
Calorie content of tahini halva: 517 units. They make a delicacy from sesame seeds, first grinding them finely. Another name for the product is sesame halva. Calorie content may be significantly less: 470 units. It depends on the recipe of the particular product.
Azov halva (from the Azov confectionery factory) - calorie content 552 units
Peanut halva (completely peanut or tahini-peanut) has 502 calories.
White Kos-halva has 470 caloric units. This is not quite halva in the traditional sense. The product tastes more like nougat with a high content of whole nuts and sometimes candied fruits
Chocolate halva has a higher calorie content - over 570 kcal. As a rule, this is tahini halva made from sesame seeds with the addition of cocoa powder or chocolate. The color of the dessert is appropriate - appetizing light brown

Calorie content of halva in chocolate

In our country, halva is wildly popular, almost as popular as in Arab countries. A particularly favorite treat since childhood and a symbol of the holiday is Rot Front halva, the calorie content of which seems prohibitive for many.

The bright red and yellow foil wrapper of this delicacy is probably recognized from thousands of others by all children of the USSR and the post-Soviet space. Candies are traditionally placed in New Year's sweet gifts or hung on a decorated Christmas tree. But only in childhood can you carefree carry hidden sweets, keeping count only of the shiny empty candy wrappers. Adults, seeing their favorite delicacy, begin to frantically think about how many calories and sugar it contains.

The calorie content of halva in Rot Front chocolate is 534 kcal per 100 grams. This is one of the most high-calorie types of halva, for obvious reasons. It is made from grated peanuts, and cocoa butter substitutes and cocoa powder are added to prepare the glaze.

Even children won’t eat packs of this sweetness; most often we are content with one or two pieces. One candy weighs a lot - 27 grams. Thus, halva in chocolate has a calorie content of 1 piece of approximately 144 units. It’s not at all an “easy” pleasure, but sometimes you can afford it even for those who closely monitor their diet. The product, as we said, contains many useful substances.

Halva is one of the most famous and beloved delicacies in the world. It can be made from sunflower or sesame seeds, peanuts and other nuts or seeds. Nuts and seeds are rich in vitamins and minerals, making this amazing dessert a healthy delicacy.

The only problem with this store-bought sweet is the rest of the ingredients, such as sugar, preservatives and other additives, so it's much better to make it yourself.

Such an unusual halva

An extremely tasty and high-calorie sweet made from seeds or nuts is a tasty morsel that, in excess, can have a negative effect on the body. But from time to time you can indulge in this sweetness without remorse, because it is a treasure trove of vitamins and healthy linoleic acid.

This sweetness can have a semi-liquid or thick consistency. The calorie content of halva per 100 grams of product ranges between 500 and 700 kcal, depending on what it is made from. This delicacy promotes weight gain. However, you should not stubbornly avoid it, even if you are on a diet, because it contains many vitamins and nutrients that promote health.

Due to its popularity, especially in the Balkans, Mediterranean countries and Western Asian countries, there are many varieties of this sweet, mainly due to the type of seeds used for production (e.g. sesame, poppy, sunflower seeds).

We know the taste of sunflower seeds and sweets made from it well and remember it from childhood. Sunflower, in addition to its aroma, also has many health benefits, and its culinary uses are very diverse. It began to be cultivated in South America by the Indians, who managed to develop different varieties. It came to Europe thanks to the Spaniards, but owes its popularity to the Russians, who were the first to cultivate it on a mass scale.

Benefits, harms and calorie content of sunflower halva

This sunflower product has many beneficial properties:

Sunflower contains vitamins (including a lot of vitamin E), which help it maintain the functioning of the nervous system;
Sunflower seeds are a rich source of magnesium, the king of minerals, and thus can help fight stress;
Sunflower seeds should be included in the diet of people living under constant stress or those who drink a lot of coffee, because their body especially needs magnesium;
This sweet uses roasted seeds and is especially beneficial for brain function. Before exams or simply when we are forced to work a lot intellectually, it is worth eating a piece of it. In addition, due to its magnesium content, sunflower supports the heart and circulatory system, helps fight migraines and muscle spasms;
due to the high magnesium content in sunflower halva, it improves concentration and calms, lowers blood pressure;
Sunflower is useful for reducing headaches and migraines, reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes;
Sunflower seeds are also a source of calcium and are good for bones;
in addition, they ensure proper tissue oxygenation and are useful for anemia;
the high potassium content in sunflower sweets helps regulate the body's water and electrolyte balance;
Sunflower grains also contain large amounts of zinc, copper, manganese and selenium;
sunflower sweetness can also provide us with unsaturated fatty acids omega 3 and 6, necessary for the restoration of cell membranes in all cells of the body;
Sunflower contains a large amount of phytosterols - plant steroids that lower blood cholesterol levels and protect against cardiovascular diseases.

But it should be borne in mind that this sweetness in large quantities can also cause harm. Therefore, despite all its beneficial properties, moderation is also important in its use. In large quantities it can cause digestive upset. In addition, it is very fatty and is not recommended for people who have certain diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Sunflower seeds are a high calorie food. The calorie content of sunflower halva is approximately 600 kcal per 100 grams of product, so it can lead to weight gain.

Sesame halva

In Europe, sesame seeds are most often used to produce this sweetness.

Sesame is a very valuable source of omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids and protein, which is not inferior in value to meat protein.

Its seeds also contain B vitamins, vitamins A and E, iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, potassium, large amounts of calcium and unique antioxidants, the benefit of which is that they not only slow down aging and help fight free radicals, but also lower blood pressure and help prevent the absorption of bad cholesterol.

Sesame, especially ground or toasted, is soaked for several hours, then it is very easily absorbed by the body.

In addition, it is worth noting that the amino acid composition of sesame protein can be compared to egg white, which is the benchmark for other products in terms of existing amino acids. This, in turn, is good news for vegetarians, who do not eat animal products and must provide all the necessary nutrients, including amino acids, for their body to function properly.

Nutritional value:

sesame halva calorie content 100 grams – 536 kcal;
protein – 9.6 g;
carbohydrates – 54.6 g;
fat – 31.7 g.

The calorie content of any chocolate-covered halva will be even greater.

Peanut halva

Although peanuts are high in calories and fat, they are also healthy. When consumed in moderation, it will help you lose weight, take care of your heart, and help restore good sleep. The average calorie content of peanut halva is 595 kcal per 100 grams. Peanuts are high in fat (about 46% of its composition).

These nuts are rich in oleic acid, which is good for the cardiovascular system. Eating peanut halva will help you feel full faster, which reduces your appetite. Nuts help speed up your metabolism so that the calories you get from them are not retained.

Today, peanuts are grown mainly in India, China, Nigeria and the United States, as well as in Italy and France. The plant belongs to the legume family. Peanuts help support the nervous system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, protect against osteoporosis and atherosclerosis, and take care of the skin.

Peanut halva contains a lot of protein (more than 25%), potassium, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus, "vitamins of youth", that is, E and niacin (vitamin PP). Arginine contained in peanuts is a valuable building block for human muscles. However, you should be careful when consuming peanut sweets, as this nut can sometimes cause very serious food allergies.

Uzbek sweetness

This sweet is prepared with baked milk, walnuts and sesame seeds. It also contains many useful components, vitamins and, of course, fats.

Uzbek halva is a dessert known and loved by many since childhood. Its roots are in traditional Persian cooking. The first mention of the caramel-nut delicacy dates back to the 5th century BC. Even then it was considered a gourmet dish, the recipe was kept secret. And the skill of kandalatchi - confectioners who prepare halva - was passed down from generation to generation.

Today, manufacturers do not hide what they use to prepare their signature dessert. And they delight you with an abundance of additives that diversify the taste and range of your favorite product. The types, composition and dietary characteristics of oriental sweets will be discussed further.

Halva in dietetics

The Eastern symbol of the sweetness of life refers to those foods that can and should be eaten with various diets. And this is contrary to stereotypes that in a treatment or weight loss regime, all sweets should be excluded. After all, halva does not contain much sugar. Some of its varieties have a honey or fructose base. And varieties such as gluten-free, bean or carrot have earned a reputation as dietary products.

The composition of Uzbek halva contains the same amount of protein compounds as in meat products. Plant protein is also necessary for humans to build the muscular system, just like animal protein. Therefore, halva is recommended for nutrition of athletes and people with an active lifestyle.

The reasons limiting the consumption of Uzbek halva are the following diseases and body reactions:

diabetes;
liver diseases;
pancreatitis;
obesity;
atopic dermatitis and individual intolerance to the components of the Uzbek halva.

The maximum daily portion is 30 grams. An exception is special diets, for example, methods of losing weight using halva and kefir, green tea, etc.
The ideal time to take it is the first half of the day.
Dessert should not be washed down with a sweet drink.
The product should be offered to children under 6 years of age with caution.

Those who are “on a diet” should take into account the calorie content of the food included in a single meal. And if for dessert you plan to eat a piece of halva - classic or dietary, then the main part of lunch (breakfast) should be low-calorie.

Halva: product composition and types

There are many varieties of halva: modern food technologies make it possible to improve the classic recipe and improve its taste. But the base of the product consists of such constant components as nuts, seeds, flour. And depending on the base, there are three main types: classic halva made from sunflower seeds, nut halva and tahini halva (from sesame seeds).

Sunflower halva: calories, ingredients, benefits

The most common is sunflower halva; the product composition includes a paste-like mass of seeds, caramel made from molasses or sugar. Its calorie content is expressed by an average of 500/550 kcal per 100 gram serving of halva. 50% here is occupied by carbohydrates, which provoke an energy surge, and the remaining 50% is distributed between vegetable proteins and unsaturated fats, which do not harm the level of cholesterol in the blood.

The nutritional benefits of sunflower halva are undeniable: it is rich in , E, PP. Also, the beneficial properties of sweets are due to the presence of iron, potassium, copper, calcium, phosphorus and a sufficient amount of dietary fiber and maltose. And it goes well with additional ingredients - chocolate, candied fruits, coconut flakes and other flavorings.

Nut halva: composition features, nutritional properties

A characteristic feature of this type of favorite dessert is that it can be based on various nuts (almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, etc.) or a mixture of them. Peanuts, although they belong to the legume family, are also considered a valuable raw material for nut halva. It produces a delicious product with great dietary advantages over the classic version. So, peanut halva has a lower calorie content: the indicator does not reach 500 kcal. And the vitamin composition remains at the same level. Periodic consumption of peanut treats (20 grams per day) is an excellent prevention of osteoporosis and memory impairment.

In the same series, Uzbek halva with pistachios is popular, the composition of which includes flour, milk caramel and kernels of your favorite nuts. A rarer option is when pistachio dessert is made from delicate nut paste. It is classified as an aphrodisiac product and is recommended on romantic dates.

Tahini halva: composition, calorie content, nutritional value

Sesame halva is a typical sweet for Central Asian cuisine. Its basis is made up of whole sesame seeds or their middle part - in this case it is called tahini. The vitamin and mineral composition does not suffer from these factors: in both cases, the product is saturated with vitamins F and E, zinc, manganese, calcium, and magnesium.

Calorie content is expressed as 470 kcal per 100 gram serving. It is noteworthy that this variety has the highest content of serotonin - the main natural antidepressant, the hormone of joy. The concentration of ascorbic acid in this product is another nutritional advantage that allows us to recommend sesame dessert for cancer prevention.

A visual comparison of the energy value of different types of product is presented in the table.

Calorie content of halva, per 100 grams of product:

How to choose Uzbek halva?

To ensure that the taste of your favorite dessert does not disappoint, but brings true gastronomic pleasure and undoubted benefits to the body, you need to take note of a few tips:

When purchasing, give preference to a product that you can consider. Blind packaging, for all its colorfulness and attractiveness, can hide a low-quality confectionery product.
When assessing the “appearance” of the dessert, pay attention to the uniformity of the mass. It should flake, crumble easily, but not crumble under light pressure. And no unnecessary elements on the surface - grains, sugar drops, husks, etc.
The composition of Uzbek halva excludes the dark color. Usually, a darkened mass indicates the expiration of its shelf life.
If the seller allows you to try sweetness (in a specialized department, at the market), then the selection criterion is taste: moderately sweet, without bitterness. Also, a high-quality product literally melts in your mouth and does not stick to your teeth.

Any type of fresh delicacy is useful for hematopoiesis and gastrointestinal function. The naturalness of the components and folic acid in the composition make it possible to include Uzbek halva in the diet of pregnant women and the list of “beauty products”.

Hello everyone who stopped by!!

Who doesn't love to eat something delicious? It is unlikely that there will be such people))) For me, the word “delicious” is associated with the word “sweet”. I’m ready to stuff myself with chocolates and cakes all day long... if I only allowed myself to)) Unfortunately, my figure won’t thank me for such a mockery, and all these sweets are not healthy. It can be difficult to find something tasty that also has an adequate composition.

As an alternative to candy, I sometimes buy nuts or dried fruit from a local grocery store. On my last trip there, I came across a new product - Uzbek halva. Taste - chocolate and cream with pistachios. Naturally, I couldn’t pass by))) So what kind of delicacy is this? Let's figure it out now!

Where did you buy it? At a local oriental sweets shop. As an alternative, on the website you can find many types of Uzbek halva with delivery throughout Russia.

What is the price? 65 UAH / 142 rubles for 500 g.

Package

I purchased halva in packaged form, 500g. It was a tightly closed transparent plastic container, which made me very happy - the product did not become weathered in the display case, dust did not settle on it, or worse.

On top of the container there was a label informing me that this was indeed Uzbek halva, and also indicated the composition of the product.

What's in it?

I was very impressed with the composition even when I bought it:

Cream, water, honey, cedar oil, almonds, cashews, pistachios, sunflower seeds, chocolate.

Halva is made from completely natural ingredients. And did you notice? - it doesn’t even contain sugar!! Girls who watch their figure will understand my delight))

Consistency, smell

The consistency of the halva pieces is quite dense; the sunflower halva we are used to is looser and more crumbly. When broken, you feel the plasticity of the mass, which is a bit like plasticine.

The halva holds its shape perfectly; when you break a piece, you get two halves, and there are practically no small crumbs (remember what would happen to our ordinary halva, if you tried to break it - all your hands, the whole table, and if you were really unlucky, then the floor would be in crumbs). This property of Uzbek halva made me very happy; you can safely eat it with your hands and not worry about the cleanliness of your hands and surrounding objects.

Smell I would say creamy chocolate with notes of honey and nuts. This is an interesting mix, without one distinct note.

Color. As you can see, the halva is two-color. The milk part has a creamy tint, the chocolate part has a chocolate tint.

Let's try..

When I first read the ingredients and saw honey there, I was afraid that it would be very noticeable in the halva. But I really don’t like it, I don’t like this product at all, although I understand that it is very useful. But no... fortunately for me, the honey is not felt at all. Thanks to him, the halva has a pleasant sweetness, but there is no characteristic aftertaste.

What else is there in the taste of Uzbek halva, besides sweetness? You can feel the creamy chocolate notes, and you can also clearly smell the pistachios - they can be seen with the naked eye, they are finely detailed and densely distributed throughout the halva.

On top of the pieces of halva are nuts - cashews or almonds, they also add their own notes to the overall taste.

By the way, about the nuts on top))) When I first opened the box of halva, I immediately saw THEM - nuts!!! And involuntarily the hand reached out to them with the goal of digging them out of a piece of halva and eating them)) But that was not the case - as it turned out, the nuts there were not whole, but only small pieces. For decoration, so to speak. Bummer comrades)))

For comparison, I can say that Uzbek halva vaguely reminiscent of sweet toffee, which was sold in my childhood - not viscous toffee-candies, but such brown toffee in the form of tiles. Only Uzbek halva is less sweet, it also contains a mixture of delicious nuts and healthy cedar oil with honey.

Perfect as a nice dessert for tea, especially in the current cool weather outside!

☆☆☆ Let's draw conclusions ☆☆☆

Uzbek milk chocolate halva has the following advantages:

natural ingredients with no sugar in the composition
original pleasant taste
acceptable price

Disadvantages - you can eat a lot))) it’s very tasty.

Bon appetit everyone!!

And for lovers of interesting sweet desserts, I suggest you take a look at a couple more of my reviews:

about Turkish tahini (sesame) halva with cocoa
about Pishmaniye (or Thread-like halva) - an unusual and tasty Turkish sweet.

Uzbek halva recipe

Ingredients:

premium flour – 3 tbsp. spoons;
melted – 25 g;
milk – 2 tbsp.;
water;
white sugar – 0.5 tbsp.

Preparation

In a deep bowl, melt the melted butter, add the sifted flour and mix. Cook the mixture until it turns brownish. After this, add a little water and stir again so that there are no lumps. Boil the milk separately, add sugar into it and wait for complete dissolution. Then combine the milk syrup with the toasted flour and simmer over low heat until thickened. Place the finished Uzbek white halva into molds greased with butter and compact thoroughly. When the delicacy has cooled completely, cut it into small pieces and serve.

Uzbek halva with nuts

Ingredients:

– 200 g;
sesame – 100 g;
flour – 250 g;
butter – 110 g;
vanillin.

For the syrup:

sugar – 250 g;
salo;
water – 400 ml.

Preparation

First, let's prepare the syrup: boil water in a saucepan and pour in the required amount of sugar. Cook the mixture over medium heat until it has a thick consistency.

Lightly fry the sesame seeds and cool. Brown the flour in a frying pan, greased with lamb lard in advance. We pass all the nuts through a meat grinder several times. After this, mix the flour with sugar syrup and nuts. Transfer the resulting mass into an enamel bowl and cook the Uzbek halva, stirring constantly, over medium heat. After 25 minutes, transfer the delicacy into a mold and sprinkle sesame seeds on top. Cover the halva with film, press lightly on top and close the mold with a tight lid.

Uzbek halva with pistachios

Ingredients:

Preparation

So, take a cast iron pan, pour milk and add chopped pistachios. Then add sugar and ghee. Mix everything thoroughly and bring to a boil over medium heat. After this, reduce the flame and simmer the mixture, stirring occasionally with a spoon. When there is almost no milk left, remove the dishes from the stove and put the halva in a previously prepared container. After complete hardening, cut the delicacy into diamonds and decorate with nuts. You can optionally sprinkle the halva with sesame seeds, fine powdered sugar or chopped walnuts.