1 year, 9 months ago
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What is carob?
This question is about carob. What is it? Why is it a replacement for chocolate? Is it easy to find in the stores? Does it cost more that real chocolate? What is the nutritional value of carob? Where does it grow? The answer will accompany a great carob recipe that will excite the taste buds with a new, healthy flavor.
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M$3 Answers
I live in Spain and we have carob trees here in quite a few places though it is a native of the Middle East. They can grow to be huge trees and when they shed their pods, which resemble dark brown runner beans, they fall every where.
Although similar, carob doesn't have such a good flavor as chocolate and is higher in calories.
This is from howstuffworks, website below,
"One tablespoon of unsweetened carob powder has 25 calories, no fat, no saturated fat, no cholesterol, and 6 grams carbohydrate. By comparison, one tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder contains 12 calories, 1 gram of fat, no saturated fat, no cholesterol, and 3 grams of carbohydrate."
Carob is not as popular as chocolate, I have never seen it on sale in supermarkets, but it can be found in health food shops where it would almost certainly be more expensive than chocolate..
This is a recipe from the BBC for chocolate chip cookies using carob, I haven't tried it, so I cannot say how nice they are.
" Ingredients
coconut oil, for greasing
125g/4oz self-raising wholemeal flour or plain flour, plus 1 tsp baking powder
50g/2oz soft brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
4 tsp carob powder
pinch of salt
50g/2oz finely chopped dates
100ml/3½fl oz sweetened soya milk
75ml/3fl oz rapeseed oil
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 tsp finely grated orange rind
25g/1oz dairy-free chocolate or carob, coarsely grated or chopped
Preparation method,
1.Line a baking sheet with baking parchment and grease with coconut oil. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
2. Place the flour, sugar, cinnamon, carob powder, salt and dates in a bowl and mix well. Add the soya milk, oil and vanilla essence and beat with an electric mixer or fork. Stir in the orange rind and grated chocolate.
3.Place 12 dessertspoonfuls of the mixture on the prepared baking sheet and smooth the tops with a wet knife.
4. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes, then cool on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container until needed."
Although similar, carob doesn't have such a good flavor as chocolate and is higher in calories.
This is from howstuffworks, website below,
"One tablespoon of unsweetened carob powder has 25 calories, no fat, no saturated fat, no cholesterol, and 6 grams carbohydrate. By comparison, one tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder contains 12 calories, 1 gram of fat, no saturated fat, no cholesterol, and 3 grams of carbohydrate."
Carob is not as popular as chocolate, I have never seen it on sale in supermarkets, but it can be found in health food shops where it would almost certainly be more expensive than chocolate..
This is a recipe from the BBC for chocolate chip cookies using carob, I haven't tried it, so I cannot say how nice they are.
" Ingredients
coconut oil, for greasing
125g/4oz self-raising wholemeal flour or plain flour, plus 1 tsp baking powder
50g/2oz soft brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
4 tsp carob powder
pinch of salt
50g/2oz finely chopped dates
100ml/3½fl oz sweetened soya milk
75ml/3fl oz rapeseed oil
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 tsp finely grated orange rind
25g/1oz dairy-free chocolate or carob, coarsely grated or chopped
Preparation method,
1.Line a baking sheet with baking parchment and grease with coconut oil. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4.
2. Place the flour, sugar, cinnamon, carob powder, salt and dates in a bowl and mix well. Add the soya milk, oil and vanilla essence and beat with an electric mixer or fork. Stir in the orange rind and grated chocolate.
3.Place 12 dessertspoonfuls of the mixture on the prepared baking sheet and smooth the tops with a wet knife.
4. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes, then cool on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container until needed."
images:
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M$Report Abuse
The carob tree grows in the Mediterranean areas and is a member of the legume (pea) family. The tree grows very large and grows to 15m in 50 years. A large carob tree can harvest one ton of beans in one harvest.
Carob has been named the healthy substitute to chocolate because carob does not contain any stimulant caffeine usually found in chocolate. Additionally, it is naturally sweet so understandably it will contain less sugar than the equivalent of chocolate. Also, carob powder can be used in any recipe instead of cocoa powder.
As far as nutritional value, carob can contain up to 8% protein and also consists of vitamins A, B, B2, B3 and D. In addition, carob is also high in potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium. Carob also contains barium, nickel,iron, manganese and copper. Of course, carob should only be eaten in moderation.
Also, carob can be used in dog treats as a replacement for chocolate. It is safe for dogs to eat, unlike chocolate is.
Here is a recipe for Carob Cake and Frosting that I found on AllRecipes.com.
---quote---
Prep Time:
30 Min
Cook Time:
45 Min
Ready In:
1 Hr 30 Min
Servings : 8 US
Original Recipe Yield 1 - 8 inch square pan
Ingredients
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2/3 cup honey
• 2 eggs
• 1 banana, mashed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup carob powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 cup dry milk powder
• 1/4 cup carob powder
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8 inch square pan. Sift together the flour, 1/3 cup carob powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the 1/2 cup butter and 2/3 cup of honey until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the banana and vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the 3/4 cup water. Stir in chopped walnuts. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.
4. To make the frosting: In a large bowl, cream 1/4 cup butter and 1/3 cup honey until smooth. Blend in the milk powder, carob powder, 1/4 cup water and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until smooth and spread on cooled cake.
Nutritional Information
Amount Per Serving Calories: 443 | Total Fat: 18.9g | Cholesterol: 102mg
---End of Quote---
Carob has been named the healthy substitute to chocolate because carob does not contain any stimulant caffeine usually found in chocolate. Additionally, it is naturally sweet so understandably it will contain less sugar than the equivalent of chocolate. Also, carob powder can be used in any recipe instead of cocoa powder.
As far as nutritional value, carob can contain up to 8% protein and also consists of vitamins A, B, B2, B3 and D. In addition, carob is also high in potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium. Carob also contains barium, nickel,iron, manganese and copper. Of course, carob should only be eaten in moderation.
Also, carob can be used in dog treats as a replacement for chocolate. It is safe for dogs to eat, unlike chocolate is.
Here is a recipe for Carob Cake and Frosting that I found on AllRecipes.com.
---quote---
Prep Time:
30 Min
Cook Time:
45 Min
Ready In:
1 Hr 30 Min
Servings : 8 US
Original Recipe Yield 1 - 8 inch square pan
Ingredients
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2/3 cup honey
• 2 eggs
• 1 banana, mashed
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup carob powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 cup dry milk powder
• 1/4 cup carob powder
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8 inch square pan. Sift together the flour, 1/3 cup carob powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the 1/2 cup butter and 2/3 cup of honey until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the banana and vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the 3/4 cup water. Stir in chopped walnuts. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.
4. To make the frosting: In a large bowl, cream 1/4 cup butter and 1/3 cup honey until smooth. Blend in the milk powder, carob powder, 1/4 cup water and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until smooth and spread on cooled cake.
Nutritional Information
Amount Per Serving Calories: 443 | Total Fat: 18.9g | Cholesterol: 102mg
---End of Quote---
images:
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M$
Well I believe it is used as a chocolate substitute which comes from a pod of a tree.
Research wise here is what I can find...
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Carobs.JPG/270px-Carobs.JPG
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carob_tree
Basically it's a tree which grows a pod that looks like a large pea pod. The tree is found mostly around the Mediterranean.
The pods are processed into a powder you can buy.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Ceratonia_siliqua_g1.jpg/220px-Ceratonia_siliqua_g1.jpg
http://www.chocolate-candy-mall.com/how-to-make-carob-chips.html
Here is a recipe for making that powder into chips. It appears to be the basic recipe for chocolate which is cocoa powder plus sugar plus fat = chocolate. In this case you sub the carob powder. But you can check out the recipe for the details.
I
Research wise here is what I can find...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carob_tree
Basically it's a tree which grows a pod that looks like a large pea pod. The tree is found mostly around the Mediterranean.
The pods are processed into a powder you can buy.
http://www.chocolate-candy-mall.com/how-to-make-carob-chips.html
Here is a recipe for making that powder into chips. It appears to be the basic recipe for chocolate which is cocoa powder plus sugar plus fat = chocolate. In this case you sub the carob powder. But you can check out the recipe for the details.
I
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M$
