The tip of the month

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March is the pre-eminent month of Lent and many follow the fast either for religious reasons or for reasons of detoxification. In this article we will deal with Lenten sweets of Lent which in addition to being delicious are also very beneficial for our health.

The most famous of the Lent sweets is the halva, which we find in many variations. Sesame halva or trade first came to Greece from the refugees of Smyrna and soon spread throughout the country. Made from tahini, it is rich in good fats, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E and a complex of B vitamins. It has antioxidant properties, rich taste and several calories. It is usually enriched with cocoa or nuts. Now, halva with stevia is also commercially available so that it can be consumed by diabetics and has reduced calories.

Semolina halva is made from semolina, sugar, sunflower oil and almonds. It contains less protein than tahini, more saturated fat due to sunflower oil and less vitamin E. It also contains significantly fewer calories than tahini, can be easily and quickly prepared at home and eaten as a snack in the afternoon.

Farsalon halva, originating from Thessaly, is produced from rice flour or corn flour, has a soft texture and contains almonds. It has fewer calories than the previous two, but also significantly lower calcium and iron content.

Another dessert based on sesame and honey is pastel. It contains a sufficient amount of vegetable protein, fiber and beneficial fatty acids, such as linoleic and linolenic, which are considered essential for our body. It is very rich in calcium, magnesium, iron and phosphorus. It is a natural product and the combination of sesame and honey is in an ideal ratio for our diet. There is also the pastel of nuts, with a higher content of protein, minerals and calories.

Also, fasting is Jams which is present all year round in our cupboards and does not contain any animal ingredients. It consists of fruit and sugar, and although it is quite sweet it has minimal calories per tablespoon. It contains a number of vitamins from fruits, mainly vitamin C and a complex of B vitamins, as well as fiber. It is considered one of the most economical sweets and together with fruit compotes it is a good way to consume our favorite fruits all year round.

The Turkish delight is a cake in the form of a bite, with roots in Turkey, which is made from sugar, syrup and corn flour. Its main feature is its chewy texture and intense aroma, which usually comes from the addition of rose water or other fruit aromas. The most famous flavors are those of rose, mastic, orange, vanilla, coconut but we can also find Turkish delights with the addition of nuts. It ideally accompanies the coffee and we can combine it with a lenten cookie to make the snack known from our childhood, the biscuit.

The mustache cookies are biscuit-shaped cookies made from must or petimezi. They go well with coffee and can be consumed as a snack. They do not contain sugar, but several herbs such as cloves and cinnamon. Must is rich in vitamins A, B and C and also contains significant amounts of potassium, iron and phosphorus.

Finally, do not forget the many pastries as well as fasting variations of classic recipes in which we remove the animal ingredients.

Happy Lent and enjoy!