How to cook fried watermelon seeds and how they are useful
Watermelon - a valuable food product, in which not only fruit pulp is tasty and healthy, but also seeds. The nuclei satisfy the body's needs for calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, vitamins of group B, PP. They have a beneficial effect on the body as a whole, have anti-inflammatory, diuretic, choleretic, antipyretic effects, stimulate intestinal motility, normalize metabolism, and improve blood formation.
From the article you will learn the composition and properties of seeds, the benefits and harms to the body. We will tell you if they can be fried and how to cook them properly, describe how to use them in cooking and traditional medicine, and explain how to store fried watermelon seeds.
The content of the article
Is it possible to fry watermelon seeds
Watermelon seed kernels are suitable for consumption both fresh and after special processing. They can be fried, dried, eaten crushed.
The seeds have a specific pleasant taste and can become an alternative to peanuts, sunflower seeds, and if you add sugar and cinnamon, they can replace confectionery. Seeds prevent diseases of the heart and blood vessels, are useful for the nervous, digestive and endocrine systems.
Product composition and properties
Dried watermelon seeds contain up to 25% fats and fatty acids, which perform energetic and structural functions in a living organism, serve as the main component of the cell membrane. Values are palmitic, stearic, palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic acids, omega-3 and omega-6 fats.
The seeds contain proteins, nonessential and essential amino acids: lysine, threonine, arginine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, histidine, alanine, proline, aspartic and glutamic acids and others.
Vitamins and minerals are present in the chemical composition:
- vitamin B1 (thiamine);
- vitamin B2 (riboflavin);
- vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid);
- vitamin B6 (pyridoxine);
- vitamin B9 (folic acid);
- vitamin PP;
- macronutrients: phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium;
- trace elements: zinc, copper, manganese, iron.
Watermelon seeds have useful properties: they normalize metabolism, stimulate intestinal peristalsis, suppress the activity of inflammation, and soothe the nervous system. They are useful for the vascular system of the body: they strengthen the walls of the capillaries, increase their strength and elasticity, cleanse the blood and liver.
KBZHU
Dried kernels of watermelon seeds are classified as high-calorie foods. A serving (100 g) contains 557 calories. Proteins - 28.3 g, fats - 47.4 g, carbohydrates - 15.3 g.
Benefit and harm
Arginine is of particular value to the body. It plays an important role in metabolic processes, enhances the production of growth hormone, maintains an optimal concentration of cholesterol in the blood, and stimulates insulin synthesis... In addition, it increases blood flow to the genitals, which provides favorable conditions for a long and stable erection, and normalizes the functionality of the prostate gland.
Dried watermelon kernels are useful for the cardiovascular system. Vitamin PP reduces capillary fragility, makes the walls of blood vessels more durable and elastic, supports redox processes. It is also a powerful antioxidant.
Potassium and magnesium ensure the work of the heart muscle, regulate blood pressure, and improve the process of neuromuscular transmission.With regular use of watermelon seeds, the body's needs for iron are partially met. In case of a deficiency of this element, hematopoiesis is disturbed, the immune system is weakened, dry skin occurs, and efficiency decreases.
Dried watermelon seeds have a beneficial effect on the activity of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract... Fiber improves digestion, stimulates lipid metabolism, removes toxins, toxins and excess fluid from the body. It also has a good choleretic, diuretic and laxative effect.
For reference. Watermelon seeds are a source of zinc, 100 g of the product contains 85.3% of the daily requirement of the body. Deficiency of a trace element is manifested by a weakened immune system, loss of sharpness of taste and smell, dull and dry skin, menstrual irregularities in women, growth retardation in children.
In folk medicine, watermelon kernels are valued for their ability to remove uric acid salts from the body, which serves as a good prevention of rheumatism, arthritis and arthrosis of various origins. The seeds show good results in treating gout. They reduce the content of crystals of uric acid salts in the joints, prevent their accumulation in the kidneys, reduce the likelihood of the formation of gouty nodes, and increase the period of remission.
Watermelon seeds inhibit inflammation, relieve muscle pain, have antiseptic properties, and reduce high body temperature in case of fever. Due to the content in the composition of alkaline compounds that regulate acid-base balance, the product is used for acidosis (shift of the acid-base balance upward).
Watermelon kernels are not always equally beneficial for the body. The seeds contain citrulline. This amino acid can cause a number of complications: dizziness, nausea, vomiting, loss of consciousness, in the worst case, provoke cerebral edema, mental retardation, death. For the same reason, seeds are contraindicated in children under three years of age, women during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Important... Even absolutely healthy people need to observe the measure when consuming seeds. The composition contains oxalates and phytins in small doses, which impede the absorption of minerals.
Possible harm to watermelon kernels is associated with their use with individual intolerance to one or more components of the composition. In such cases, it is possible to develop an allergic reaction in the form of itching, rashes, peeling, Quincke's edema.
The calorie and high fat content of seeds can cause weight gain. Therefore, people who lead a sedentary lifestyle or are prone to obesity are advised to limit the amount of the product or completely eliminate it.
How to fry watermelon seeds
There are several ways to cook watermelon kernels at home. Below are the recipes for salted and dried watermelon seeds. It is important that during the preparation process the kernels do not lose their beneficial and nutritional properties, the chemical composition remains practically unchanged.
How to cook salted watermelon seeds
Extract the seeds from the edible part of the watermelon, sort out, remove the white kernels, since extremely dark ones are suitable for eating. Pour into a colander, rinse well with water to remove any remaining fruit pulp. When the water is drained, pour it onto a towel.
Put dry seeds in a preheated dry frying pan, fry over medium heat for 5-6 minutes. Next, prepare a saline solution from 75 ml of water and 1 tsp. salt, pour the kernels. Cook the seeds until the liquid has completely evaporated and the kernels are dry. The cooled seeds are ready to eat.
Frying in a pan
Rinse the watermelon seeds, remove the remaining pulp, dry on a paper towel.Put in a dry hot frying pan, fry over medium heat for 6-10 minutes, stirring constantly so that the kernels do not burn. Pour hot seeds onto a flat dish, cover with a towel, leave for 15-20 minutes.
In the oven
The preparation stage is similar: rinse the seeds and dry them on a towel. Preheat the oven. Cover a dry baking sheet with parchment paper, put the kernels on top, distribute evenly over the surface. Cook at 180 ° C for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Advice... If desired, watermelon seeds can be pre-soaked in salt water. If hot kernels are seasoned with cinnamon and sugar or a pinch of salt and lime juice after cooking, they will acquire an original spicy taste.
The use of watermelon seeds
Watermelon kernels are popular in both cooking and folk medicine. They can be used as food for domestic rodents, parrots and other tropical birds.
The quality of the watermelon affects the taste and nutritional properties of the seeds. It is better if these are the fruits of their own harvest, grown without the addition of nitrates. If the berry is purchased, then pay attention to the appearance. A good fruit has a whole peel, shiny, with a pronounced striped pattern. The fruit itself is large, but not heavy, when tapped, it emits a dull sound, has a dry stalk, a yellow earthen spot on the side.
In cooking
Peeled watermelon seeds are consumed fresh, dried or salted. Ideal as a standalone product for lunch or snack between lunch and dinner. As an ingredient, add to vegetable and fruit salads, oatmeal, soup. The kernels are also processed into butter and flour. In Asia and West Africa, this flour is used as a soup thickener.
In folk medicine
Alternative medicine uses watermelon kernels to treat and prevent a wide range of diseases. They have a detrimental effect on the eggs of ascaris, hookworm, extraintestinal helminthiasis. Seeds are recommended for the normalization of metabolism and hematopoiesis processes, increasing the protective functions of the body.
Watermelon kernels serve as a good prevention of atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease. With disorders of the nervous system, they reduce the effects of stress, reduce nervous excitability, normalize night sleep, and slow down the heart rate.
Advice... Traditional medicine recommends regular use of watermelon seeds for men after 35-40 years. They support the function of the prostate gland, are responsible for sexual health and sexual desire, and reduce the risk of prostatitis.
To some extent, the nuclei have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, hair, nails: they increase the strength of the nail plate, stimulate the growth of hair follicles and stop hair loss, tone the skin, reduce the number of skin rashes and prevent the appearance of new ones.
A means for lowering high pressure is prepared from watermelon seeds and peel. To do this, you need to grind the dried kernels and peel into powder using a blender. Take ½ tsp. twice a day for 30 days. The medicine is used as a choleretic agent, only taken according to a different scheme: 1 tbsp. l. in the morning and in the evening. Continue treatment until positive results are achieved.
Medicinal tea is prepared from the seeds of watermelon: rinse 20-25 pieces of kernels, remove the remaining water with a paper towel. Boil 2 liters of water, add seeds, cook for 15-20 minutes. Strain the cooled drink, take inside in small portions for two days. Take 1-2 days off, if necessary repeat the treatment. The tool helps to improve the functioning of the kidneys, enhances urine flow, and blocks the reabsorption of sodium chloride.
How to store roasted seeds
Fried seeds are stored in clean linen bags for no more than 12 months, avoiding high temperatures, high humidity, and direct sunlight.
Read also:
How to dry a watermelon in an electric dryer and store the finished product.
Conclusion
Watermelon seeds are nutritious and beneficial for the body in the absence of contraindications. It contains a lot of protein, amino acids, vegetable fats, which are necessary for normal metabolism, blood coagulation processes. In addition, the components of the composition in the complex reduce cholesterol levels, create favorable conditions for the normal functioning of the heart, blood vessels, digestive organs, and nervous systems. Watermelon kernels are especially beneficial for maintaining male sexual function.
If you fry the seeds with the addition of salt or add your favorite spices afterwards, you get a product with a piquant taste.