Poppy culinary useful properties. How to make a tender poppy seed filling for baking

For some time now, having heard the word poppy, most people have negative associations. We categorically disagree with such a biased attitude. Now the merits of this charming plant are undeservedly forgotten. But even our grandmothers knew recipes that help with many diseases.

So, today the topic of our article: poppy seeds - benefits and harms. We will not delve into Chekhov's medical notes. It's just about the seeds.

Benefits of poppy seeds

Fully mature poppy seeds have many health benefits. The most famous of them is a strong hypnotic effect. We will not give exact recipes and dosages here, we will simply tell what has long been known to traditional medicine. So, poppy seeds:

1. Used as a sedative. By the way, poppy decoction was given drop by drop even to very young children. At the same time, be sure to observe the norm so as not to harm.
2. Not bad soothe the naughty nervous system during strong shocks or experiences.
3. They quickly relieve attacks of uncontrollable cough in various broncho-pulmonary diseases. This is especially true before bedtime, when cough symptoms increase dramatically.
4. It has been scientifically proven that regular consumption of ripe poppy seeds significantly contributes to the body's resistance to cancer cells of various etiologies. By the way, it has been scientifically proven that regular consumption of poppy seeds in food significantly slows down the growth of metastases and existing tumors.
5. Small black grains contain a huge amount of easily digestible calcium. This helps to strengthen the skeleton. Therefore, earlier children suffering from rickets were often spoiled with poppy seed buns. Or even just mixed the seeds with good honey and let them eat. By the way, a treat.
6. They quickly stop attacks of diarrhea and significantly speed up the process of recovery from dysentery.
7. Raise the level of hemoglobin in the blood. At the same time, it is enough to eat only 45 g of seeds once a day to maintain normal hemoglobin.
8. It is used in the form of a decoction as an anesthetic. It helps especially well if you have otitis media or a toothache rages.

As you can see, the benefits of poppy seeds are simply invaluable. Naturally, you don’t have to immediately run to the pharmacy or pastry shop for the treasured bag. We recommend that you first consult with your family doctor. Because the abuse of seeds can go sideways. So let's move on to the topic.

In general, any delicacy can become poison. Especially if it is used without measure. So poppy seeds can cause irreparable damage to the body, because:

1. For people suffering from chronic constipation, the situation can be greatly exacerbated.
2. Allergic reactions have not been canceled.
3. There are a number of contraindications. These include liver disease, bronchial asthma, cholelithiasis, emphysema.
4. Pastes and decoctions based on poppy seeds are absolutely incompatible with alcohol.
5. Do not get involved in elderly and very young children (over 50 and under 3 years old) with a decoction of poppy seeds, as a sleeping pill.
6. For pregnant women and nursing mothers, any poppy-based preparations are categorically contraindicated.
7. Poppy seeds contain a large amount of fat (about 40-60%). Therefore, excessive consumption of them in food can indirectly affect weight gain.

By the way, do not rely on folk recipes that are passed down from generation to generation. After all, everyone’s organisms are different, the state of health, age and weight category are the same. Therefore, we strongly do not recommend that you self-medicate thoughtlessly, just because “my neighbor’s grandmother did this during the war, it helped her.” First, be sure to consult your doctor or other competent specialist.

Interesting fact. Due to their high fat content, poppy seeds have a very short shelf life. And very quickly rancid under the influence of high temperatures and sunlight. Therefore, for personal needs, we recommend purchasing grains only in opaque packaging. And be sure to pay attention to the expiration date. At home, tidy up the bag in some dark, cool place. Otherwise, you risk getting sticky bitter lumps.

More usefulness

Poppy seeds have properties that some people don't even know about. For example, if there are little fidgets in your house, then for sure broken knees, abrasions and cuts on delicate baby skin are not uncommon for you. Did you know that finely crushed powder from mature poppy seeds stops bleeding much faster than psyllium juice and the legendary iodine? In addition, such poppy dust has a slight analgesic effect, unlike the same iodine, which stings mercilessly.

Interesting fact. If you have been diagnosed with a lack of copper, calcium and magnesium in the body, then feel free to eat poppy seeds. Naturally, without fanaticism. It's just that the content of these elements in them is indecently high.

For people suffering from a long-term sleep disorder, doctors prescribe drugs based on poppy seed extract. Of course, in a dosage that is not addictive. But the uncontrolled independent intake of decoction as a sleeping pill can cause some dependence. So don't even think about it! Naturally, if you yourself are not a graduate.

And poppy milk has long been used for cosmetic purposes. No, not that milk from green stems that a certain category of people hunts for. Another, which is prepared by grinding ripe grains in a mortar with the addition of the most ordinary clean water. The resulting mass is applied to the inflamed eyelids. You know, it helps a lot.

By the way, this milk very quickly and almost without a trace removes swelling and bags under the eyes.

Interesting fact. If you are in a bad mood, apathy, or suddenly tired, then just eat a bun or roll stuffed with poppy seeds. Surprisingly, the method works! The mood quickly jumps up, fatigue passes, there is no trace of apathy. And if the pastries are still covered with a thin layer of chocolate icing, then you will definitely feel like you are in seventh heaven.

Another category of people appreciates poppy milk and paste from ripe seeds. They are vegetarians and vegans. The fact is that the content of protein and vitamins in poppy is very high. Hence the nutritional value, which is so necessary for people who limit themselves in food.

By the way, now not every house has a special bowl for grinding poppy seeds. It's called makitra. But do not worry about such a trifle. With this task in our age of high technology, the simplest electric coffee grinder does an excellent job. Just do not forget to wash it from fat after the process, so as not to get a rancid smell from the bowl after a while.

So we figured out the topic: poppy seeds - the benefits and harms. After all, the main thing in this matter is moderation and caution. Do not be ill!

Video: the benefits and harms of poppy

Nature has given man a lot of useful products, you just need to know how to use them correctly. In fact, almost all the plants that surround us can have a healing or even therapeutic effect on the body. This is the case with the common poppy, which is often cultivated for ornamental purposes. The seeds of this plant are actively used in cooking, but few people know about their unique qualities. Today we will talk about what useful poppy can give us, or rather poppy seeds. Let us clarify what harm and health benefits seeds can have, as well as in what form they are used.

What are the benefits of poppy seeds?

Poppy seeds are actually characterized by a real healing composition. They are a source of a significant amount of tocopherol - vitamin E, as well as vitamin PP. The latter has a particularly beneficial effect on blood circulation, helps to cope with allergic diseases, diarrhea, skin ailments and even dementia. In addition, such a product is a source of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper and iron. Poppy seeds saturate the body with useful fatty acids. So, oleic acid in their composition prevents the formation of cholesterol plaques on the surface of the walls of blood vessels.

Ripe poppy seeds have a positive effect on the state of the central nervous system. They will help readers of Popular Health to calm down and sleep well, help eliminate insomnia and other disturbances of night rest (for example, frequent awakenings, restless sleep, etc.). To achieve the desired effect, you just need to combine the crushed seeds with honey and eat in the evening.

The benefits of seeds are known to be able to eliminate fatigue and improve mood.

The benefits of poppy seeds are also in the ability of seeds to become a good medicine for colds, more precisely, for broncho-pulmonary ailments. Based on them, you can easily prepare drinks that will help eliminate convulsive cough and unpleasant painful symptoms.

Periodic consumption of poppy seeds effectively activates the immune system. Such a product helps the body resist not only infections, but also prevents the growth and reproduction of pathological cells (oncological diseases).

Eating poppy seeds will help saturate the body with the calcium, copper and magnesium it needs. Therefore, the periodic inclusion of such a product in the diet will help strengthen bone tissue and increase hemoglobin levels.

For health, the benefits of seeds are that they contain quite a lot of carbohydrates, which makes them useful for saturating the body with energy, which it actively consumes during physical and mental work.

This herbal remedy is used by many cosmetologists. Milk is extracted from poppy seeds, which can reduce circles under the eyes and eliminate the inflammatory process of the eyelids.

Other health benefits of poppy?

Such a plant is useful not only for its seeds. Healers prepare on its basis various medicines for many diseases. So, a decoction based on poppy roots helps to cope with headaches and eliminate the inflammatory lesion of the sciatic nerve. The leaves of such a plant are able to tone up with a fever, and with a strong cough - have a calming effect. Preparations based on them are used in the treatment of dysentery and diarrhea, they treat inflammation of the bladder and excessive sweating.

Milky poppy juice is also valuable for human health. It is used for the preparation of potent drugs that have a hypnotic, antitussive, antispasmodic, and analgesic effect. Such a substance is extracted by pharmacists from poppy boxes and then prepared, turning into real medicines that can be purchased at a pharmacy - most often by prescription.

Such drugs successfully treat ulcerative lesions of the digestive tract, high blood pressure, and angina pectoris. Many people have no idea what they are made of ... But the presence of such medicines 100% confirms that there is a benefit from poppy! They are also used in the treatment of heart attack, renal or hepatic colic, to effectively eliminate the pain that occurs after surgery, on the background of cancer and other serious ailments.

Can a poppy harm a person??

Poppy damage is possible if the seeds are not ripe enough. In addition, doctors strongly do not recommend the use of folk remedies with poppy for the treatment of children, pregnant and lactating women. Seeds can harm people suffering from cholelithiasis, emphysema, respiratory depression and bronchial asthma. It is also better to abandon poppy seeds and medicines with such a plant for those who suffer from liver ailments and chronic constipation.

Of course, such plant materials can harm both with individual intolerance (allergies) and with excessive consumption. There is evidence that maca may harm the health of those people who abuse alcoholic beverages.

If you use poppy seeds in cooking and take them in moderation, they will only benefit the body - provided there are no contraindications.

Poppy seed filling will add a delicious and unique taste to any homemade pastries. And to make it tender and juicy, you need to properly evaporate the seeds, soak and grind them. Let's figure out together how to properly prepare poppy seeds for baking.

How to steam poppy seeds for baking?

Ingredients:

• poppy seeds - 1 tbsp.;
• water;
• milk - 1 tbsp.;
• sugar - to taste.

Cooking

So, first of all, pour the poppy seeds into a cloth bag and dip into a pot of water. Rinse thoroughly, let the poppy seeds drain and put it in a saucepan. Pour boiling water, cover tightly with a lid and leave for 10 minutes. Next, carefully drain the water, re-fill the seeds with boiling water and simmer for another 10 minutes. Repeat this procedure several times, and then drain the liquid and pour boiling milk over the poppy seeds. Boil the mixture over low heat for 5 minutes, and discard the seeds on a sieve. Grind the poppy, you can use a coffee grinder and mix with granulated sugar.

How to soak poppy seeds for baking?

There is another way to steam poppy seeds. We also wash the seeds in the same way, put them in earthenware, pour hot water over them, cover with a lid and leave for 45 minutes. After that, the poppy seeds are twisted through a meat grinder and mixed with granulated sugar.

Poppy seed filling for baking

Ingredients:

• dry poppy seeds - 455 g;
• milk - 265 ml;
• - 115 g;
• white sugar - 175 g;
• egg - 65 g;
• salt.

Cooking

We wash the poppy, steam it and grind it in a coffee grinder. Put the butter in a saucepan, melt over low heat, add sugar and pour milk. Mix everything thoroughly until smooth and completely dissolve the crystals. Next, slowly add the eggs, stirring, and boil the mass until thickened. Next, spread the poppy gruel, mix thoroughly and remove the dishes from the stove. We use the finished filling for making homemade cakes or transfer it to a glass jar, close it hermetically with a lid and store no more than a week in the refrigerator.

How to use poppy seeds in baking?

After the poppy seed filling is fully cooked, it can be used directly for its intended purpose: spread the sweet thick slurry on the rolled out dough, spread it evenly over the layer, and then wrap it tightly and form a roll. We cut it into pieces and bake the resulting blanks in the oven. As a result, we get tasty, fragrant,.

To make the poppy filling a success, the first step is to prepare the poppy seeds. They do it in different ways.

Place a glass of seeds in a gauze or cotton bag and rinse well in a bowl of water. Wring out the bag, boil water and steam the seeds in a ceramic or cast iron saucepan. Keep them under the lid for ten minutes, then drain the water and pour boiling water over the poppy seeds two more times. Steaming makes the poppy tastier and more aromatic.

Tricks for delicious poppy

Finally, use boiled milk instead of water. Put the container on the stove, turn on the fire to a minimum and remove after five minutes. Get rid of the liquid with a sieve. Add sugar to the poppy seeds and crush with a pestle in a mortar or grind twice with a meat grinder. You should get a soft homogeneous mass.

If you run poppy seeds through a coffee grinder or food processor, then do not rinse. Only dry food products can be placed there. The filling is also sweetened with powdered sugar and honey.

There is another way to steam poppy seeds. After rinsing, put them in a clay pot and fill with boiled water. Keep covered for forty-five minutes. Drain the liquid, and chop the poppy seeds in one of the above ways.

• Some chefs do not boil poppy seeds, they just steam them. Others boil in milk for a little longer.
• To make the poppy filling tastier, walnuts, peanut paste, grated apples, dried apricots, raisins, butter, dried figs, cinnamon and other ingredients are added to the steamed seeds.
• Easy to prepare, for example, stuffing with an egg: steam and then grind six tablespoons of poppy seeds with the addition of two and a half tablespoons of sugar. Pour the beaten egg into the filling and mix thoroughly.
• It is also important to purchase high-quality poppy: large, not crushed, not damaged by pests. You will not see grain defects in the package, so it is better to take the product by weight.

The poppy is a herbaceous, annual plant that can grow up to 100 cm in height.(see photo). Poppy flowers reach large sizes and have an unusual beauty. Poppies can be red, yellow, cream and even black. Ground poppy has a sweet taste, and when added to food, gives it a nutty flavor. There is another name for this plant "papavera somniferum" it is translated as "poppy that induces sleep." The plant can be dangerous if unripe seeds are removed and the juice is dried out. Juice is a highly addictive drug. Processed seeds packaged in packages will not harm your body.

Fossils found since ancient Greece prove that people have long known about the beneficial and harmful qualities of the poppy. The poppy naturally feels itself in the steppes, on the slopes and mountains of East Asia, in North America and southern Europe. Through nomadic traders, the opium poppy became popular in Iraq, India, and China. After some time, traffickers began to make money on people who were addicted to drugs.

There is an ancient beautiful legend about the origin of poppy flowers. It tells about a man who befriends a mouse. He fell in love with her very much, and worrying about her life, the man reincarnated her into a cat, then into a dog and many other animals. But his soul could not calm down in any way, and at one moment the mouse turned into a princess. He named her Mac. She was very beautiful, and became the wife of the king. But a terrible thing happened, the girl fell into the well, and then the king ordered to destroy the well, which separated him from his beloved, covered with sand. After some time, a poppy field grew there.

poppy species

There are different types of poppy seeds, they differ depending on the plant variety. Currently, 3 types of seeds are widely distributed:

White seeds;

Black seeds;

blue seeds.

The gray colored seeds are the perfect ingredient to create a healthy oil. Blue seeds are often sprinkled on flour products. And from white seeds they produce oil, which is simply indispensable in the production of high-quality paint and perfume.

Selection and storage of poppy

The choice of seeds must be taken responsibly, otherwise poppy seeds will deteriorate if stored improperly. There are several points on the basis of which you will purchase a quality product.

If the seeds are exposed to sunlight, they quickly deteriorate. That is why it is necessary to buy packaging without gaps.

The ground poppy seeds should be undamaged and in a crumbly state.

If you suspect that the product is not of high quality, do not risk buying it.

For temporary storage of seeds, they must be sent to a dry place with an average air temperature.. And for longer storage, put them in the refrigerator.

Application in cooking

The culinary use of poppy is widely known throughout the world. Cream-colored seeds are very popular in India, where they are grown and added to the sauces they make. In addition, confectionery poppy is added to several types of traditional bread. Black grains are also used in the West to make cookies.

Black poppy seeds are often found in fillings for cakes, buns, and pies in Germany and Western Europe. Simply unforgettable cakes and bagels are obtained, which are traditional European sweets. There is a dessert based on pasta. For its dressing, a sweet sauce is prepared from confectionery poppy seeds and honey. At the end of cooking, pasta is poured with plenty of sauce and served as a dessert.

In Europe, this spice is preferred by others due to its exclusivity and piquancy. For example, in France, a goose liver or fillet dish must be served with a sauce of grated seeds with olive oil. In Japan, poppy is also widely used, and therefore in many dishes you can feel the unusual, bright taste and aroma of poppy seeds. But in Italy, not only grains are added to food, but also flowers, and even stems. The stems are reminiscent of spinach when cooked, and poppy flowers are a good addition to light aperitifs and first courses.

Our predecessors, the ancient Slavs, cooked dishes with poppy seeds only in honor of big holidays. So, according to tradition, confectionery poppy was put in pies for a wedding, in kutya, and at Christmas.

In order to grind the seeds to a powder consistency, a special dish (mortar) used to be used. The grains grated on it did not lose their qualities and wonderful aroma. Now you can grind poppy seeds with a coffee grinder.

Useful properties of poppy seeds

Useful properties of poppy are due to its vitamins and minerals. The following table will clearly describe how and what elements will improve the condition of your body.

Element name	Beneficial features
Vitamin PP	Increase energy, eliminate insomnia.
Vitamin E	It has an antioxidant effect, cholesterol control.
	Stimulates the synthesis of muscle proteins, necessary for the normal functioning of the pancreas.
	Restores the nervous system, normalizes the process of digestion.
	Accelerates bone growth.
	Protects the body from bacteria, increases the level of cholesterol in the blood.
	Maintains shine and smoothness of hair, regulates carbohydrate metabolism.
	Improves metabolism, gives energy.

Use in cosmetology

Poppy is widely used in cosmetology, due to the huge number of useful elements that make up its composition. With the regular use of masks and oils made from poppy seeds, your skin will always be healthy, and you will radiate beauty and energy. In cosmetology, oil is used to relieve fatigue from the face and to smooth wrinkles. To achieve the effect, you need to mix 10 grams of poppy seed oil and 10 grams of almond oil, add to this all 1-2 drops of sandalwood oil and chamomile. Then evenly apply the mask on the face, and wait for 15-20 minutes. This procedure must be done 3 times a week. This remedy is great for delicate and inflamed skin, providing an anti-inflammatory and soothing effect.

Stylists and dermatologists have also noticed the benefits of poppy seed oil for hair. The product effectively nourishes the hair along its entire length, restoring the roots and preventing the split ends. The oil can be used on its own or in combination with conditioners and shampoos. Means based on poppy oil will help to cope with the fungus and seborrhea, due to the regeneration of the scalp.

Poppy seeds in folk medicine

Poppy seeds in folk medicine are known as a strong pain reliever and hypnotic. It is advisable to use it with a doctor's prescription. Blue grains are often used as an expectorant, and they are also an ingredient in cough syrups. A decoction of food poppy relieves aching toothache, and pain in the ears. The following table will clearly show for which diseases it is better to use poppy seeds.

Name of the disease		Cooking	Application
Inflammation of the lungs, hemorrhoids	125 ml warm water, 1 tbsp poppy seeds	Mix until smooth	Consume 3-4 times a day, 125 ml
liver disease	1 tsp poppy, 1 tsp honey	Mix both components.	Use with pain in the liver.
Gastric catarrh	10 g poppy seeds, 0.25 ml hot water	Pour the seeds with water and mix, and leave for 15 minutes.	Take 3 times a day, 1 tablespoon.
Insomnia	10 g dried poppy flowers, 0.5 l vodka	Let it brew for 2 weeks in a dark and dry place.	Take 15 drops an hour before bedtime.

Harm and contraindications of poppy

Poppy can be harmful for people who abuse this spice.

It is necessary to use seeds for a hypnotic effect after consulting a doctor, since there is a percentage of people who absolutely cannot take drugs with the addition of poppy seeds.

children under the age of 2;

To old people;

people prone to alcohol;

suffering from asthma;

sick people, cholelithiasis (poppy oil can provoke the release of bile into the body);

with chronic constipation (poppy seeds strengthen them).

Poppy cultivation

Growing poppies in your area is not difficult, but it requires a lot of strength and patience. Nowadays it is hard to find seeds, but this is not the biggest problem. The hardest part is growing them. Poppy seeds must be shocked before planting. For example, tie them in a cloth, and lower them for a few seconds in hot water, and then in cold. Next, the fabric should be squeezed out of the liquid and sent to the refrigerator to dry. Seeds must be dried to flowability and mixed with sand. Then you need to send the seeds to the greenhouse, and do not sprinkle with soil, they need sunlight. It is necessary to water the soil often, but not plentifully, so that weak seedlings do not go underground. The flowers will begin to bloom in the spring when the weather is warmer. Seeds can be collected when the foliage has already turned yellow and wilted.