The desserts for some people are part of the most attractive meal time, because they are usually more colorful dishes from the table. In addition, they are an accompaniment at any time of the day, they are sweet and in some cases bittersweet. Etymologically the word dessert comes from the Latin "poster" or "postĕri" which means "it comes later". Desserts have been considered the finishing touch of meals, when it is of excellent quality it highlights the satisfaction of the previous foods.
What is a dessert
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A dessert is a delicious sweet or sour dish, which is eaten at the end of the meal. As already mentioned, this preparation is sweet and can be presented in the form of creams, cakes, cakes, chocolates, ice cream, etc., its name is extended to any preparation or sugary food, even when it is not ingested after meals. Muffins and cookies can also be included in this group of preparations.
These delicacies can be of different textures and temperatures, in addition they provide a significant amount of energy and calories, for this reason some of these are currently made by changing some of their ingredients, for others less vigorous for the consumer's health, for example, are the They include natural fruits for less fat or sugar substitutes, to avoid diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
Dessert history
The definition of dessert refers to the last dish of the meal, it is associated with all sweet preparations, such as ice creams, bakeries, plated desserts and in some places, cheeses.
In the past, meals were finished with dried or fresh fruits, honey or dairy products. In the Middle Ages the first French desserts appeared, such as compotes, jellies, fouaces, cakes, gaufres, échoués, cakes and puddings.
From the seventeenth century on, desserts became very elaborate compositions decorated with flowers, with nougats, fruit pyramids, cakes, creams, sweet almonds with orange blossom and sugar, dry confectionery, walnuts. By the end of this century ice creams appeared, from then on the pastry shop underwent an evolution due to the diversity of pastries as a base, including puff pastry, meringue, choux pastry and Genovese.
In the twentieth century, along with the evolution of the food industry, there also appeared simple desserts and instant preparation, powder mixtures, which with just applying milk made puddings and other flavored dessert preparations without an oven.
Belgium, the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany are countries where cream, milk, butter, eggs and chocolate are very abundant and of excellent quality, for this reason they offer a variety of desserts and pastry delicacies.
In the United States it is characterized by cold desserts, frozen creams, filled cakes and pies, among others. Also, pancakes and fruits. In Mediterranean countries and South America, fruits and sweets predominate.
Types of desserts
In preparing a menu, this delicious dish should be chosen in accordance with the nature and abundance of the above dishes, while still satisfying the appetite. It varies depending on how the food is prepared, if it includes barbecues or meat in sauce, fish or game, if it happens to a variety of cheeses, and also depending on the time of year (seasonal fruits) and calendar traditions. On the other hand, the presence of a regional or exotic specialty on the menu can be pleasantly reinforced with a dessert that goes well with it.
Desserts for diabetics are made with healthy sweeteners and low in their glycemic index.
Lemon desserts are undoubtedly the freshest and ideal option to close a heavy meal and refresh the hot days of the summer season.
Cold desserts
This type of desserts are served at very low temperatures, they can be equal to or lower than 25 °, in addition to this, its preparation is based on milk or eggs and solidified creams, with a base of unflavored gelatin. Its main characteristics are:
- They are easy desserts to prepare.
- They allow the use of a variety of types of creams.
- They must be kept refrigerated.
- Liquor can be added to them.
- They can be presented individually, or in a platter to be served by the diner according to their taste.
Some cold desserts are:
- The jellies.
- The mousses.
- The Ice creams.
- The Flans.
- The bavaresas.
- Cold pastries or cold cakes.
Hot desserts
These delicacies on the palate are especially preferred in the winter season, but they can be served at any time of the year. There are desserts that can be presented hot or cold, but they are better hot, such as brownies, which are usually served with ice cream for a contrast and break the flavors.
Some hot desserts are:
- Soufflés: This delicacy is made from butter, flour and milk, to which beaten egg whites are added until it reaches the point of nougat, it is served inflated so it must be delivered to the diners immediately out of the oven, They can be flavored with chocolate, chestnuts, liquor, vanilla, etc.
- Carlotas: Her name is in honor of Queen Charlotte of England, wife of George III. It is made from buttered breadcrumbs, filled with an apple puree flavored with cinnamon, currently they also use other fruits for their filling, such as strawberry, mango, pear and peach.
- Puddings and soufflés: This dessert with a soft and fluffy consistency is made with a base of sugar, eggs, milk and a thickening ingredient that can be rice, semolina or tapioca, it can also be prepared with sponge cakes or bread, to which they add covered or dried fruits. In both cases it is accompanied with a sauce.
- Flan: Its base is made of sweetened milk and eggs, this preparation is taken into caramelised molds beforehand and before taking it to the oven you must wait until the mixture is cold. It should be cooked in a bain-marie.
Raw desserts
The preparation of this type of healthy desserts is extremely simple, there are numerous recipes for the preparation of this type of food, which in addition to being easy, are full of energy and the natural goodness of its ingredients. A special feature of most of these sweets is that they are totally vegan.
Some raw desserts are:
- Raw apple pie: This apple sweet is made with cinnamon, vanilla, lemon juice, fresh apples, raw almonds, anise and pitted dates. When crushing the almonds and joining with the rest of the ingredients, a mouldable dough is obtained, forming squares with the raised edges, to place a filling of thinly sliced apples, previously marinated for 15 minutes in lemon, vanilla and cinnamon, after decorated to serve.
- Strawberry Popsicles: Popsicles are the easiest way to make desserts and include it in a raw food diet. All you need is some fruit, juice, and raw sweetener (this recipe uses agave nectar). Popsicles are the perfect raw dessert for kids and sweaty summer days. Also, as if they were no longer perfect, these raw lollipops have no fat, sugar or calories.
Baked desserts
Baked dessert recipes are easy to prepare and very healthy, since when baked, they retain their nutrients and reduce the amount of fat. Some of them, in addition to being easy, are very quick to cook, they can be ready in just 30 minutes.
Some examples of these baked treats are:
- Orange delight cake: It is a cake prepared with butter, eggs, sweetened milk, orange zest and flour. After making the mixture, it must be placed in a preheated oven at 200 ° C for 40 minutes. Just as the name implies, this cake is wrapped with orange liqueur and decorated with slices of the same fruit.
- Pineapple flipped: This delicious cake whose main ingredient is pineapple, its mixture is prepared with flour, eggs, milk, sugar, butter and pineapple syrup, pineapple slices and cherries should be placed in the mold in their holes, then the mixture is emptied and placed in a preheated oven at 200 ° C for 60 minutes and removed from the hot mold.
Fried desserts
These sweets can be served hot or cold, but they require frying to prepare. Some of them are:
- Buñuelos: they are sweets wrapped in a light paste made from flour, eggs and milk, as well as a touch of baking powder. They are also prepared with wine or beer, this makes them sponge when frying. They should be well browned when frying and are served covered in honey or sugar.
- Sweet dumplings: these delicacies are prepared with a dough for packing and with a filling that can be jams, creams, jams, among others. They are served sprinkled with sugar and accompanied with a fruit sauce to suit the diner.
World's most famous desserts
There are countless recipes created in the world to satisfy palates that find sweetness a true delight. From the simple desserts with Maria biscuit, to the highly prepared gourmet ones, they show the dedication and passion of thousands of pastry chefs over time. However, sometimes their origin is diluted as their fame and preference increase at the dessert tables and, therefore, here we specify some of the most prestigious worldwide.
Caramel cookies
Alfajores are of Argentine origin and are delicious cookies filled with dulce de leche, they have existed for more than 130 years, however their massive reproduction was only 50 years ago and they can be found anywhere in Latin America.
Tiramisu
Tiramisu is part of the typical Italian desserts, it is made of chocolate, mascarpone cheese and coffee. There are several versions of this sweet, but the best known is the one created in Venice for aphrodisiac purposes, the story goes, that women prepared it at night for their lovers, with the aim of providing more energy.
Kanten
If it is about taking care of the figure, there is a perfect dessert and it is of Japanese origin. The Kanten is a delicious dessert made from some very rare seaweed and is a mixture with fruit juice, it is delicious as well as healthy and protein.
Black cake
Represents one of the Christmas desserts very consumed in the December holidays in Venezuela, with an intense flavor of brandy or rum accompanied by a crunchy texture of nuts and the softness of the sponge cake sweetened with brown sugar, you will enjoy one of the most typical sweets famous people of this country. Pastry shops and bakeries offer this popular dessert during the month of December to accompany a delicious Christmas dinner.
Pastéis de Belém
Pastéis de Belém, is a typical Portuguese dessert ideal to share at the family table. According to legend, the recipe for this dessert has been a secret for more than 200 years and only 3 people in the world know about it. So rest assured that testing them will be a privilege.
Most famous desserts in Mexico
For Mexicans, gastronomy is an aspect that fills them with great pride. Typical desserts, snacks, sweet bread, sauces, ingredients. Everything they cook they eat with pleasure and have a culinary heritage that goes back centuries, which still prevails today. In the national holidays they invariably prepare salty dishes, such as pambazos, pozole, the traditional chile en nogada, however, they cannot miss the delicious Mexican desserts.
Mexican desserts are specific to certain regions. In a way, these desserts say something about the people who conceived them and are part of their identity. In northwestern Mexico, the capirota has a style, prepared with pieces of dry bread, cooked with bananas, raisins, walnuts, guava and peanuts. It is covered with a piloncillo syrup and grated cheese.
The delicacies of the Monterrey area are the sweets made with goat's milk, corn syrup and walnuts. Separating them from their unmistakable red coat is part of the experience.
The Michoacán region, for its part, offers one of the most representative desserts in the area: the chongos zamoranos. A dessert that could only have been conceived in Mexico: milk cut with rennet pills, lemon, sugar and cinnamon syrup. A dish with a curious texture and unique flavor.
Among the main Mexican desserts are:
Cornbread
It is one of the most traditional desserts in this country, it is a tender corn cake, mixed with agave honey, butter, eggs, corn flour and a touch of salt, in addition each region or family adds a distinctive ingredient. It is available at the Mexican's table at any time of the day and accompanied by hot chocolate, coffee or a glass of milk.
Rice pudding
It is a delicacy prepared with vanilla, cinnamon, milk and the main character rice. This dish is considered typical of several regions of the world, but it is very important in Mexican gastronomy.
Churros
This ideal dessert to sell, but also homemade, fried and very delicious, is prepared in several countries in America, but the Mexicans developed a special recipe for this delicacy. It is a fresh churro with flour that is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, sprinkled with refined sugar and cinnamon, and sometimes filled with chocolate, cream or milk, accompanied by a good coffee or a cup of chocolate. It may not sound very healthy, but it is nice after a day of visiting the best tourist attractions in this country.
Sweet bean
This sweet is typical of northern Mexico, although it can be found in any cafeteria or restaurant with exotic and typical food in the area. The bean is one of the main savory dishes of Mexican cuisine, but being combined with other ingredients becomes a delight to the palate. This dish is prepared after soaking the beans with cinnamon, then it must be blended or ground together with the bean milk, sugar, juice and orange peel, and as an option, the chopped almonds. When cooling it is served in individual glasses or cups.
Coconut kisses
These balls are filled with flavor, basically they are prepared with grated coconut, vanilla extract and condensed milk, in some areas of the country they add fruit flavors, flour to give it greater consistency and cinnamon powder. They are available anywhere and are very easy to carry while on the go.
