1 Japanese secret to making healthy snacks
1.1. Nutritional and natural
In Japan, sweet dishes are divided into two types: Wagashi (traditional) and Yogashi (imported from the West). Among them, traditional sweet dishes are often made from local vegetables and grains; On the other hand, Western sweets are mainly composed of milk and gelatin.
To meet the current trend of healthy eating, Japanese people try to adapt Western confectionery dishes with natural ingredients. In this way, the dish has a sweet taste, natural aroma, has a traditional taste and is better for health. Furthermore, the amount of sugar and calories used in confectionery is also minimized. Thanks to that, this trend was quickly accepted and became popular.
1.2. Meticulous in processing
With natural ingredients, processing and preservation will become more complicated and require extensive understanding. That’s why each sweet dish created contains meticulousness, patience, research and thorough research from the chef. That is a prerequisite to preserve the natural flavor of the ingredients and ensure nutritional balance.
Not only that, with their perfectionism, healthy snacks must also ensure aesthetic factors like regular sweet dishes.
2 Japanese standard healthy snacks
2.1. Black sesame pudding (Kuro Goma Purin)
Black sesame is known for its rich aroma and is often used to enhance the flavor of dishes. Not only that, this is a superfood because it contains high levels of nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, iron,…
Therefore, not only as a highlight ingredient, the Japanese have turned black sesame into many delicious sweet dishes. A typical example is black sesame pudding. The dish still has a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture and a cool, pleasant taste. But in it, the unique flavor of sesame blends well with the rich smell of cow’s milk, creating an irresistible attraction. Thanks to that, black sesame pudding has become a strange, low-fat snack loved by many people. To increase the health of the dish, many places also replace cow’s milk with nut milk and use kanten jelly powder instead of regular gelatin.
Besides pudding, black sesame is also used to make other delicious snacks such as black sesame sweet soup or black sesame ice cream.
2.2. Jelly jelly (Kanten) – a cool, healthy snack
Kanten is a tasteless seaweed that is low in calories and high in fiber. Therefore, the Japanese used this special ingredient to create vegan jelly, which is used in many desserts. This is also an alternative to traditional gelatin with the advantage of being more solid, can be placed at room temperature, can be used in dietary dishes and does not cause a feeling of fullness.
In the hot summer, Kanten jelly is also one of the healthy snacks loved by Japanese people. You will easily come across cool fruit jellies, delicious coffee jelly, etc. This type of jelly can be served with ice cream, shaved ice, fresh cream and other toppings to create delicious desserts.
2.3. Azuki Brownie
Brownie is known as a classic British cake, characterized by its rich chocolate color and flavor. However, with the ingredients of sugar and flour, this delicious cake also makes dieters wary.
Meanwhile, red beans are a type of seed that is rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and beneficial plant compounds. By replacing flour with red beans in the familiar brownie, you will have a delicious snack that is gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free and vegan. This will be a perfect alternative for dieters.
2.4. Japanese-style rice cake (Warabimochi) – a delicious, healthy snack
Warabimochi is a type of jelly made from ferns. In essence, this dish has a soft, flexible, translucent texture, especially a very delicate and gentle taste. Therefore, people often add sweet soybean powder (kinako) and brown sugar syrup to add flavor when eating. Furthermore, many people also like to freeze Warabimochi to enjoy on hot summer days.
This healthy snack only contains about 174 calories but is rich in nutrition thanks to the fiber, Vitamin B, E and Carotene content in ferns. Besides, soybean powder also has the effect of preventing aging, increasing estrogen, and supplementing calcium to help effectively limit osteoporosis. That’s why Warabimochi is very popular with women in Japan.
3 Conclusion
Above, Ussina has introduced to you some healthy Japanese snacks that are both delicious and nutritious. Hopefully these suggestions will help your diet menu become richer and more delicious. Follow Ussina to update more delicious and healthy dishes.
