There are a myriad of reasons to include acorn jelly in your diet. Learn about the acorn jelly health benefits and an easy recipe here.
Introduction
Acorns are the nuts of oak trees. They have an outer shell, and the nut inside is hard, foul-tasting, and poisonous because of the high levels of bitter plant compounds called tannins present in it. Raw acorns are toxic to humans, horses, dogs, and cattle. To make it edible, you have to remove the tannins in it. You can do this either by soaking the nuts in water and letting the tannins leach into the water or by boiling them in water.
Peel and soak the nuts in water for at least a week and drain and rinse the nuts every day. The water turns brown because of the tannins, and you have to drain and soak the nuts in fresh water every day until the water remains clear. This ensures the removal of tannins. You can then dry and grind the nuts into a powder and mix it in warm water and store it in the refrigerator to create a jelly out of it.
This acorn jelly is a product famous in South Korea and is called as dotori muk. It is served as an appetizer or as a side dish. This jelly is produced on an industrial scale in Korea for local consumption and sale across the world. It is available in Korean grocery stores and also online. You can forage the acorns in the wild and powder the nuts at home, but it is a laborious process.
Acorn jelly is soft, wobbly, and caramel-colored. The jelly has a silky texture and has a very mild, nutty, earthy flavor. It takes on the flavors of the ingredients that you add to it.
Nutritional Composition
It has no fat, no cholesterol, no sodium, and has 1 gm dietary fiber. It is therefore considered a health food, highly recommended for dieters. A side dish of acorn jelly for four people has only 44 calories, which come from healthy, unsaturated fats.
28 g of dried acorn contains:
- Calories – 144
- Protein – 2 g
- Fat – 9 g
- Carbs – 15g
- Fiber – 4 gms
- Vitamin A – 44 % of reference daily intake(RDI)
- Vitamin B6 – 10%
- Folate – 8%
- Iron – 19%
- Manganese – 19%
- Potassium – 12%
- Vitamin E – 20% of RDI
Acorn Jelly Health Benefits
1. Antioxidants
Acorns contain beneficial plant compounds like catechins, resveratrol, quercetin, and Gallic acid, which are potent antioxidants that protect your body from free radical damage. They therefore help lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
2. Digestion
Acorns have been used as an herbal remedy for stomach pain, bloating, and diarrhea. The fiber content improves digestion and also promotes the growth of healthy gut bacteria.
3. Healing Properties
Protein helps create new tissues and cells, therefore, aiding the repair of damaged areas, and promotes wound healing and healing after debilitating illnesses. Acorn jelly helps in lowering blood glucose levels and high blood pressures. The calcium and potassium in the nuts help boost bone health.
4. Additional Acorn Jelly Benefits
Gallic acid in the acorn nuts has a brain-protective property and prevents Alzheimer’s. The nuts improve metabolic activity and flavonoids present in acorns have anti-viral properties. The presence of Vitamin A and E in acorns boosts eye, skin, and brain health.
Acorn Jelly Recipe
Ingredients
For Jelly
- ½ cup Acorn Jelly Powder
- 3 cups of Water
- ½ tsp Salt
For the seasoning sauce
- 1/3 cup Soy Sauce
- 2 tsp Honey
- 3 Minced Garlic Cloves
- 3 Chopped Green Onion Stalks
- 1/2 tbsp Toasted Sesame Seeds
- 1 tbsp Shredded Red Pepper
- 1 tbsp Toasted Sesame Oil
Vegetables
- A tbsp of chili flakes
- Chopped Lettuce – 2 Cups
- Sliced Onions – 1/4 cup
- 3 -5 Chopped Perilla Leaves
- 2 tbsp shredded carrot
- ½ cup sliced cucumber
- 1 red chili pepper chopped
Method
- Boil water in a saucepan and add the jelly powder and stir well to remove any lumps. You can add a little bit of salt to enhance the taste.
- Heat the mixture until it becomes thick and takes on a jelly-like consistency.
- Now, brush butter in the insides of a glass dish and transfer the jelly to it. Keep the jelly in the refrigerator till it hardens.
- In a separate bowl, add all the ingredients for the seasoning sauce except sesame seeds and mix well.
- Take out the jelly and cut it into small cubes with a knife.
- Next, add the vegetables to a bowl and pour the seasoning sauce over it. Now add the jelly pieces to it.
- Stir the mix with a spatula and sprinkle sesame seeds and serve in a bowl.
Side effects
- Raw acorns are poisonous because of tannins and have an unpleasant bitter taste. Make sure to use ripe brown acorns and soak or boil them to remove tannins.
- Buy acorns from a reputed seller.
- Acorn poisoning can also occur if you consume it in excess, and it can cause gastrointestinal and kidney problems
- It can cause nausea and upset your stomach.
- It may cause allergic reactions in many people. Symptoms include itching, scratchy throat, watery eyes, breathing difficulty, and anaphylaxis. Therefore, avoid it if you have a nut allergy.
- Tannins in acorns, if not removed, can cause severe liver damage and also cancer.
Although there are many acorn jelly health benefits, yet you must consider the side effects while considering to consume it. Therefore, keep all the precautions and consume this healthy nut in moderation to avoid complications.