Semolina, a flour made from durum wheat, is widely used around the world. It’s grainy and slightly nutty in flavor. Semolina is a grain that can be used in both savory and sweet preparations. Pudding made with semolina, like the Turkish irmik tatlsi, is a popular dessert in Turkey.
However, milk, butter, and eggs are common ingredients in traditional irmik tatlis. Here, we’ll show you how to make Easy Vegan Semolina Dessert – Kolay Vegan İrmik Tatlısı Recipe with just a few ingredients you probably already have on hand. You’ll learn about the health benefits and possible hazards of semolina, as well as how to make and serve this dessert.
Ingredients and Preparation
This vegan semolina treat requires the following ingredients:
- 5 cups, or 1 liter, of dairy-free milk. Alternative milks that don’t contain dairy include soy, almond, oat, and coconut milk. Oat and coconut milk, when made at home, have a silky texture in the mouth.
- Nine level tablespoons of semolina. Depending on your preference, semolina can be used either fine or coarse.
- Foods prepared with coarse semolina will have a grainier, chewier texture, whereas those prepared with fine semolina will be silkier and more tender.
- Mix in 5 tablespoons of sugar, honey, or your preferred sweetener. How much sugar you add will depend on the sweetness of your plant-based milk. Agave nectar, coconut sugar, stevia, and maple syrup are all acceptable subs in their place.
- Optional: 1 tsp of ground mastic gum. Mastic gum is derived from a tree that grows naturally in Greece and Turkey. Mastic gum is sold in some supermarkets and health food stores, as well as on the internet, and is used to provide a distinctive pine flavor and aroma to Turkish pastries. You can use vanilla extract or cardamom powder in its place if you don’t care for it or don’t have any.
- Fruit and/or almonds as a topping. The list of acceptable nuts and fruits is extensive, and includes but is not limited to pistachios, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, dried apricots, cherries, strawberries, and blueberries.
Preparation time is minimal and straightforward. The procedure is as follows:
- To begin, in a pot over medium heat, combine the plant-based milk, semolina, sugar, and vanilla extract (if using). Keep whisking it to prevent lumps and burning. It’s time to give it a taste and see whether you need to add more sugar.
- Mastic gum, if being used, should be added immediately and thoroughly dissolved.
The mixture can be easily divided in half and served in six individual cups or bowls. Another option is to pour it all into a single large serving dish and then divide it up. - The cocoa powder should be added to the remaining liquid in the pot and stirred until fully combined.
- Use a spatula to layer the chocolate mixture on top of the white mixture in each individual serving container.
- Until it has cooled to room temperature, refrain from placing it in the refrigerator.
- Place in the refrigerator and refrigerate for a minimum of two hours and ideally overnight.
- Add some nuts and/or fruit just before serving.
Health Benefits and Drawbacks of Semolina
Benefits
- Semolina’s high protein and fiber content aids in satiety and calorie restriction. Protein aids in muscle development and repair, and fiber helps maintain regular bowel movements.
- Semolina is rich in the B vitamins thiamine and folate, which are essential for cell division and metabolism.
- Thiamine helps maintain healthy nerves and the brain, while folate is required for the synthesis of DNA.
- The high levels of iron and magnesium in semolina are beneficial for preventing anemia and promoting healthy red blood cell formation and oxygen transfer.
- Semolina has a low glycemic index (GI), meaning that it does not cause rapid increases in blood sugar after consumption. This can help control blood sugar levels and prevent diabetes problems.
Drawbacks
- Semolina contains the gluten protein that is also present in wheat and other grains, which might cause responses in those who are celiac or gluten intolerant.
- Symptoms might manifest as anything from abdominal pain and bloating to diarrhea and constipation to headaches and weariness and even skin rashes.
- Anyone with celiac disease, a wheat allergy, or a wheat intolerance should avoid semolina and instead use gluten-free flour such as rice flour, buckwheat flour, or corn flour.
- Semolina has a high glycemic index, therefore eating it on a regular basis could lead to weight gain.
- Carbohydrates are the body’s major source of energy but are stored as fat if they are not used. In order to combat the negative consequences of eating so much semolina, it is recommended to limit the amount of carbohydrates you consume and increase your intake of protein and healthy fats.
- Semolina could contain dangerous levels of pesticides and other chemicals. Wheat is one of the most intensively sprayed crops because of the widespread use of pesticides, some of which are toxic or even carcinogenic. Use organic semolina if possible, thoroughly wash conventional semolina before using.
How to Serve Easy Vegan Semolina Dessert – Kolay Vegan İrmik Tatlısı Recipe?
This vegan semolina dish can serve as either breakfast or dessert. It’s great on its own, but it really shines when topped with something creamy like ice cream, whipped cream, or even vegan yogurt. You may dress it up with chocolate sauce, fruit jam, or maple syrup for an extra dose of sugar and flavor. It can be consumed either cold or hot, according on your whim.
Nutrition and Vitamins
150 grams (without toppings) of this vegan semolina dessert delivers, according to the US Department of Agriculture:
- The calorie count is 246.
- Sugars (net): 47 g
- Protein Content: 6.9 g
- Fat: 3 g
- Three grams of fiber
- 19 g of fructose
- Calcium at 15% of the Daily Value.
- Provides 9% of the Daily Iron Value
- Daily Magnesium Value Eleven Percent
- Thiamine’s %DV in a healthy diet is 28%.
- 44% of the Recommended Intake of Folate
There are enough levels of calcium, iron, magnesium, thiamine, and folate in this vegan semolina meal. Bone growth and muscle contractions both rely on calcium. Iron is crucial for healthy oxygen transport and immune system function. Magnesium is needed for more than 300 enzyme reactions. Thiamine and folate are essential for cellular replication and energy synthesis.
Why Choose Easy Vegan Semolina Dessert – Kolay Vegan İrmik Tatlısı Recipe?
Vegans can eat their fill of this semolina-based dessert because:
- You’ll be able to whip this up in no time with very few ingredients.
- Because it contains no animal products or dairy, it is appropriate for those with intolerances to or allergies to these substances.
- It’s wonderfully delicious and satisfying thanks to its sweet and nutty taste and silky smooth texture.
- There are many beneficial nutrients in it, including protein, fiber, B vitamins, iron, magnesium, and a host of other minerals and vitamins.
- By customizing the toppings and sauces, it may be customized to taste exactly how you like it.
Conclusion
Semolina, a flour made from durum wheat, can be used in both savory and sweet dishes. The traditional Turkish dessert, irmik tatlisi, is a semolina pudding topped with almonds and fruit. However, vegans should avoid this dessert because it generally contains dairy and possibly eggs.
In this piece, we gave you the ingredients and instructions for making a quick and easy vegan dessert. All you need is some soy or almond milk, some semolina, some sugar, some chocolate powder, and some mastic gum (if you want to use it). You learned the ins and outs of making and serving this dessert, as well as the pros and cons of eating it from a health perspective.