Galettes are a type of unsweetened cookie with a light flaky texture. Biscuits have the following composition: high-grade wheat flour combined with wholemeal flour, baker's yeast, water and salt. Some varieties of these cookies may contain various food additives. Improved versions contain up to eighteen percent fat. The energy value of such cookies does not exceed 350 kcal.
Due to the harmless composition of biscuits, many women who adhere to the basics of proper nutrition often eat them. There are even special dietary supplements designed for people who are overweight. Such products contain bran flour, salt, water and yeast. Their calorie content is less than 300 kcal per hundred grams. They quickly give you a feeling of fullness.
The benefits and harms of biscuits
As already mentioned, the recipe for such cookies is very simple. It does not contain chemical additives, all kinds of aromatic and coloring substances. Due to this, biscuits do not cause allergic reactions and all kinds of rashes, even in small children. They can be safely consumed by women who are breastfeeding.
Biscuits are included in the menu of many popular diets. It’s not surprising, because this product is low-calorie and filling. They can be used by people suffering from liver failure, gastrointestinal and kidney diseases.
But you shouldn’t overuse biscuits. This is fraught with consequences: bloating, the appearance of gastrointestinal tract disorders.
Also remember that not all cookies of these varieties are created equal. Now, in order to save money, many manufacturers include fats and palm oil in the biscuit recipe. This product has increased calorie content. And it is not safe for health.
Therefore, before purchasing, you need to study the composition in order to purchase a truly useful product. Or bake biscuits at home.
The good thing about long-lasting biscuits is that they can be consumed even by those on a diet. This is not surprising: there is very little sugar in it, and the composition is based on water and flour. The result is a low-calorie, hypoallergenic product. This is exactly what “Maria” cookies are.
Cookies "Maria"
Composition of cookies "Maria"
The composition of traditional Maria cookies includes:
- Wheat flour;
- natural sweetener;
- vegetable oil;
- flour improver;
- invert syrup;
- whey powder;
- baking powder;
- salt;
- vanillin;
- water;
- sugar.
To prepare biscuits, a special sponge technology is used. It is thanks to this that a dry, layered product is obtained that practically does not absorb moisture and does not crumble. Numerous holes in the biscuit are not a decoration, but a feature of production. The punctures ensure that the sheets of dough remain flat and do not puff up when baked.
The calorie content of Maria cookies is 431 kcal. 100 g of product contains:
- 71.5 g carbohydrates;
- 8.2 g protein;
- 12.2 g fat.
Due to the fact that biscuits contain little fat, salt and sugar, they are easily and quickly digested. "Maria" is excellent for diabetics, children, pregnant and lactating women, people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
The benefits of biscuits
If premium flour is used to prepare biscuits, this allows the body to be provided with vitamins B, PP and H. This helps improve the functioning of the nervous system and has a positive effect on the condition of the skin. In addition, flour contains fiber, which guarantees proper bowel function.
The manufacturer claims that “Maria” contains trace elements necessary for the body: fluorine, potassium, iodine, calcium, phosphorus, zinc and magnesium. But even despite this, you should not overuse cookies: this threatens intestinal bloating due to increased gas formation. It is impossible to replace a complete diet with biscuits.
This dessert differs from others in its maximum health benefits and minimal financial costs. Homemade biscuits are a dietary product: biscuits are suitable even for the menu of small children, pregnant women, people with gastrointestinal problems, and diabetics. Such pastries can be eaten even by those who want to lose excess weight.
What are biscuits?
To briefly answer the question “what are biscuits?”, the dish can be described as dry cookies. The word comes from the French “galets”, which means “naked”. Biscuit cookies began to be prepared a very long time ago, as evidenced by the findings of Swiss archaeologists. Researchers discovered dry cakes and crushed grains with vegetables and herbs that ancient people dried on a hot stone. Christopher Columbus took biscuits on his voyages; this product was included in the soldiers’ diet because it could be stored for a long time. Crispy cookies were eaten separately or crumbled into soup or coffee.
Compound
Unsweetened cookies consist of a dry ingredient (wheat flour) and water. Different recipe options may include supplementing the main components with various seasonings, baking powder, soda, starch, vegetable oil, etc. The classic composition of biscuits has a minimal calorie content, so this baking is ideal for those on a diet.
Calorie content
If you add sugar, eggs, and fats to the dough, the energy value of the dish will be high - 350-550 kcal. The calorie content of biscuits prepared according to the classic recipe will be significantly less calorie - up to 290 kcal. Since such baked goods are dry and light, it will be difficult to miss even 100 g. If you eat the product in small quantities, you should not worry about your figure. In addition, homemade biscuits are the best flour option for people on a diet.
How to make galette cookies
The recipe for the dish is very simple, so you can easily prepare it at home. To make your baked goods delicious, follow these tips:
- If you want the cookies to come out layered, roll out and fold the dough several times;
- you can adjust the amount of sugar indicated in the recipe, exclude butter, etc.;
- It is better to roll out the baking base on a silicone mat (the dough does not stick to it);
- the baking tray with cookies must be placed in a hot oven for a short time or dried longer at medium temperature;
- Before sending the products into the oven, you should prick them with a fork so that they do not bubble during the baking process;
- the thickness of the dough should not be large, otherwise the crackers will not crisp;
- Before baking, the base should be kept in the refrigerator for an hour;
- If desired, you can add any spices, citrus zest, finely chopped herbs, nuts, seeds, etc. to the recipe.
Biscuits recipes
From a variety of recipes, you can choose the one that best suits your taste preferences, taking into account their calorie content and complexity of preparation. Classic biscuits are crispy, very light and slightly sweet. If desired, you can adjust the recipe by eliminating some and adding other components to the dish. Below are several ways to make biscuits at home.
Classic recipe
- Time: 60 minutes.
- Number of servings: for 10 persons.
- Calorie content of the dish: 580 kcal/100 g.
- Cuisine: French.
- Difficulty: easy.
Biscuits are the healthiest and healthiest baked goods, according to nutritionists. Cooking the dish at home will require a minimum of time, products and culinary skills. You can cut out cookies from soft dough using special molds or a regular glass, the edges of which should first be rubbed with flour so that the dough does not stick to them. Below we describe in detail and with photos the process of preparing the confectionery product.
Ingredients:
- soda – ½ tsp;
- flour – 130 g;
- vegetable oil – 10 ml;
- water – 60 ml;
- corn starch – 20 g;
- sugar – 30 g.
Cooking method:
- Dissolve salt and sugar in warm water, add butter, starch, flour, soda.
- Knead the ingredients into a stiff dough that will not stick to your hands. Place it in the refrigerator for half an hour.
- Roll out the base until it reaches a thickness of 2-3 mm, fold it several times and roll it out again.
- Cut out the biscuits into any shape and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
- Bake the dish for half an hour at 140 degrees.
Cookies Maria
- Time: 30 minutes.
- Number of servings: for 12 persons.
- Purpose: breakfast, dessert.
- Cuisine: French.
- Difficulty: easy.
This dessert goes well with tea, coffee, cocoa and hot chocolate. Cooking it at home is easy even for inexperienced cooks. If you haven’t had time to eat fresh biscuits, you can use them to make a delicious cake by combining them with condensed milk cream. There is no shame in serving such a dessert even to guests. If you are intolerant to milk, the product can be replaced with the same amount of water. Below we describe in detail and with photos the process of preparing Maria biscuits.
Ingredients:
- flour – 160 g;
- butter – 100 g;
- soda – 0.5 tsp;
- corn starch – 0.3 kg;
- milk – 150 ml;
- sugar – 150 g.
Cooking method:
- Soften and beat the butter, add salt, starch, and sugar.
- Beat the mixture again.
- Pour in the milk and run the mixer for a couple more minutes.
- Add the sifted flour in parts, continuing to beat the mixture. When the dough becomes thick, knead it with your hands. You need to achieve plasticity when the biscuit base stops sticking to your hands.
- Place the dough in the cold for a couple of hours, then roll out a layer 2-3 mm thick and cut out circles from it.
- Prick the cookies with a fork and place in the oven for 15 minutes at 180 degrees.
With bran
- Time: 20 minutes.
- Number of servings: for 5 persons.
- Calorie content of the dish: 350 kcal/100 g.
- Cuisine: French.
- Difficulty: easy.
To prepare galette liver, you can mix different types of flour, for example, wheat, corn and whole grain. In addition, to make baked goods healthier, bran is added to it. Based on these crispy and moderately salty breads, you can prepare a variety of snacks with homemade pate or cottage cheese. Below is a detailed description of the recipe for biscuits at home.
Ingredients:
- salt – 1 tsp;
- wheat flour – 75 g;
- baking powder – 1 tsp;
- whole grain flour – 75 g;
- hot boiled water – 50 ml;
- potato starch – 15 g;
- sugar – 1 tbsp. l.;
- vegetable oil – 3.5 tbsp. l.
Cooking method:
- Mix dry ingredients.
- Add vegetable oil to them, then slowly pour in hot water and knead the dough.
- The base should be soft and not sticky to your hands.
- Roll it out on parchment in a very thin layer (1-2 mm).
- Cut the figures using a stencil and a regular knife.
- Prick the cookies with a fork and place in the oven for 7 minutes at 200 degrees.
With butter
- Time: 45 minutes.
- Number of servings: for 11 persons.
- Calorie content of the dish: 1800 kcal/100 g.
- Purpose: for breakfast/dessert.
- Cuisine: French.
- Difficulty: easy.
This galette recipe is one of the most high-calorie, so it is not suitable for those losing weight. However, since there are no eggs in the ingredient list, people with allergies can eat this delicious dessert. If desired, you can reduce the energy value of the dish by reducing the amount of fat (oil) in the recipe. To make the cookie taste more interesting, add citrus zest to the dough.
Ingredients:
- milk – 30 ml;
- wheat flour – 100 g;
- salt (to taste);
- lemon zest;
- potato starch – 5 g;
- butter – 100 g;
- sugar – 2.5 tbsp. l.;
- baking powder – ½ tsp.
Cooking method:
- Mix flour with other dry ingredients, mix the mixture.
- Grate the zest on a fine grater and add to the mixture.
- Rub the butter with your hands, turning the product into crumbs, add to the other cookie ingredients.
- Slowly pour in the milk, mix the dough with a spoon, then with your hands.
- When the baking base is pliable and soft, place it in the refrigerator for 20 minutes, covered with a napkin.
- Roll out a thin layer of dough, cut cookies into any shape.
- Prick it with a toothpick and place it in an oven preheated to 200 degrees.
- The biscuits will be ready after 7-8 minutes, when they are browned as in the photo.
- Time: 15 minutes.
- Number of servings: for 15 persons.
- Calorie content of the dish:
- Cuisine: French.
- Difficulty: easy.
Classic shortbread or oatmeal cookies are not suitable for consumption during the fasting period, while biscuits, for the preparation of which eggs and dairy products were not used, are an excellent dessert option for this period. These baked goods are made using water and with a minimum amount of sugar, so the product is dietary and hypoallergenic, which is also important for the diet of a nursing woman. Below is how to make Lenten biscuits.
Ingredients:
- water – 60 ml;
- flour – 200 g;
- salt (to taste);
- baking powder – 1 tsp;
- sugar – 1-2 tbsp. l.;
- vegetable oil – 1.5 tbsp. l.
Cooking method:
- Combine sugar, salt, water, oil, baking powder.
- While beating the ingredients with a mixer, gradually add flour.
- The base for the biscuits should be moderately dense, yet elastic.
- Roll out the dough into a layer 0.5 cm wide, cut out figures from it, and prick them with a fork.
- Bake the dessert for 10 minutes in an oven heated to 210 degrees.
- Do not keep the dish in the oven longer, otherwise the cookies will turn out too dry.
Dietary
- Time: 75 minutes.
- Number of servings: for 6 persons.
- Calorie content of the dish: 360 kcal/100 g.
- Purpose: breakfast/dessert.
- Cuisine: French.
- Difficulty: easy.
A big stress for most people who go on a diet is abruptly giving up sweets. This leads to worsening mood, nervousness and irritability. The optimal solution to the problem is to replace the usual sweets with healthy, low-calorie homemade biscuits. Below we describe in detail how to prepare dietary baked goods.
Ingredients:
- corn starch – 40 g;
- milk (or water) – 100 ml;
- soda – ¼ tsp;
- lemon juice – 1 tbsp. l.;
- sugar – 40 g;
- wholemeal wheat flour – 40 g;
- Sunflower oil – 30 ml.
Cooking method:
- Dissolve sugar in milk/water and add vegetable oil.
- Pour the flour into the container with the liquid, mixing the mixture thoroughly.
- Add soda and starch slaked with lemon juice here.
- After kneading the base well, leave it to stand for an hour.
When you're on a diet, you always want to snack on something tasty. As luck would have it, when baking is prohibited, a particularly keen appetite awakens. But you can find a way out of the situation; low-calorie and healthy foods come to the rescue biscuits. In what benefits of biscuits read our article.
It’s not for nothing that this type of cookie is called dietary. But, like any flour product, cookies have their own characteristics. It's time to understand in more detail all the advantages and disadvantages of such a snack.
The benefits of biscuits
U biscuits prepared according to the standard recipe, there are no contraindications. It can be eaten by nursing mothers and even crushed biscuits can be added to milk for babies. These cookies contain vitamins that can improve immunity. Galette cookies can also be taken by people with liver and gastrointestinal diseases. These cookies are almost always included in the list of permitted foods. Its main charm is that it has a good taste and has few calories (on average 400 kilocalories per 100 grams). It's also quite filling, so you won't be able to eat too much of it. This is a huge benefit for those who are losing weight or dieting for other reasons. For example, biscuits have lower calorie content, but they will not provide the necessary satiety, so there is a risk that you will eat more than you need.
Harmlessness biscuits lies in its composition. Water, salt, sugar, flour and yeast. These are the basic ingredients for any baked goods, but then, as a rule, baking powder, all kinds of preservatives and flavorings are also added to the baked goods. IN biscuits There is nothing like cookies, so this is the healthiest option for a sweet snack (not counting, of course, fruits and berries). It is also convenient to transport. Due to its solid consistency, it rarely crumbles, making it very convenient to pack for travel.
The benefits of biscuits not only in its dietary content and satiety, but also in the increased content of vitamins and other biologically active components. For example, the flour in biscuits contains a large amount of fiber, which improves intestinal function. Don’t forget about the whole complex of useful microelements: magnesium, calcium, zinc, iodine, phosphorus. All these components ensure optimal functioning of your body.
It can be concluded that biscuits good for the body. However, you need to know that such a seemingly harmless product has its own contraindications.
Harm of biscuits
No matter how much benefit there is in a product, you still need to observe the measure. So add biscuits into your diet, but don’t get carried away with this delicacy. Despite their low-calorie content, these cookies still contain fats and carbohydrates, which can cause extra grams. So limit yourself as much as possible.
It is worth noting that, despite benefits of biscuits, it cannot replace the main meal. In large quantities, it can cause bloating and other digestive problems. Only as a snack.
Before buying biscuits, be sure to check their composition indicated on the package. Some manufacturers want to save a lot of money, so they can use palm oil and other harmful ingredients when making cookies. This needs to be monitored carefully.
To eliminate the risk of adding harmful components to the composition, you can easily prepare it at home. And at the same time, you will know exactly the composition of the cookies, that is, you are sure of their benefits. If you want to experiment, you can add berries, honey or nuts. But keep in mind that its calorie content may still increase. And if you are on a diet due to health problems, be sure to consult your doctor before starting your culinary experiments.
It is more pleasant to drink tea with cookies, especially with fresh and homemade ones. To please yourself and your household, try making crispy biscuits.
What are biscuits, how did they appear?
Galettes are dry, crispy cookies, but in French cuisine this concept is a combination of several dishes that are some kind of variety or substitute for bread or pancakes. The name, by the way, is translated as “boulder” or “pebble”, which is due to certain external similarities with smooth stones.
The history of the origin of biscuits supposedly goes back to Brittany, but the exact time period in which such a dish appeared is, unfortunately, unknown. Initially, it was intended to replace bread during long campaigns, expeditions, and also during war. And such unique flatbreads really had all the qualities of baked goods, but at the same time they perfectly retained their properties for a long time and did not spoil.
It is known that Christopher Columbus took biscuits with him when he went on long voyages. At that time, such cookies were the basis of the diet of soldiers and sailors, but then they “migrated” to the tables of ordinary Frenchmen, and later spread throughout Europe.
What are they made of?
The simplest traditional biscuits are made from flour and water, sometimes adding salt or sugar. Flour can be either the familiar wheat flour, or buckwheat, oatmeal, corn, or any other flour. The composition may also include fat, that is, oil. Modern cookies also contain eggs, as well as various flavorings and fillers, such as vanillin, poppy seeds, cinnamon, zest, and so on.
Depending on the composition, there are dry or simple biscuits (that is, crackers, low-fat cookies), as well as fatty ones with the addition of margarine or butter (the fat content can reach 15-20%). All of them have such qualities as a light porous structure, lack of moisture, and rapid absorption of water. But if fatty biscuits are stored for a maximum of six months, then the shelf life of simple dry ones can reach two years.
Are biscuits healthy?
The benefit of biscuits lies in their nutritional value, because flour is a source of carbohydrates that are used to produce energy. It also contains B vitamins, which take part in many processes occurring in the body and are responsible for the smooth functioning of the nervous system.
The composition includes potassium, which is beneficial for the heart, phosphorus, which is necessary for the brain, iron, which improves blood composition, sodium, which is responsible for the water-salt balance, eliminates increased muscle and vascular tone, magnesium and other substances. By the way, biscuits are quite good.
Either way, biscuits should be consumed in moderation, but if overused, they can cause harm.
- Firstly, it can disrupt digestion and cause constipation.
- Secondly, it is worth remembering that biscuits are flour dishes, so they can lead to excess weight gain if you eat them often and in large quantities (especially fatty ones with a high oil content).
- In addition, sweet biscuits increase blood glucose levels, and salty biscuits can cause fluid retention in the body and, as a result, edema.
The calorie content of dry biscuits is about 280-290 calories, while fatty biscuits are higher in calories (up to 400 kcal).
How to cook?
How to make galette cookies? There are a lot of different recipes, and several will be discussed below.
Simple option
This recipe is extremely simple and requires the following ingredients:
- four glasses of flour;
- a tablespoon of salt;
- 1.5 glasses of water;
- you can add a little soda, quenched with lemon vinegar (it will make the texture lighter and more porous).
Preparation:
- Pour flour onto a table or wide board (add salt to it immediately), form a mound and make a depression in its center. Start gradually pouring slightly warmed water into the hole. Knead the dough.
- Continue kneading the dough, gradually adding water. As a result, it should be quite dense and not stick to your hands.
- Roll out the dough into a thin layer (optimal thickness is five millimeters). Next, cut it into circles or any other shapes.
- Place the pieces on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.
- Bake the biscuits in an oven preheated to 170-180 degrees for about half an hour.
Spicy with basil
Try making homemade savory basil galettes. To do this you will need:
- five glasses of flour (preferably wheat flour);
- a glass of sunflower or olive oil;
- two glasses of mineral water (preferably salty);
- a tablespoon of salt;
- three to four tablespoons of dried and chopped basil.
Description of the cooking process:
- Pour flour into a wide and deep bowl, immediately mixing it with basil and salt. Next, start pouring mineral water into the center, while kneading the dough with your hands.
- When the water runs out, add oil to the mixture and continue kneading the dough until it becomes dense and homogeneous.
- Preheat the oven to 180-190 degrees. Roll out the dough into a layer about 3-5 millimeters thick, cut it in any way into pieces of any shape. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet and place it in the oven.
- Bake the cookies for literally fifteen to twenty minutes.
Sweets with filling
For tea you can make delicious and aromatic biscuits with apples. To do this, prepare the following ingredients:
- 200 grams of oat or wheat flour;
- half a pack (about 100 grams) of butter;
- five tablespoons of water;
- a teaspoon of sugar.
For the apple filling:
- four medium apples;
- a pinch of cinnamon;
- one or two tablespoons of sugar.
Preparation:
- First, from flour, cold or better ice water, sugar and softened butter, knead a dense and homogeneous dough. Place it in the refrigerator for an hour.
- Meanwhile, make the filling. Chop the apples in any way, after peeling them and removing the cores. You can cut them into thin slices or grate them.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator, roll it out to a thickness of about 5 millimeters and place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet or in a low baking dish. Place chopped apples in the center of the cake, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Fold the edges towards the filling.
- Place the apple galette in an oven preheated to 190 degrees for half an hour.
Finally, some useful tips:
- To make your homemade galettes crispier, refrigerate the dough for an hour or two before baking.
- The cookies will turn out airy and flaky if, when rolling out the dough, you fold it several times and roll it out again.
- To prevent the dough from sticking to the table, try rolling it out on a special silicone mat.
- The ingredients can be changed. So, you can add poppy seeds, sesame seeds, any spices, zest and seasonings to the dough. You can also make biscuits with different fillings, they also turn out very tasty.
- Before baking, you can pierce the layers of dough with a fork so that they are crispier and airier and do not bubble during heat treatment.
- The thinner you roll out the dough, the more decadent the finished cookies will be.
- If you are in a hurry, then preheat the oven well (up to 220-230 degrees) and bake the biscuits in it for literally fifteen minutes. But you can dry them longer at medium temperature, so they definitely won’t burn.
Preparing biscuits is very simple, and such a dish will be an excellent addition to tea or an excellent snack.
