Urbech is an oily, viscous paste made from pounded nuts, fruit seeds, sunflower, hemp, flax, and pumpkin seeds. The peoples of the Caucasus use this mass to prepare a sweet dish with the same name.
Urbech – what is it and how did it appear?
Urbech is a national dish of the mountaineers of Dagestan, which appeared in the 18th century. At that time the people living in mountainous areas required a nutritious food, restoring strength for a short time. This nourishing mass supported the body of soldiers on long campaigns, and also helped shepherds who were at the foot of the peaks for a long time during the ferrying of cattle.
Flax seeds of different varieties were used to prepare the first kinds of Urbech, which was a kind of dry ration for highlanders. Because of its nutritional value it perfectly satisfied hunger, and enriched the body of many useful elements. It was distinguished by its chocolate color and sweet taste, despite the fact that it did not contain in its composition cocoa-powder and dyes.
Useful properties and harm
There are several types of Urbech, which differ from each other in composition. However, they all have a number of useful properties, such as:
- from hazelnuts – strengthening tooth enamel, the immune system and the heart muscle;
- from almonds – elimination of bile from the body, improvement of male power, relief of symptoms of urolithiasis;
- flax seeds – normalization of blood pressure, cholesterol levels, cleansing the liver of toxins;
- from walnuts – restoration of strength, relief of anemia symptoms;
- from apricot kernels – reducing the risk of malignant tumors, saturation of the body with microelements and vitamins;
- from pumpkin seeds – eliminating problems with the gastrointestinal tract, preventing arthritis and obesity;
- from peanuts – replenishing energy reserves, increasing muscle definition;
- hemp seeds – elimination of laryngeal diseases, maintenance of triglycerides at the proper level, strengthening the walls of blood vessels
- sesame seeds – rejuvenating effect, removal of toxins from the body;
- from pistachio – a positive effect on the condition of the nails, hair, normalization of the heart, choleretic functions;
- from the poppy – getting rid of parasites, the normalization of the nervous system.
Urbech, consisting of one or more components, helps to eliminate a variety of problems. Its effectiveness is due to the naturalness of the components, since they are not heat-treated before being added to the dish.
As with any product, urbech should be tried with caution for the first time, as it has several contraindications. These include:
- age under 3 years old;
- Individual intolerance to any of the components included in the paste;
- Exacerbation of liver pathology;
- The presence of chronic diseases that require strict adherence to the diet;
- intestinal disorders.
The following problems can occur because of improper use of Urbech:
- liquid stools;
- nausea;
- allergic reaction;
- lack of appetite;
- liver colic;
- exacerbation of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- heartburn.
In order not to harm the body, you need to choose a mass of safe for him components. If after tasting the product were not identified any contraindications, then in the future it can be freely eaten.
How to take, how much to eat?
Paste of seeds, seeds or nuts can be eaten both in pure form and as an additive to various dishes. It is recommended to consume a high-calorie product every morning, this will help to recharge energy for the whole day and not gain extra pounds. To get the health-improving effect, you should take three spoonfuls of Urbech with water. One option for a nutritious breakfast includes the following foods:
- sandwich with pasta;
- natural yogurt;
- porridge;
- cereal mix or cottage cheese.
Urbech goes well with fresh berries, dried fruits and any kind of honey. Sesame mass goes well with fresh apples, from apricot seeds with peaches, from sunflower seeds with grapes. Some housewives saturate baked goods with Urbech, and also use it as a topping for pancakes or pancakes. Dagestani delicacy of nuts, sesame and pumpkin is ideal for adding to vegetable salads, porridges and various side dishes. Athletes make themselves healthy cocktails from urbeche, combining the product with banana or milk.
What is Urbech made of?
The word “Urba” in the Avar language means “flax seeds”. However, Urbech can be prepared not only from seeds, but also from nuts, as well as from the seeds of certain fruits.
Seed-based Urbech
Today you can find a variety of varieties of urbeche made from several types of nuts, sesame seeds or various seeds. Each of the products differs in certain flavors, the number of calories and the effects on the body.
Of the seeds:
- Flax (492 kcal calories), a source of omega-3, trace elements, vitamins and plenty of protein;
- hemp (548 kcal) – restores strength after heavy loads and gives a feeling of fullness for a long time;
- sesame (575 kcal) – has positive effects on the metabolic, endocrine, and respiratory systems;
- pumpkin (575 kcal) – due to its nutritious composition it is recommended for children and pregnant
- women, the product stimulates brain activity, increases hemoglobin levels
chia (431,3 kcal) – normalizes the gastrointestinal tract, heart, regulates blood hemoglobin and sugar levels; - milk thistle (391,5 kcal) – protects cells from aging, removes toxins;
- Poppy (520 kcal) – strengthens the immune system, helps treat diabetes.
The caloric value of urbeche of apricot kernels is 553 kcal, this product helps in the treatment of a number of diseases of the respiratory system.
Of nuts:
- peanuts (350 kcal) – strengthens nails and hair, improves eyesight, prevents the deposition of salts;
- walnut (648 kcal) – saturates the body with a lot of vitamins and microelements, reduces the risk of infectious diseases;
- hazelnut (679 kcal) – normalizes cholesterol levels, improves blood composition;
- cedar (673 kcal) – enriches the body with calcium, vitamins, amino acids, and Omega-3, it is recommended for people of any age;
- Brazilian (682 kcal) – reduces the risk of cancer, breast and prostate pathologies;
- cashew (643 kcal) – restores metabolism, helps in treatment of skin diseases;
- almonds (609 kcal) – due to the high content of antioxidants and fatty acids maintains a good condition of hair, skin, nails, is used to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
How to cook at home?
Urbech can be obtained independently, using one of the many recipes. The maximum health benefits come from flaxseed. To prepare a paste from this component will need:
- 300 g of flaxseed;
- 2 tsp. of any honey of liquid consistency;
- salt on the tip of a spoon.
The sequence of preparation:
- Grind the seeds so that oil is released from them, for this purpose, you can use a mortar or coffee grinder;
- Combine all the prepared components and mix well;
- The resulting mass of the put in a glass jar and put in the refrigerator for storage.
It is allowed to eat linseed Urbech immediately after preparation.
Where can I buy it and how can I choose?
You can buy Dagestan paste on special sites on the Internet. When choosing, it is necessary to pay attention to the manufacturer. Natural Urbech should be a mass of thick consistency, which has a rich and sugary smell. Before giving preference to this or that kind of this product, it is necessary to study its composition in detail: it should not contain dyes or additives. The classical Urbech consists of 100% of nuts, seeds or seeds.
Urbech is a useful product, especially it is recommended to people who do not eat meat. The nutritious mass satiates the body with protein and perfectly satisfies the hunger. The presence of urbeche in the daily diet will not only diversify the menu, but also have a positive effect on health.