Madagascar Vanilla Bean: Must-to-Have Ingredient in Kitchen

Author: Fitnclean Vanilla

Indonesian, Tahitian and Madagascar are few varieties of vanilla beans available in the marketplace but Madagascar vanilla beans are the most expensive of the lot. Hand-picked for its freshness and calming aroma, these beans are cultivated and cured on the Madagascar islands for several months. These beans are the premium quality beans having incredible flavor, heavenly buttery aroma, and an oily surface outside. The beans contain millions of tiny and black vanilla caviar seeds that provide real flavor and aroma to dish when added.

Did you know vanilla extract and beans are used in a variety of food products and perfumes? Yes, you heard it right. The reason is vanilla is rated as amongst the top three spices in the world after saffron and cardamom. Besides one of the most expensive spices, it is healthy and aromatic also. So, whether a person consumes Madagascar vanilla beans pod or vanilla extract, he will experience the following benefits:

  • Every type of vanilla bean is a rich source of vanillin, a phenolic plant compound. Many studies clearly show that vanillin has antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties that keeps the body healthy and promotes overall well-being.
  • Certain compounds like vanillic acid and vanillin present in the vanilla beans support brain health. These compounds play a significant role in protecting the nervous system of the body against cognitive defects.
  • If you are adding vanilla bean powder or vanilla extract prepare from Madagascar vanilla beans in baked dishes, you are automatically reducing the added sugar intake. The reason is the by-products of vanilla have naturally sweet flavor. Therefore, many people, who want to avoid added sugar in dishes, prefer adding vanilla bean powder or extract in large quantities to get the natural sweetness.

Nutrition Facts of Madagascar Vanilla Beans

The serving size of 1 bean provides 20 calories, 5% of total carbohydrates, 2% each vitamin C and calcium respectively. No presence of fat, cholesterol and sodium make these beans highly healthy. Therefore, you can take little quantity of vanilla extract or bean powder along with your daily diet by adding in sugar, coffee or in the form of ice-creams.

Highly Versatile

Madagascar vanilla beans are gourmet or prime beans and highly versatile as well. These beans are used in scores of recipes such as for preparing cookies, pancakes, ice-creams, granola bars, cakes, quick breads to name a few. Both vanilla beans and powder is easy to add in a number of dishes to get the required flavor. Some of the ways to use this highly versatile spice on a daily basis are as follows:

  • Make your smoothies healthy and flavorful by adding a dash of vanilla bean powder.
  • Drink coffee infused with a few drops of vanilla bean powder or extract. You will love it!
  • Chefs prefer adding vanilla bean powder prepared from grinding vanilla beans in recipes like waffle mixes and pancakes.
  • Give cakes and cookies highly flavorful touch by adding little amount of vanilla extract.

Do not be surprised to hear that Madagascar vanilla beans are as good to use in savory recipes like seafood and pork, glazes for poultry. You cask any renowned chef and he agrees to the fact that many chefs add vanilla beans or its extract or powder in many dishes to make them flavorful and aromatic. Even beverages like amaretto sour, cream soda floats and sangria satiate the taste buds due to intense vanilla flavor.

Equivalency

It is not possible to add seeds of vanilla bean pods in every dish. Therefore, in some dishes vanilla bean powder and extract are good to use. But sometimes it happens that you want to prepare vanilla cake and drop the idea at the last moment due to the non-presence of vanilla extract at home. No need to drop your idea if you have vanilla bean powder or even 1 whole bean at home. Yes, you heard it right! Because there are many dishes in which extract is easy to replace with vanilla bean powder or vanilla bean. For this, you need to ensure to replace the vanilla extract in the right quantity with other vanilla by-products.

The equivalency ratio is as follows:

  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract is equivalent to 1 whole vanilla bean.
  • 1 tablespoon of extract is easy to replace with 1 tablespoon of vanilla bean paste or vanilla bean powder

So, buy highly versatile Madagascar vanilla beans and prepare your favorite dish as and when you want to satiate your taste bud. Make an online purchase to get a good deal.