Carob
Preparation, uses, and tips
Carob is often used as a substitute for chocolate or cocoa powder in cakes, cookies, and candy. To substitute carob powder for cocoa, replace one part cocoa with one and one-half to two parts carob by weight. Keep in mind that carob is not as flavorful as chocolate, so it is best used in recipes that contain other strongly flavored ingredients. But because carob is naturally sweet, it isn’t usually necessary to add sugar when using it in place of unsweetened cocoa powder. Carob chips are easily substituted for chocolate chips in cookie and muffin recipes, and many people enjoy hot beverages made from carob powder as a substitute for coffee.
Buying and storing tips
Store carob powder in a cool, dry place for up to 12 months. If lumps form, sift before using.
Varieties
Two distinct products are derived from the fruit of the carob tree, including carob bean gum and carob powder. Carob bean gum is made from the beans encased in the pod, and is used extensively in food manufacturing for its gelling and binding properties. Carob powder, noted for its similarity to cocoa powder, is made by drying, roasting, and grinding the carob pod after the beans have been removed. The color and flavor of carob vary according to the roasting process—the longer carob is roasted, the darker its color and the blander its flavor. Solid carob, carob chips, and carob syrup are made from carob powder.
Nutrition Highlights
Carob (flour), 1 cup (about 100g)
Calories: 228
Protein: 4.7g
Carbohydrate: 91.5g
Total Fat: 0.67g
Fiber: 41g
*Excellent source of: Calcium (358mg), Potassium (852mg), and Riboflavin (0.47mg)
*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the Recommended Daily Value.
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The information presented in the Food Guide is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of US–registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2009.