You can eat lavash while losing weight, although it would seem that with any diet, baked goods are strictly prohibited due to calorie content, gluten content and other disadvantages. The secret is that real lavash, cooked correctly, bears little resemblance to bread. Its composition and properties can have a beneficial effect on the process of losing weight.
If you want a quick answer. You can eat pita bread and it’s even better to replace bread with it, because this dough prolongs the feeling of fullness. Azerbaijani and Armenian are slightly less caloric.
By the way, in terms of nutritional value (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, calories), lavash differs little from ordinary bread. The point is a little different.
Azerbaijani lavash
Undoubtedly, Azerbaijani lavash has its fans, and its technique differs from the preparation of other types of lavash. However, if we take solely the nutritional value of this national bread, we will notice that there is not much that distinguishes it from Armenian lavash. In particular, its calorie content is within the same limits, since the components are of the same type. If the cooking method is different, it does not significantly affect the nutritional value of lavash.
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Baking lavash with your own hands
Yeast-free bread is easy to bake at home. To do this you will need:
- 0.2 kg wheat flour;
- 200 ml hot water;
- 1-2 pinches of table salt (not Extra).
The recipe for dietary lavash is quite simple:
- Pour flour into a deep bowl and add salt to it.
- Gradually pour in hot (not warm) water, stirring first with a spoon and then with your hands.
- Knead the dough for 10 minutes, wrap in cling film and put in the refrigerator for half an hour. During this time, the dough will “rest”, become more elastic and will not break when finished.
- Remove the dough from the refrigerator and divide it into several parts.
- Roll out each part into a round cake 0.5-1.5 cm thick and bake in a dry, hot frying pan of a suitable diameter. As soon as dark brown spots appear on the surface of the dough, the pita bread is ready.
- Remove the finished tortilla from the pan and wrap in a damp towel.
- When all the “pancakes” have cooled, stack them and serve.
Armenian lavash
Lavash is a flour product, and despite this, it does not contain as many calories as bread does. Yeast is not used for its production, which makes this bread product already dietary. This product is eaten in all countries of the world. A diet based on lavash also exists. The main thing is to create a balanced diet for her and use the right toppings.
The composition of Armenian lavash includes:
- Water;
- Flour;
- Salt (be careful with salt, because it removes water, and this does not contribute to weight loss);
It looks like a thin bread cake. But there are other types that are often used to prepare various dishes.
Armenian lavash: 230-250 kcal (per 100 grams).
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Top 10 recipes for low-calorie and delicious fillings for rolls
Recipes for fillings are given per 1 sheet of lavash.
With crab sticks
- Take boiled eggs, cucumbers and crab sticks in equal quantities. Grind and mix in a bowl.
- Add finely grated cheese and chopped dill. Mix well.
- The mass should be placed on a sheet and wrapped. Place in the refrigerator for several hours. Slice before serving.
Energy value of 100 grams is 134 kcal.
With Chiken
Products:
- 50 grams of tomatoes, cucumbers, low-fat cheese;
- 100 grams of boiled chicken fillet;
- several lettuce leaves;
- Provençal herbs, salt and pepper to taste.
Dressing ingredients:
- 15 grams of natural yogurt;
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce;
- 3 tablespoons of homemade adjika.
Brush the sheet with dressing. Add lettuce leaves, shredded breast, cheese, vegetables. Sprinkle with spices and roll into a tight tube.
Energy value – 111 kcal.
With cottage cheese
Products:
- 200 grams of any greens;
- 2 cloves of garlic;
- 150 grams of natural yogurt;
- 450 grams of low-fat cottage cheese;
- 4 Armenian lavash;
- salt.
Mix yogurt and cottage cheese. Add spices and chopped herbs. Grease the pita bread with the resulting paste. Place the dish in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
Energy value – 98 kcal.
With chicken and cheese
Ingredients:
- 1 chicken fillet;
- 3 eggs;
- 150 grams of low-fat cheese and natural yogurt;
- garlic, herbs, salt and pepper to taste.
Chop the boiled fillet and boiled eggs. Add yogurt and low-fat cheese. Season with herbs, garlic, spices and salt. Grease the pita bread and make a roll.
Energy value – 170 kcal.
With apples
Ingredients:
- 3 apples;
- stevia, cinnamon to taste.
Grate the apples and peel onto a fine grater. Add cinnamon and stevia, stir. Grease the pita bread.
Energy value – 99 kcal.
With red fish
Products:
- 200 grams of fish;
- 180 grams of cream cheese;
- 0.5 teaspoon lemon juice;
- 0.5 bunch of greens.
How to cook:
- Cut the fish into pieces, add cream cheese, lemon juice and chopped herbs.
- Spread the filling onto the pita bread and wrap it up.
Energy value – 150 kcal.
Spicy with cottage cheese
Products:
- 250 grams of soft cottage cheese;
- 1 tablespoon of low-fat sour cream or yogurt;
- a bunch of dill;
- 2 fresh cucumbers;
- a bunch of parsley;
- a third of a teaspoon of black pepper;
- 2 red tomatoes;
- salt to taste.
Recipe:
- Prepare curd cream and add pepper.
- Also add chopped herbs.
- Grease a sheet of lavash with paste. Add tomato and cucumber slices. Wrap it like a roll.
Energy value – 120 kcal.
With brown rice
Products:
- a glass of boiled rice;
- 2 boiled eggs;
- 100 grams of natural yogurt;
- greens to taste.
How to cook:
- Mix rice with chopped egg.
- Add chopped herbs to yogurt. Lubricate the sheet with the resulting paste. Add the rice and egg mixture. Wrap it up.
Energy value – 143 kcal.
With minced chicken
Ingredients:
- 5 tablespoons of minced boiled chicken;
- 100 grams of low-fat cheese;
- 0.5 onions;
- 1 sweet pepper.
Recipe:
- Saute onion cubes and sweet pepper rings in a frying pan.
- Mix with minced meat and low-fat cheese.
- Coat the sheet with the resulting paste.
Energy value – 125 kcal.
With mushrooms
Products:
- 200 grams of champignons;
- 2 boiled eggs;
- a few teaspoons of grated hard cheese;
- greens to taste.
Preparation:
- Fry the chopped champignons in a small amount of oil.
- Cut the boiled eggs into cubes, mix with mushrooms and hard cheese. Add herbs to taste.
- Lubricate the sheets with the mixture.
Energy value – 115 kcal.
Georgian lavash
This product, unlike the Armenian one, is more magnificent. This is due to the fact that yeast is used for its production, which has a calorie content of about 75 kcal per 100 grams. Therefore, this product can be called dietary to a lesser extent, and if you are losing weight, it is better to look towards Armenian or Azerbaijani lavash.
However, if you are from the beautiful country of Georgia or you have Georgian roots and taste habits have already been formed by the age of 20, then do not change your tradition for the sake of such a small amount of calories, because your body, in particular the digestive system, is simply accustomed to a certain national diet.
The point here is that if you are in very poor physical shape and for you 75 kcal is a significant figure, then, perhaps, it is better for you any baked goods altogether
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Having considered three options for lavash, let’s ask the question again: is it possible to eat lavash while losing weight? The answer will be: yes, but better Armenian/Azerbaijani or home-made without using yeast. If you are from Georgia, eat Georgian.
Georgian lavash: 260-280 kcal (per 40 grams). The calorie content is higher due to yeast.
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How to cook shawarma?
Armenian flatbread is used instead of bread or as the main ingredient for preparing various dishes. One of the most beloved Caucasian dishes throughout the post-Soviet space is shawarma - pita bread stuffed with a mixture of minced meat, herbs, fresh vegetables, sauces and spices. Any meat can be used, but those losing weight should give preference to dietary varieties, for example, veal, turkey or chicken.
For homemade dietary shawarma you will need:
- 2 sheets of Armenian bread;
- 200-250 g chicken breast;
- 100 g fresh tomatoes;
- 100 g sweet pepper;
- 50 fresh spinach or Chinese cabbage;
- 100 g fresh or pickled cucumbers;
- 100 ml Greek yogurt, kefir or curdled milk;
- 1 clove of garlic;
- 50 g purple onion;
- salt, spices and spices to taste.
- Boil the chicken and cut into cubes or strips.
- Wash the vegetables.
- Cut tomatoes and onions into half rings, pepper into strips, cucumber into cubes or strips.
- Pass the garlic through a garlic press and mix with Greek yogurt or kefir. Add a pinch of salt and seasoning to the sauce.
- Mix all ingredients and divide into 4 parts.
- Cut the lavash sheets in half to make 4 pieces.
- Place the filling on each piece, wrap and roll.
- Before serving, reheat in the microwave or in a dry frying pan.
How to properly wrap shawarma
The calorie content of such shawarma does not exceed 100 kcal per 100 g of product, therefore it does not pose a danger to the figure. As a filling for dietary shawarma, you can use any lean meat, fish or poultry (boiled or grilled), seafood and seasonal vegetables.
2/3 of the total volume of the filling should be vegetables and herbs - only such shawarma can safely be considered a dietary dish.
Useful properties of lavash
This flatbread, as lavash was called in Rus', has an interesting property: it does not spoil for a long time, and if it dries out, brush it with water and it will become softer. Unlike regular bread, you can’t eat a lot of this product, so you can eat lavash while losing weight. A tasty flatbread can add a number of beneficial elements to the body:
- phosphorus;
- zinc;
- magnesium;
- iron;
- manganese;
- vitamins B, E and PP.
It is able to maintain the balance of carbohydrates, which has a beneficial effect on a person’s weight loss, so lavash can be eaten while losing weight. This product is perfect for breakfast and a small snack. It plays an excellent role as a base for a dish. If you combine it with dietary filling, there is no risk of weight gain.
How much lavash can you eat?
Benefits, harms and calorie content of thin lavash
To the question of whether a product is harmful for weight loss, the answer is negative.
Positive properties include the high content of nutrients in the cake. It contains a lot of phosphorus, iron, zinc, magnesium, manganese. It also contains vitamins PP, E and group B.
Regular consumption has a beneficial effect on the digestive system. The stool is normalized. Carbohydrate metabolism accelerates. The product increases acidity. Its use is allowed for many gastric and intestinal pathologies.
Magnesium contained in the composition has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system. In addition, it has a good effect on the nervous system, relieves tension, helps to calm down, and improves mood. If you want to play slot machines in a licensed casino in Ukraine, then follow the link https://www.joker-win.casino. The rate of fatigue is reduced.
Diet rules
For the diet to produce results, you can include a variety of foods in it. Lavash can also be eaten while losing weight, if you follow a number of rules:
- drink plenty of fluids;
- actively engage in sports;
- do not eat heavy food at night;
- eat food in small portions;
- drink drinks without added sugar.
During the diet you will have to give up:
- alcohol;
- muffins;
- sweets;
- semi-finished products;
- smoked meats;
- pickles;
- mayonnaise;
- sour cream;
- sausages;
- carbonated drinks.
A little humor on the topic:
Is it possible to eat pita bread on a diet?
At the PP, eating this product is not prohibited. Nutritionists recommend using it instead of bread, since lavash has a lower calorie content and is healthier for you. It is important to take into account the calorie content of what you eat, count the amount of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates consumed so as not to exceed the daily norm.
On strict diets, you cannot violate the selected menu. You will have to temporarily give up lavash. If you choose a gentle option, eating a small amount of flatbread is often acceptable.
There is also a special diet in which lavash is the basis of a person’s diet. You can stick to it for no more than 7 days.
It's better not to eat pita bread before bed. It is recommended to eat it in the first half of the day: this way the cake will be digested faster.
Recipes and technology
If lavash is Armenian or Azerbaijani, then this flour product is prepared completely differently than bread. No oils, fats or raising agents are added to its composition. It is baked in an oven called a tandoor. Cooking it at home is also not difficult. Prepare pita bread that you can eat while losing weight yourself and lose weight. Knead the dough loosely, roll out thinly and bake in the oven at 170 degrees.
If you remove salt from the recipe, you will be able to taste the bread and help your body lose weight.
Harm of pita bread
If the dough was kneaded in production without adding harmful impurities, then the finished product will not harm your health. Therefore, the flour product should not contain preservatives that extend shelf life, unnatural food colors, or flavor enhancers.
You should also pay attention to how and where the packaging is stored in the store. It is not always possible for employees to keep track of the status of each of them. Therefore, if you see that the package is cut or even open, then it is better to refuse to purchase such a product. Also pay attention to the expiration date and inspect the product for mold.
The perfect combination
You can roll various ingredients into pita bread. Combinations of pita bread with other products can be very different, and compatibility does not in any way affect the increase in calorie content of the pita bread itself or the effect on the filling. The most popular combinations:
- chicken fillet;
- greenery;
- tomatoes;
- cucumbers;
- cheese (do not overdo it when losing weight);
- Korean carrots;
- cabbage (great, because it takes more energy to digest cabbage than it produces);
- minced meat (for weight loss, use the lowest fat content);
- fish;
- mushrooms.
This southern folk dish can be eaten while losing weight. Is it a lot? 2-3 flatbreads a day is quite possible. By consuming this product with vegetables, you can become slim and lose weight in a short time. Nutritionists highly recommend this product, but do not forget that not all flatbreads are so healthy. When buying this product in a store, ask about the composition, and it is best to prepare this simple product at home.
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Benefits and harms
The benefit of lavash is that it is a natural product. During cooking, baked goods retain all vitamins and minerals. A large amount of vitamins helps the body resist colds and strengthens the immune system. Lactic acid bacteria, which form in the dough during baking, have a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract, cleansing it and normalizing carbohydrate levels.
The flatbread is rich in minerals, thanks to which the body more effectively resists colds, improves metabolism and quickly creates a feeling of fullness. Bread regulates the level of glucose and carbohydrates in the blood. Because these flour products have low acidity, they are allowed for dysbiosis and fungal diseases of the intestines.
But pita bread can be not only useful. It is safe only if the correct preparation technology has been followed. Many manufacturers often add yeast and preservatives to the dough to increase shelf life. Because of this, the product becomes an ordinary baked goods containing a lot of calories and carbohydrates.
To prevent such a product from harming the body, it should be stored in airtight packaging. If pita bread comes into contact with air, it will quickly become moldy, which often leads to an upset stomach and even poisoning.
Lavash dishes
This flatbread can also be used for baking various delicacies and rolls. It is ideal for salads and soups. Let's look at several recipes that use pita bread and that you can eat while losing weight.
Lavash video recipe
A little video on the topic: whole grain buckwheat lavash.
Circassian roll “Bertucci”
Components:
- cake;
- Caucasian cheese (about 300 kcal per 100 grams);
- parsley;
- dill;
- cilantro;
- white yogurt (about 100 kcal per 100 grams).
Cooking method:
- For this dish, it is better to prepare the flatbread yourself. It should be very thin (about 1 mm) and not bake for long. Do not bake until crispy. The texture should be elastic.
- This roll base is coated with white yoghurt and the remaining ingredients are laid out on it.
- The cheese is grated. The greens are finely chopped and distributed over the flatbread in layers.
- Wrap it in a tight roll, cut it into small portions and place it on a plate.
- The final stage is 2-3 minutes in the microwave.
The roll turns out very satisfying. Caucasian homemade cheese is high in calories, but only a small amount is required. The main component of this dish is greens. The calorie content of this roll is 630 kcal per 100 grams. Which, in general, is not little. Let's do the math: cheese - 300 kcal, plus yogurt - 100 kcal, plus lavash - 230 kcal per 100 grams. And we took the minimum calorie content from our calorie table for 377 products.
Armenian fish roll
Components:
- Armenian flatbread;
- greens to taste;
- cod;
- tomato paste;
- basil;
- green beans;
- rice.
Cooking method:
- Boil green beans and some rice with fish. Chop the beans and cod using a knife.
- Coat the pita bread with tomato paste and sprinkle with herbs and basil.
- Then lay out layers of fish first, then rice and beans. Wrap the roll tightly.
This dish can be served separately to each person or cut into several pieces and placed on the table as an appetizer. The calorie content of such a roll is only 410 kcal per 100 grams.
Armenian vegetable roll
Components:
- Armenian flatbread;
- Chinese cabbage;
- carrot;
- onion;
- greenery;
- beet;
- beet leaves.
Cooking method:
- To prepare the filling, you need to stew finely chopped carrots, cabbage, herbs, beets and beet leaves. Simmer without adding oil. Vegetables are also excellently stewed in their own juice. To do this they will need no more than 15 minutes.
- Let the filling cool, then spread it in an even layer on the pita bread and wrap it tightly.
For piquancy, you can add cilantro, basil or lemon juice. Can be consumed both cold and hot. The calorie content of such a roll is only 330 kcal per 100 grams.
Cheese pita bread
Lavash stuffed with cheese is one of the most beloved and common snacks in Armenian cuisine. In addition to cheese, the filling also includes greens.
Any cheese is suitable for preparing the filling, but it is better to give preference to soft varieties - they are less fatty. These include suluguni, mozzarella, and the famous Adyghe cheese. Any greens will also suit your taste. It could be parsley, dill, or even sorrel, but keep in mind that it will add sourness to the appetizer.
In order to prepare cheese pita bread, you need to cut the flatbread into portioned pieces and put cheese grated on a not very fine or coarse grater on each piece. Season everything with herbs. The filling is wrapped in pita bread, like in an envelope. Melt a little butter in a frying pan and fry the envelopes for about 3 minutes. This is the amount of time needed for the cheese to melt thoroughly. The calorie content of thin lavash with cheese and herbs, fried in butter, is 210 calories per 100 g.
How many calories are in lavash
Different types of pita bread contain different amounts of calories, so when preparing recipes you need to keep an eye on this in order to correctly calculate the KBJU.
There are several types of this product:
Armenian Lavash – 235 calories Georgian Lavash – 270 calories Uzbek Lavash – 260 calories
Armenian lavash is baked in the form of thin sheets, in which it is convenient to wrap food. This type is used in the preparation of various dishes and dietary desserts. However, you can safely include other varieties of pita bread in your diet. When consumed in moderation, they will not harm your figure.
Lavash has an average glycemic index of about 60 units, which is considered high. But if you prepare this product yourself from whole grain flour, you can lower the index to 40 units.
As for the balance of BJU, carbohydrates, of course, predominate here - 7.9/1/47, however, if prepared correctly, you can safely include lavash dishes in your diet.
What kind of pita bread should you eat when losing weight?
As you know, nutritionists prohibit the introduction of ordinary yeast white bread into the diet, therefore, of the two types of lavash, you should choose the Armenian one, which does not contain yeast.
In fact, lavash is a real lifesaver for those who want to eat deliciously and lose weight. After all, on its basis you can prepare a variety of low-calorie rolls, the filling of which will be lean meat, chicken, fish or mushrooms, as well as grated cheese, feta cheese, cottage cheese and a lot of herbs. Moreover, such rolls can be made both cold and hot, and the variety of fillings makes it possible to significantly diversify a meager diet. And, if you use a small piece of lavash roll as 1-2 snacks a day, or combine a flatbread with vegetarian soup or vegetable salad during your main meal, then this will in no way negatively affect the weight loss process.
Whole grain lavash - recipe
If you want to make this flour product super healthy, then you just need to use whole grain flour when preparing it. To do this you will need:
- 300 grams of any whole grain flour. This type of flour contains much more nutrients and minerals, and is also a source of fiber, which is important if you are following a healthy diet or diet. Don't forget to sift the flour before cooking.
- 200 ml water. We use boiled water, cooled to 30-40 degrees. This is just an approximate amount of water, it is possible that you will need more or less. You will have to adjust this yourself depending on the consistency of the dough. It should not be too tight, but should be soft.
- 2.6 grams of salt. Be sure to add a little salt for taste.
Add salt to the water until it completely dissolves. Then add water to the flour and begin kneading to the desired consistency. After this, you need to give the test a little time to “rest”. Place it in a bag and leave for 30-40 minutes. Then we take it out, knead it and divide it into pieces or balls of the desired size. Roll out each ball and begin baking in a dry frying pan on both sides. It is important to warm up the pan well before baking, and just before you bake the pita bread, you can reduce the heat.
How to make diet pita bread from rice flour
This dish can also be prepared from rice flour, which is actively used in proper nutrition.
- 2.5 cups rice flour. Dishes made from this type of flour turn out very tender and tasty. A big plus of rice flour is that it is gluten-free. There are two types of rice flour - white and whole grain. We will use white flour in our recipe.
- 200 ml water.
- 1 egg. This will make the dish more tender.
- ½ teaspoon salt. You can add a little more if you like saltier dishes. But remember that salt retains fluid in the body.
- 1 teaspoon sugar. This will highlight the taste of our dish.
In a separate container, mix all dry ingredients. Then add water and start kneading the dough. When you have a pliable and soft dough, set it aside for half an hour. Then punch down, form into balls and roll out. We fry our flatbreads in a dry frying pan. Fry thoroughly on both sides until golden or brown.
Napoleon PP from lavash