What is nougat?

Nutella is the brand name of a hazelnut-based sweet spread registered by the Italian company Ferrero at the end of 1963. The recipe was developed from an earlier Ferreros spread released in 1949. Nutella is now marketed in over 75 countries across the globe. According to the product label, the main ingredients of Nutella are sugar and modified vegetable oils, followed by hazelnut, cocoa and skimmed milk, which together comprise at most 28% of the ingredients. The recipe for Nutella varies in different countries: for example, the Italian formulation uses less sugar than the product sold in France. Nutella is marketed as "hazelnut cream" in many countries. Nutella is a favourite among children and adults alike as a sandwich spread.

How to select nutella hazelnut chocolate spread

Although Nutella is marketed in a variety of packages, its typical containers have always been made of glass (though plastic containers are more common in the USA, Canada, and Mexico). Today, Nutella is more frequently marketed in jars of a characteristic, trademarked oval shape (pictured above). These are generally 200 g, 350 g, 400 g or 750 g jars. Single-serving catering packs aimed at the school lunch market are also available in retail stores. Check the expiry date before buying.

Culinary Uses of nutella hazelnut chocolate spread

" Nutella tastes the best as a sandwich spread. They can be normally eaten in sandwich fashion with two slices of bread, an open faced sandwich, or toast.

" Nutella goes really well with a lot of fruits like bananas, apples and melons.

" Butter the breads, add nutella and grill them so that they are nice and golden brown on the outside and the nutella is warm and melted on the inside. You could also easily turn it into french toast for something a bit different.

" It is used in flavoring pastries, candy making or just spread on crepes.

" Nutella can be added to cakes, icecreams, cookies as topping.

How to store nutella hazelnut chocolate spread

Store Nutella jars in the refrigerator.

Health benefits of nutella hazelnut chocolate spread

" About half of the calories in Nutella come from fat (11 g in a 37 g serving, or 99 kcal out of 200 kcal) and about 40% of the calories come from sugar. So it is quite dense in energy and calories. Weight watchers may choose to stay away.

" Nutella is generally not recommended for people with an allergy to nuts.

" Nutella is also not recommended for people with milk allergy or lactose intolerance because of its skimmed milk and whey content.

Glycemic index of nutella hazelnut chocolate spread

It is a low glycemic index (GI) food. Low glycemic index (GI) breakfasts (because they release energy slowly) can help maintain energy levels and reduce the need for snacking later on