Of the foods that are touted as being excellent sources of iron and minerals, blackstrap molasses isn’t the first substance that comes to mind. Blackstrap molasses is an excellent source of iron as well as magnesium, copper, calcium, manganese, potassium, vitamin B6 and selenium. The best part is it is sweet, and the recommended daily dose of 2 tsp. a day only contains 32 calories and 0 grams of fat.

What is Blackstrap Molasses?

Molasses is a byproduct of sugar cane made by boiling the sugar syrup to crystalline form. Blackstrap molasses refers to the third boiling of the syrup, and is the sweetener that contains the most nutritional properties, particularly iron. Molasses in general is dark, thick, bittersweet syrup used to sweeten many recipes, and gives ginger bread that bittersweet taste and dark brown hue.

2 teaspoons of blackstrap molasses contains 10% of the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of iron, manganese, potassium, copper, calcium, and slightly lower than 10% RDA of magnesium, vitamin B6 and selenium. It can be added to a variety of dishes including hot cereal, milk, baked beans and of course gingerbread. It can also be taken as a daily therapeutic dose—2 tsp. added to a cup of warm water.

What Molasses Cures

• Molasses helps cleanse the blood, so it’s good for iron deficient anemia related to menstruation.
• Helps with constipation, helps the body to have regular movements.
• Mixed with a small amount of baking soda, a spoonful will help settle an upset stomach and diarrhea.
• Migraine
• Fatigue
• Swelling of the ankles due to low potassium levels

Recipes using Blackstrap Molasses

Ham and Beans

• 3 lbs. smoked bear ham or pork ham
• 2 lbs. dried pinto or Great Northern beans
• 2 dried peppers, hot variety
• 2 wild onions
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1/2 c. blackstrap molasses
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 1/4 c. mustard, salad type
• Liquid smoke (optional)
• Cayenne pepper (optional)
• Fill Dutch oven with water and cook dry beans after rinsing them well. Add meat and all ingredients when beans are half cooked. Liquid smoke can be used if meat is fresh. Cayenne pepper can also be added for flavor. When cooking in Dutch oven or roaster, keep water at least 1 inch deep in pan at all times to prevent scorching.

Glazed Carrots

• 2 lbs. carrots
• 1 tbsp. raw honey
• Chicken stock
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1 tbsp. Blackstrap molasses
• Fresh ground pepper
• Peel carrots and slice into 2-3 inch pieces. Place in a large saucepan and add other ingredients, using enough stock to cover carrots halfway up. Bring to a boil, cover, maintain at a gentle boil until carrots are nearly done. Stir occasionally. Uncover and cook 15 minutes more until carrots are tender and the liquid is reduced to syrup. Just before serving, reheat. If glaze becomes too dry, add a little water.

Baked Beans

• 2 c. dried beans (kidney, yellow eyed, pea beans or soldier beans)
• 1/2 lb. salt pork (fat & lean)
• 3 tsp. salt
• 3 tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 tsp. dry mustard
• 1/3 c. dark blackstrap molasses
• 2 c. boiling water
• Wash and pick over the beans. Discard imperfect ones, or small bits of pebbles you might find. Soak the beans overnight. Drain. Put in pot, fresh water to cover, and parboil until some of the skins burst. Scald the pork, slice it thin. Now in a bean pot (yes, you must have a bean pot, no substitutions will do) alternate layers of beans and pork, sprinkling each layer with a mixture of salt, brown sugar, sprinkling each layer with a mixture of salt, brown sugar and mustard. Over each layer add a part of the blackstrap molasses. Pour at least two cups of boiling water over all. Bake in a 275 degree oven for at least six hours, replacing the water as it boils away. A half hour before serving, remove the cover and let the top brown. Serves 6.

-Anne

Do you have any home remedies or natural cures using Blackstrap Molasses? Comment and share them with us!

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