Japanese agar jelly dessert
Japanese agar jelly dessert
This time I write about “Japanese agar Jelly dessert”. In summer Japanese people often eat light food since they lose appetite due to the high temperature and humidity. As for a dessert, they prefer to eat water ice or jelly instead of rich ice cream. When I was small, my family often ate kanten jelly after dinner in summer and I liked it very much. Still I like jelly a lot and I often make agar jelly dessert for my family for Sunday dinner.
What is agar?
In the Netherlands I have hardly seen jelly sold at super market. Since I can’t find kanten jelly powder easily in Europe, I buy agar powder instead at oriental supermarket. The word “kanten” is often translated to agar, however, Japanese people don’t think kanten and agar are the same. There are some differences, anyway agar powder is a good alternative for kanten powder.
As agar jelly sets at room temperature, it is much quicker to prepare dessert compared to using gelatin which requires low temperature to set. It takes several hours for the jelly to set in the fridge. Gelatin jelly has a more elastic texture and is derived from collagen taken from animal body parts. Agar can be a vegetarian substitute for gelatin. Please watch Youtube film below about Agar. I think this film gives lots of information about agar.
Toppings and Syrups
You can make lots of variations with toppings and syrups. Fruits, sticky rice balls, sweet red beans paste are popular for toppings in Japan. I like to add tapioca balls. Tapioca balls have a soft and chewy texture. I enjoy the difference in textures. As for syrup I often pour maple syrup, brown sugar syrup, palm sugar syrup and lemon flavored syrup on the agar jelly. Coffee syrup ( hazelnut, vanilla, caramel taste etc.) will be good alternative. Please try to find your favorite combination.
Japanese agar jelly dessert
Ingredients
- 500 ml Water
- 4 g Agar powder This can be different per products, please follow instructions on the package.
- 40 g Sugar (optional)
- Topping of your choice Fruits, Tapioca balls, sticky rice balls, sweet red beans paste etc.
- Syrup of your choice Maple syrup, brown sugar syrup, palm syrup, lemon flavored syrup etc.
Instructions
- Put half amount of water (250cc) in a small pot and add agar powder and stir well.
- Cook on medium heat until it boils. Then turn down to low heat and simmer further a couple of minutes. Agar should be melted completely and the water and agar mixture becomes transparent. If you like to add sugar, please add here and stir gently until the sugar is resolved completely.
- Add the rest of water (250cc) and stir gently. Pour the mixture into the form through fine sieve immediately otherwise the jelly starts setting. When it is cooled down, place it in the fridge.
- Before serving, cut agar jelly into cubes. Put jelly in the bowl and decorate it with toppings, then pour syrup of your choice.
Notes
If you like agar jelly dessert, please click the link below for more agar jelly dessert recipe.
Enjoy Japanese agar jelly dessert. Bon Apetit !!