Agar

[spinbaby]

I came home from the Asian food store with two packets of powdered agar, intending to make vegan gelatin. The instructions on the packet weren't at all helpful, saying just to use 1 gm agar to 125 gm water and add sugar. Some searching on the internet suggest that 1 teaspoon agar per cup of liquid is about right and that sugar helps gelling. Also, it should be dissolved in liquid before heating.

Do any of you have agar experience or any good recipes?

[Duer 157099]

1. 1gm water = 1ml water

So, 1gm agar per 125ml water. The 1tsp per cup sounds about right. Depending on how that comes out, adjust next time. It's very forgiving either way.

But add the agar to cold water, not hot water or else it may clump (I think)

[Warpy]

2. Only on plates in the lab

and you don't want that recipe, it's quite firm.

I do know veg heads who say that in food amounts it doesn't keep all that well, but I think living in a humid climate had something to do with it.

The better recipes should be out there online. Start here: http://notenoughcinnamon.com/2012/08/02/everything-you-need-to-know-about-agar/

[rdharma]

3. You piqued my interest in agar-agar

Last edited Sun Aug 25, 2013, 06:17 PM - Edit history (1)

I was unfamiliar with agar except for use in brewing beer.

It sound like it is culinary miracle ingredient. Very healthy.

This site might help you out: http://www.barryfarm.com/nutri_info/thickeners/agar.htm

Do a search on "culinary agar-agar" and you'll get a lot of useful information.

Thanks for the thought provoking thread.

[spinbaby]

4. That link was very helpful, thanks

I think I'm going to start my experiments by making almond jelly for my vegan friends, using a ratio of 1 teaspoon agar to 1 cup of almond milk and 1/3 cup sugar. Also a few drops of almond extract for flavor, I think.

[rdharma]

5. Here's a recipe for "almond jello" that can be scaled down.

http://jenyu.net/pdf_recipes/almond-jello.pdf

Note that real moo-cow milk is recommended. But you can use almond milk to keep it true vegan.

[surrealAmerican]

6. You need to simmer the liquid with the agar agar ...

... for about six or seven minutes to get it to fully dissolve. Don't try to rush the process, or it won't set up properly.

It does take a bit of experimentation to figure out the quantity for the particular liquid you want to gel. I've been using it to make a sort of aspic-like substance with vegetable broth.