Source: Bera_berc, AdobeStockThe main advantage of agar-agar is that it is entirely plant-based, unlike gelatin. Moreover, it works a little differently and thickens even without refrigeration, which quickly found its application in cooking. We've compiled 20 great recipes for you!
1. Strawberry Jelly with Agar-Agar
Source: bye-bye-calories.ruThe simplest and most obvious use for agar-agar is jelly.
You will need: 300 g strawberries, 180 g sugar, 350 ml water, 1 tsp agar-agar.
Preparation: Sprinkle strawberries with sugar, add 100 ml of water, bring to a boil and simmer for 1-2 minutes. Pour the remaining water over the agar-agar and let it sit for a while. Strain the strawberry liquid through a sieve and add the water with agar to the syrup. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1-2 minutes. Place a few berries in molds, pour the syrup over them, and refrigerate the jelly until set.
2. Homemade Marmalade with Agar-Agar
Source: attuale.ruAny juice of your choice is suitable for this recipe.
You will need: 200 ml juice, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp agar-agar.
Preparation: Mix juice, sugar, and agar-agar, bring to a boil, and simmer for about 10 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly. Pour the syrup into molds and let the marmalade set in the refrigerator.
3. Zefir (Marshmallow) with Agar-Agar
Source: blogspot.comDust it with powdered sugar or drizzle with chocolate.
You will need: 2 apples, 0.5 tsp lemon juice, 300 g sugar, 5 g agar-agar, 100 ml water, 1 egg white.
Preparation: Peel and chop apples, add a spoon of water and lemon juice, stew until soft, and mash through a sieve. You need about 125 g of puree. Add 100 g of sugar to it, cook until smooth, and let the puree cool.
Mix 75 ml of water, 200 g of sugar, and agar-agar, bring to a boil over low heat. Cook the syrup until it forms a thick thread when lifted with a spoon.
Whip the egg white with a mixer until soft peaks form. Gradually add the apple puree in several batches, continuing to whip. Pour in the hot syrup in a thin stream and continue whipping for another 4-5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a pastry bag, pipe the zefir onto parchment paper, and let it set.
4. Soufflé with Agar-Agar
Source: pinterest.comA delicate, low-calorie soufflé that will be a wonderful addition to tea.
You will need: 2 egg whites, 2 tsp sugar, 100 ml water, 1 tsp agar-agar, 20 g berry puree.
Preparation: Mix water, agar-agar, and sugar, bring to a boil, and simmer for 2 minutes. Whip the egg whites into a foam, add the berry puree, and, continuing to whip, pour in the syrup in a thin stream. Whip the soufflé a little more, place it in a mold, and refrigerate for 3-4 hours.
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5. Chocolate Pudding with Agar-Agar
Source: postila.ruTry making pudding with different types of chocolate.
You will need: 80-100 g chocolate, 120 ml milk, 50 ml heavy cream, 2 egg yolks, 50 g sugar, 3 g agar-agar, 1 pinch of salt.
Preparation: Whisk together cream, milk, egg yolks, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, and add agar-agar. Simmer for 1 minute and pour this mixture over the chopped chocolate. Blend everything until smooth. Pour the mixture into glasses and let the pudding set.
6. Cottage Cheese Cheesecake with Agar-Agar
Source: glamours.nameA quick no-bake cheesecake recipe using readily available ingredients.
You will need: 380 g shortbread cookies, 180 g butter, 400 g cottage cheese, 350 g 15% sour cream, 200 ml milk, 150 g brown sugar, 2 tbsp agar-agar.
Preparation: Crush cookies in a blender, mix with melted butter, and press the base into a springform pan. Place in the freezer.
Mash or whip cottage cheese with sour cream until smooth. Bring milk with sugar and agar-agar to a boil and simmer for 1 minute. Pour the syrup into the cottage cheese, mix quickly, and spread this layer over the cookie base. Refrigerate the cheesecake until set.
7. Panna Cotta with Agar-Agar
Source: mirtesen.ruThe classic recipe uses gelatin, but you can easily make this dessert with agar-agar.
You will need: 720 ml milk, 240 ml 33% cream, 60 g sugar, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp agar-agar.
Preparation: Whisk all ingredients together. Bring them to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, then simmer for another 15 minutes over low heat. Let the mixture cool slightly, pour into molds, and refrigerate.
8. Cherry Jam with Agar-Agar
Source: vazhnoznat.comThe finished jam turns out very thick and jelly-like.
You will need: 500 g pitted cherries, 250 g sugar, 1 tsp agar-agar, 1 tbsp water.
Preparation: Sprinkle cherries with sugar, bring to a boil, and simmer for 20 minutes over low heat, stirring. Dissolve agar-agar in warm water, add to the cherries, mix, and simmer for another 3 minutes. Seal the jam in sterilized jars.
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9. Cottage Cheese and Chocolate Mousse
Source: klublady.ruCan be served as a dessert or a sweet breakfast.
You will need: 250 g cottage cheese, 1 tsp agar-agar, 100 ml milk, 200 ml water, 3 tbsp sugar, 200 g sour cream, 100 g chocolate.
Preparation: Blend sour cream, cottage cheese, and sugar until smooth. Heat milk almost to a boil, pour over chopped chocolate, and stir until dissolved. Mix this mixture with the cottage cheese mixture. Separately, pour water over agar-agar, bring to a boil, and simmer for 3-5 minutes, stirring. Pour it into the cottage cheese and mix again. Pour into molds and refrigerate the dessert or let it set at room temperature.
10. Lenten Bean Sausage
Source: pinterest.comAn extraordinary snack for vegan cuisine lovers.
You will need: 1 cup beans, 2.5 cups water, 1.5 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 beetroot, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp agar-agar, spices.
Preparation: Soak beans overnight, cover with fresh water, and boil until tender. Soak agar-agar in a small amount of bean broth. Grate the beetroot on a coarse grater and put it in a blender with the beans, spices, and agar. Blend the mixture until smooth, transfer to a bag, shape it into a sausage, and refrigerate until set. Then remove the bag and slice the finished lenten sausage into serving pieces.
11. Apricot Jam with Agar-Agar
Source: spmguild.ruThis jam doesn't even need long boiling to thicken.
You will need: 1 kg apricots, 500 g sugar, 50 ml water, 5 g agar-agar.
Preparation: Remove pits from apricots, sprinkle halves with sugar, and leave for a couple of hours or overnight. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes over low heat. Blend the jam until smooth, bring to a boil again, and cook for another 10 minutes. Dissolve agar-agar in water according to package instructions, pour into the apricots, and simmer for another 5 minutes. Seal the jam in sterilized jars.
12. Cashew Cheese
Source: cookforyourlife.orgAn original vegan alternative to regular cheese, and very easy to make.
You will need: 250 g cashews, 100 g vegetable oil, 25 ml lemon juice, 20-30 g agar-agar, 400 ml water, 20 g dried onion, spices, salt.
Preparation: Soak cashews in water overnight. Then drain the water, put them in a blender, and add spices, lemon juice, oil, and another 200 ml of water. Blend everything until smooth. Pour another 200 ml of water over the agar-agar, bring to a boil, and simmer for 2 minutes over low heat, stirring. Add the agar to the nuts and blend everything again. Pour the mixture into a suitable mold and refrigerate until set.
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13. Tomato Jam
Source: mirtesen.ruPerfect with meat and main courses instead of sauce.
You will need: 700 g tomatoes, 6 cloves garlic, 1/2 chili pepper, 1 cup sugar, 70 ml vinegar, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp agar-agar, 0.5 tsp mustard seeds, spices.
Preparation: Place chili pepper and spices in a cheesecloth bag to remove them later. Peel tomatoes, chop them arbitrarily, and add sugar, salt, vinegar, and spices. Add garlic, bring to a boil, and cook for half an hour over low heat. Remove the spice bag and blend everything until smooth. Add agar-agar, mix well, and simmer for another 1-2 minutes. Pour the jam into sterilized jars.
14. Apple Sauce with Agar-Agar
Source: drive2.ruAn interesting apple-mustard sauce that will definitely diversify your diet.
You will need: 1 kg apples, 300 g sugar, 200 ml water, 50 g Dijon mustard, 200 ml white wine vinegar, 2 g agar-agar, spices.
Preparation: Dissolve agar-agar in water according to instructions, add sugar and vinegar, bring to a boil, and simmer for 1 minute. Peel and finely chop apples, add them to the syrup, and cook for another half an hour over low heat. Add mustard and spices, mix, simmer the sauce for another 1 minute, and transfer to sterilized jars.
15. Apple Butter with Agar-Agar
Source: dzen.ruYou can make fruit butter from any fruits and berries using the same principle.
You will need: 1.5 kg apples, 600 g sugar, 1 tsp agar-agar, 1/2 lemon.
Preparation: Peel apples, dice them, sprinkle with lemon juice, and cover with sugar. Leave for a couple of hours or overnight, then bring to a boil and simmer for half an hour over low heat.
Set aside a small amount of the apple butter, add agar-agar to it, bring to a boil, and simmer for 2 minutes. Return this mixture to the main batch, mix, and simmer the apple butter for another 5 minutes. Seal it in sterilized jars.
16. Aspic with Agar-Agar
Source: bye-bye-calories.ruThis aspic will definitely set even with simple chicken broth.
You will need: 1.5 kg chicken thighs and wings, 2 L water, 15-20 g agar-agar, 2 onions, 2 carrots, 1 bunch of herbs, 3 cloves garlic, 2-4 tbsp corn and green peas, 2 tsp salt, 10 black peppercorns, 3 bay leaves.
Preparation: Cover chicken with water and bring to a boil. Add 2 onions, carrots, pepper, bay leaf, herb stems, and other additions to taste. Simmer the broth for 1 hour over minimal heat, covered. Remove vegetables and spices, strain the broth, and add salt and pressed garlic.
Chop chicken and cooked carrots for the aspic. Measure the amount of agar-agar – 5-7 g per 500 ml of broth. Dissolve it in a glass of warm broth and let it sit for 15 minutes. Pour into the main broth mixture and simmer over low heat until dissolved, stirring.
Arrange chicken, carrots, peas, corn, and herbs in molds. Pour broth over everything, let cool, and refrigerate the aspic.
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17. Homemade Ice Cream with Agar-Agar
Source: vk.comNo eggs needed here – just cream and powdered sugar.
You will need: 500 ml 20% cream, 1 tsp agar-agar, 7 tbsp powdered sugar.
Preparation: Stir agar-agar into 100 ml of cream and let sit for half an hour. Add powdered sugar and heat until dissolved, but do not bring to a boil. Add the remaining cream and refrigerate the mixture overnight. Blend the mixture, transfer to a freezer-safe container, and place in the freezer. Stir the ice cream every half hour – 4-5 times until set.
18. Pumpkin Dessert with Agar-Agar
Source: attuale.ruA healthy seasonal dessert for all pumpkin lovers.
You will need: 400 g pumpkin, 2-3 tsp agar-agar, sweetener.
Preparation: Finely chop pumpkin, cover with water, and boil for 30 minutes until soft. Drain the water and transfer the pumpkin to a blender. Dissolve agar-agar with sweetener in 300 ml of water according to package instructions. Pour into the pumpkin and blend everything until smooth. Pour the dessert into molds and let it set.
19. Vegan Coconut Cake
Source: za-edoy.ruA lenten cake that resembles cheesecake and is made using a similar principle.
You will need: 220 g shredded coconut, 350 g dates, 1 tbsp vegetable oil, 4-5 tsp agar-agar, 150 ml water, sugar substitute, vanilla, 800 ml coconut milk, 150 ml lemon juice or fruit puree, zest of 2 lemons.
Preparation: Using a blender, finely chop pitted dates with shredded coconut and oil. Press the base into a springform pan and refrigerate for 15 minutes, then bake for 10-15 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.
Dissolve agar-agar in water according to instructions. Whip coconut milk with fruit juice or puree using a mixer. While continuing to whip, pour in the agar. Add vanilla, sweetener, and zest to taste. Whip again and let the mixture sit for a few minutes. As soon as it begins to thicken slightly, pour it over the base and refrigerate the cake for 3-4 hours.
20. Sour Cream Jelly with Banana
Source: travel-dom.ruOptionally, add other fruits, berries, or crushed cookies to your liking.
You will need: 10 g agar-agar, 3 tbsp powdered sugar, 400 g sour cream, 1 banana.
Preparation: Pour 50 ml of water over agar-agar and let sit for half an hour. Whip sour cream with powdered sugar using a mixer. Heat the water with agar until dissolved, pour into the sour cream, and mix. Add sliced bananas, transfer the mixture to molds, and refrigerate.