EVENTS: FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP & FOODIES_REDOING OLD POSTS
THEME: FESTIVAL OF COLOURS
RECIPE: AGAR AGAR FRUIT JELLY
Agar Agar Fruit Jelly is an easy to make, attractive, cooling, gluten free and vegan dessert. Perfect dessert for any parties be it a garden party, kids party, baby shower party, etc. I love making this simple but pretty dessert as I can use a variety of fresh fruits and best part is that I can control the amount of sugar I add.
Sometimes I add maple syrup, a light coloured one. It does change the colour of the dessert slightly but tastes really good.
WHAT IS AGAR AGAR?
Agar Agar is a gelatinous substance that is derived from red algae. More specifically it is derived from red algae Gelidium and Gracilaria -division Rhodophyta. It is odourless, has no taste of its own and is colourless. Since it is plant based it is vegan.
USES OF AGAR AGAR
Agar Agar is widely used as a solid base to culture bacteria in laboratories. It is also used in some medicines, cosmetics. The canning industry uses it too especially for canned meat, poultry and fish. Breweries and wine makers use it as a clarifying agent. Popular as a thickening agent for desserts, ice creams and salad dressings.
Agar Agar is widely used in Asia for desserts.
GELATIN VS AGAR AGAR
- Agar Agar is an excellent substitute for gelatin especially for vegans, vegetarians as gelatin is made from bones of animals. The usual substitute ratio is 1:1 if you are using agar agar powder.
- However, if you have agar agar flakes then you need 1 tbsp of it for every 1 tsp of gelatin.
- There is a difference in the texture. While gelatin sets a dessert to a bouncy and softer texture, agar agar is not that. But the major advantage of agar agar is that once set it does melt easily in hot weather.
- My preference is agar agar powder as it is so much easier to work with. Nowadays it is easily available online.
FOODIEMONDAY/BLOGHOP THEME
The 32nd theme is FESTIVAL OF COLOURS. Seriously, it is just too hot in Mombasa and I didn’t want to spend hours in my hot kitchen. Agar Agar Fruit Jelly has been on my list to try out for a very long time. Therefore, used this theme to create and easy but delicious dessert. My colours in this recipe are the naturally colourful fruits that I have used.
THE GROUP – FOODIES_REDOING OLD POSTS
This group started by Renu who blogs at Cook With Renu, helps us to redo old posts, be it with photos, writing or even updated versions of the recipe.
Mixed Fresh Fruits were on offer and I couldn’t resist buying them. However, they were going to get spoiled pretty fast. Hubby asked me why I had ordered agar agar powder and that reminded me that I need to redo the AGAR AGAR FRUIT JELLY RECIPE. So here is my 75th updated recipe.
First published on 20/03/2016, updated on 30/04/2022
MEMORIES
Since the theme was decided, I had only two days to prepare something as most of the week I was away attending a medical camp organised by my Club – Lions Club of Mombasa Bahari. The annual camp takes place in Malindi which is about 120 kms away from Mombasa. We were there from Thursday and came back on Sunday.
Medical Camp
Reconstructive surgery, general surgery, cataract operations are carried out during these camps. My hubby as a dermatologist attends to patients with various skin ailments. Lack of water, the heat all result in so many different kinds of skin diseases. Most of the people who come to these camps are poor and cannot afford hospital or doctor fees.
Lion Club Of Mombasa Bahari
My Club does the whole 4 day camp for free. None of doctors, theatre staff, nurses charge a penny. On top of that our Club also provides the meals for the in patients. During these camps we come across illness or deformities among the poor that we cannot even imagine. All this of course is impossible to carry out without the generous donations from the public, and various business companies.
Patients Blessings
The Plastic Surgeon who comes all the way from Mumbai every year, was able to repair a cleft palate for a tiny baby. Her mother couldn’t stop praising us. She kept on telling us that hope Allah blesses the doctors and the Club members with all good things in life. One patient was so grateful that hubby could remove a growth that was bothering him, asked his family to come to the hospital with a whole bunch of bananas from his farm!
Some More Fresh Fruit Recipes
RECIPES USING AGAR AGAR
- Try out this delicious lemongrass flavoured, gingery dessert – Lemongrass And Ginger Jelly
- Rose, Saffron and Pandan Panna Cotta – so flavourful and colourful too.
- Strawberry Mousse, smooth, creamy and yummy.
- Mango Mousse – perfect dessert for the hot season.
INGREDIENTS REQUIRED FOR AGAR AGAR FRUIT JELLY
- Agar Agar – I prefer using powder as it is so much easier to use and melts quickly.
- Water/Coconut Water – use normal tap water or fresh coconut water.
- Sugar – add according to your taste.
- Fresh Fruits – in total you need about 2 cups of fresh fruit. Some fruits like kiwi, strawberries, grapes, mango, need to be cut into smaller pieces. Blueberries can be left whole. Use whatever fruit you get.
- Orange Zest – optional. I added orange zest for flavour. You can omit it.
WATCH HOW TO MAKE AGAR AGAR FRUIT JELLY
AGAR AGAR FRUIT JELLY
Ingredients
- 2¼ cups water
- ½ tbsp agar agar powder
- 3-4 tbsp white sugar
- 2 cups mixed fruits any of your choice
Instructions
- First of all, wash the fruit. Cut any larger fruits into bite size pieces.
- Add water to a saucepan.
- Allow the water to heat up a bit. Add sugar.
- Stir the water till the sugar melts.
- When the water is hot, but not boiling, add agar agar powder.
- Keep heating the water till the agar agar dissolves completely.
- Switch off the heat.
- Take 4 small moulds or a bowl or cake tin.
- Using a ladle gently pour little of the agar agar liquid. Allow it to set a bit. This will take about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the fruits making sure that you place all of them separately, alternating the different colours if possible.
- Using the ladle, pour more of the agar agar liquid over the fruits.
- Allow the jelly to cool a bit.
- If you find any fruit pieces peaking out f the jelly, gently push it down using a skewer.
- Cover with cling film and allow it to set in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
- You can either set in individual portions or in one bowl or tin or tray.
- Unmold the larger one by running a knife around the edges. Cover the tin/tray with a dish, plate chopping board. Turn it over and the jelly comes off easily.
- You can unmold the smaller ones if you want to. I prefer serving them as it is.
Notes
- Use any seasonal fruit of your choice.
- Adjust the amount of sugar according to your taste.
- Adding a thin layer of the agar agar liquid ensures that the fruit doesn't stick to the mold.
- Allow the agar agar liquid to cool a bit before adding to the layered fruit. Otherwise it will make the fruit mushy.
- Use fresh coconut water instead of normal tap water. Tastes really good.
PIN FOR LATER:
A little request:
- If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962