AGAR AGAR POWDER

What is agar?

Agar (or agar-agar) is a thickening agent derived from a seaweed (red algae) of Southeast Asia. It was discovered around 1650 by a Japanese innkeeper who, while experimenting, used it in soup and noticed that it later thickened. In Japan, agar is called kanten.

Agar is used for scientific purposes (in biology for example), in fabric sizing, and in brewing. Agar can also be used as a laxative (it is 80% fiber) and as an appetite suppressant.

And it is certainly an amazing culinary ingredient. It is a plant-based substitute for gelatin, a thickener for soups, for spoon sweets, ice creams and other desserts.

Health benefits

Agar has no calories, carbohydrates, sugar, fat and is rich in fiber. It does not contain starch, soy, corn, gluten, yeast, wheat, milk, egg and preservatives.

It absorbs glucose in the stomach , passes through the digestive system quickly and inhibits the body from retaining and storing excess fat. Its water-absorbing property helps with bowel movements . Agar also absorbs bile, and in this way, forces the body to dissolve more cholesterol .

An excellent substitute for (animal) gelatin

Agar is the perfect substitute for traditional gelatin. It is of plant origin, making it suitable for vegetarians, vegans and other restrictive diets .

Agar has no taste or odor, which makes it quite easy to use. It is more stable than gelatin , and remains stable even at high temperatures.

Differences between agar and gelatin in recipes

They do not give the same texture. Gelatin can give a "creamy" texture while agar gives a firmer texture.

How to use Agar

-The most important thing to know about agar-agar is that it must first be dissolved in water (or other liquid such as milk, fruit juices, tea...) and then brought to a boil. It will thicken the ingredients as it cools. We do not add agar as it is to our food.

Ratio: 1 teaspoon of agar powder to thicken 1 cup of liquid.

Here is the basic "recipe" to use if you can't immediately boil all your ingredients

1. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of agar powder in 4 tablespoons of warm water. Mix well and leave for 10 minutes. This will thicken.
2. Heat the mixture over low heat until it is liquid again.
4. Mix well immediately with the remaining ingredients if they are hot, while if they are cold, allow some time for the temperature to drop.
5. Let it cool so the ingredients can set.