Agar Agar

Agar Agar Powder Agar Agar is a alternative vegetarian gelatin derived from a type of seaweed vegetation. It is available in health food stores in the form of powder and flakes, and it can be used in different varieties of vegan and dairy-free recipes as a balancing and thickening agent for marshmallows, puddings, sauces and custards.

Agar Agar Flakes Agar agar is used as a thickener for jellies, ice cream, soups and other types of desserts, it can be a clarigying agent in sizing paper and fabrics and brewing. It can also be used as laxative sometimes.

You can buy Agar agar usually in health food stores, supermarkets that have health food aisle, Asian groceries and online as well. It can be bought in the form of powder, bars, threads or flakes.

There are many advantages of this gelatine substitute and they are as follows:

1. It is extracted from a source of plant that means it is appropriate for vegan and vegetarian foods and for diets with limitations for ethical, religious and moral reasons.
2. It doesn’t have any taste, color or odor.
3. It is better than gelatin because it sets more firmly.
4. It easily sets at room temperature and it remains in the form jelly even the temperate gets heated up.
5. Agar agar is very helpful in keeping you feel, you will always feel full when you consume it. In other way it helps for dieting as appetite suppressante.
6. Many people use Agar agar as a digestive aid and it helps in easing stomach upsets.

Using Agar agar for cooking:
1. 1 table spoon of Agar agar should be dissolved in 4 tablespoons of hot water and it may need up to 10 minutes
2. Bring this to a boil
3. For powder, simmer the heat for five minutes and for flakes 10 to 15 minutes
4. Mix properly with ingredients that are warmed
5. As the ingredients set and get cool, agar agar will set easily.