How To Make Kanten Jelly
Learn to make Kanten Jelly at home to enjoy in Japanese desserts like Anmitsu. Used in Japanese cooking for jellies, puddings, and custards, kanten is a natural gelling agent from algae. This easy agar jelly recipe is a great alternative if you are vegetarian or vegan.
Ingredients
- 2 tsp kanten (agar) powder (see Notes)
- 2 cups water
- 2 Tbsp sugar (or more, to taste)
Instructions
- Before You Start…Please note that this recipe requires 30 minutes of chilling time.Gather all the ingredients. You will need an 8 x 8-inch (20 x 20-cm) baking dish, which is the ideal size for cutting the kanten jelly into neat cubes.
- In a small saucepan, combine 2 cups water and 2 tsp kanten (agar) powder.
- Whisk well to combine, then heat over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a full, rolling boil, stirring occasionally and watching carefully so it doesn't boil over.
- Once boiling and the agar is fully dissolved, add 2 Tbsp sugar. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring, for 2 minutes. Nami's Tip: Do not add the sugar before boiling, as it can prevent the agar from dissolving properly.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and immediately pour the mixture into the 8 x 8-inch (20 x 20-cm) baking dish. Let it cool, then refrigerate for about 30 minutes, or until fully set.
- Once firm, cut the kanten jelly into ½-inch (1.5-cm) cubes. It's ready to enjoy.
To Store
- Transfer the jelly to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Notes
Kanten Powder: Kanten needs to be heated to dissolve properly. The powdered form of kanten is easiest to measure and use; bars and flakes should be dissolved in water first. It sets in about an hour at room temperature (Source).
If you are using kanten stick: You will need to rinse it carefully and break it into pieces to soak them in water for 30 minutes. This will help dissolve kanten faster. Squeeze the water out from the pieces and they are ready to use.
If you want to use gelatin or agar: 1 tsp kanten powder = 2 tsp powder gelatin or agar
In order to set 1 cup (250 ml) of liquid, you will need:
- Kanten powder = 1 tsp (2 g)
- Kanten stick = ½ stick (4 g)
- Kanten thread = 12 threads (4 g)
Nutrition
Calories: 16kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 1g, Sodium: 1mg, Potassium: 1mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 4g, Calcium: 11mg, Iron: 1mg
