Grandma's Agar-Agar

Most Americans are only familiar with agar-agar inside Biology labs but do you know that it's actually a common dessert in most Asian countries?

 This is what I used to make my agar-agar. The front and back of the package.

Making agar-agar is not that hard. If you know how to read instructions then you know how to make agar-agar (most agar-agar package gives you measurements for agar-agar/water ratio).

Here's a simple agar-agar recipe that grandma used to make for me. I never quite understand why grandma would use red food coloring but it doesn't really matter anymore because every time I make red agar-agar, I think of her.

Ingredients:

1 packet agar-agar powder (0.88 oz/25.00g)

8 cups water

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 pandan leaves

2 drops red food coloring

In a pot, boil water, sugar and pandan leaves. When the mixture gets to a rolling boil, turn off the heat. Add agar-agar powder and mix until it all dissolved. Add in the red food coloring. Discard the pandan leaves. Pour agar-agar mixture into a mold and let it cool for about an hour.

Leave it in the fridge overnight or until it sets. Cut agar-agar into squares and serve them chilled.