Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Watermelon Agar-agar

watermelon agar-agar

I don't know why they call it  watermelon agar-agar, as the recipe do not use any watermelon at all.  Maybe the proper name should be "watermelon" agar-agar.  Been some time since I made it, though I used to make it for the children's birthdays when they were younger.

Ingredients :
40g agar-agar strips
700 ml water
300g rock sugar
1 tsp rose essence
1 egg white, beaten until frothy
Melon seeds, raisins or black jelly
Red and green food coloring

Method :
1)  Wash agar-agar strips and bring to boil with water until dissolved.

2)  Add in sugar and continue boiling on medium flame until sugar dissolves.  Remove from heat and add in the rose essence.

3)  Place a deep bowl in large container of icy water.  Strain the agar-agar mixture into the bowl.

4)  Stir center with a fork while allowing the sides to set.

5)  Gently add the frothy egg white with a fork, stirring all the while and making sure you get the whole mixture in.

6)  Color the center part red.  Use a fork to spread out the red, but try to not to get the sides red.

7)  Add in the melon seed, or raisins to the center.  Chill for a couple of hours in the fridge.  When agar-agar has completely set, turn out onto a large flat plate.

8)  Brush on green coloring on the outside surface.  You got to do it a couple of times to get a dark shade of green.

9)  Leave color to set.  Slice just before serving.

Note :


Nothing too difficult about this recipe, but it takes unrelenting patience especially if you wants to get a even red color in the center.  
The recipe calls for rock sugar, but I use ordinary sugar (which is much cheaper), and you can probably reduce the sugar ( i use about 200 g of sugar), and I increased  the water to 850 ml of water the second time i attempted this recipe to get a softer agar-agar.
My first attempt after a long while.  Niece CK says the watermelon don's looks too ripe.

My second attempt