Recipe - Kanten Squares

Lime kanten squares with mint

This might seem like a strange food to share as my first recipe blog but, it was a recent homework assignment in my Rouxbe Plant-Based Pro Certification course (more on that in a future blog) and it works well with my Fireside Chat tomorrow where I'll be talking about gelatin.

Agar Agar is a great substitute for all of your jello like needs, mousses to molds, if you are looking for a soft or wobbly dish, here you go! (Without the cruelty too!)

This recipe is very loose as I don't want to limit your imagination. Have fun, and make sure you share in the comments what you make with it!

mise en place - always!

Here are the ingredients I used - including the bag of Agar Agar for your reference. Important note - follow the guidelines on the bag of your Agar Agar. If you have flakes, you'll need more than if you're using powder.

Make sure you mix it with cold water and let it sit in the pot for 10 minutes to start to reconstitute the flakes/powder.

Then turn on your lowest heat and bring it to a boil - again, follow the instructions on the bag. Mine says to continuously stir (I whisked) for 2-3 minutes. You can then add your sweetener/juice/stock..etc. In this one, I added fresh lime juice. Return to a simmer, whisk it a bit more and turn off the heat.

Pour the mixture into molds or a container you can easily remove the Kanten from once firm. (I used a silicone bread pan)

Place in the fridge and set for 30 minutes.

Remove from fridge, cut into squares, garnish as you wish.

I chose a lime/mint combo because I was thinking about my honeymoon in Mexico and all of the mojitos I drank over those 10 days. This one tasted much less like a dessert and more like a palate cleanser between courses. Still a nice combo, I'll likely use more lime juice next time.

The great thing about Agar Agar is that it has no flavor and you can use it to make so many jello like desserts! From refreshing fruit squares to chocolate or coconut milk, the uses for this magical seaweed are limitless.

Don't forget to share your creations in the comments! I can't wait to see them!