Agar-agar: harm and benefit of the product. Recipes

What is a product like agar-agar? The damage and benefit of this thickener will be described in this article. Also to your attention we will present some recipes for its application.

General information about the product

Agar-agar is used very often at home. However, not everyone knows what this product is.

The thickener under consideration is a mixture of agaropectin and agarose polysaccharides. It turns out by extraction from brown and red algae that grow in the White and Black Seas, as well as in the Pacific Ocean.

Agar-agar, the harm and benefit of which will be described later, is a vegetable substitute for conventional gelatin. In aqueous solution it forms a rather dense jelly.

Use of thickener product

Gelatin, agar-agar - these ingredients are very often used in cooking. Both products have a positive effect on intestinal motility.

Already for a long time this thickener has proved to be an excellent component of dietary nutrition.

For all its chemical and physical properties, the product in question does not have energy value, that is, it contains 0 calories. However, in confectionery products, this component is often combined with sugar and other substances that can adversely affect a person's figure.

Being an excellent prebiotic, the plant thickener positively affects the intestinal microflora. This is due to the fight against pathogenic bacteria and the colon colonization by useful microorganisms.

Also, this product reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood, removes toxic elements and heavy metals from the body. In addition, it reduces the acidity of gastric juice, has a laxative effect and does not wash out useful micronutrients and vitamins from the body.

Vegetal thickener damage

Does it have contraindications agar-agar? Harm and benefit of this product should be known to all consumers. According to the experts, the thickener under consideration has practically no contraindications. In addition, it does not have toxic effects on the body. However, with excessive use, this product can still affect the health of a person in a negative way. Most often it happens when you include in your diet thick jelly or marmalade.

It should be specially noted that the extract of algae from which the above component is made contains a certain amount of iodine. Therefore, in some cases, it may be contraindicated in people with thyroid disease.

With excessive use of this thickener, its light, laxative effect can be replaced by diarrhea followed by dysbacteriosis. In this regard, it is highly recommended not to abuse the examined ingredient people with hypersensitivity to the intestines.

Agar-agar: recipes for sweet dishes

There are many recipes for the use of this product. Very often this thickener makes a delicious and tender marshmallow. For this, the following components are purchased:

• Drinking water - about 75 ml;
• Powdered agar - about 5 g;
• Egg white - 1 pc .;
• Defrosted or fresh cherries without pits - about 200 g;
• Sugar is not large - about 360 g;
• Powdered sugar - to sprinkle ready marshmallows.

The process of preparing dessert

How should I dilute powdered agar agar? Recipes for sweet dishes require the use of a deep bowl, into which the named product is spread, and then pour it with water and leave for 10 minutes. Further, the resulting mass is brought to a boil and 230 g of sugar are added thereto.

The resulting syrup is removed from the fire, after which add the cherry, intensively fried with the remaining sugar.

Egg white is very strongly beaten in a separate bowl. Gradually, all the previously prepared mass is spread to it. After mixing the ingredients, they are placed in a confectionery bag and squeezed out onto baking paper. In this form, the products are kept at room temperature for about 10 hours. During this time the marshmallow should completely grasp.

At the very end, the dessert is sprinkled with sugar powder and combined in pairs.

Quick preparation of jelly

Now you know what a product like agar-agar is. The damage and benefit of the said thickener, mentioned above, should make everyone think about how to properly use it for food.

So, to get a delicious milk jelly from a plant thickener , it is necessary to prepare:

• Cream the most fatty - 50 ml;
• Milk cow - 200 ml;
• Drinking water - 70 ml;
• Agar powder - 10 g;
• Sugar powder - about 2/3 cup (at the discretion).

Method of making jelly

Milk, agar-agar and powdered sugar are the main components of the dessert in question. To make it, cream should be thoroughly beaten with a mixer, and then gradually add powder to them. Mixing the ingredients again, they pour in the milk and spread the diluted thickener with water.

Repeating the milk mass, it is poured into beautiful forms. In this form, all the creams are sent to the refrigerator. After a few hours, the sweet product should completely solidify, forming a rather dense jelly. It is carefully removed from the mold and placed on a beautiful saucer. On top, the finished jelly is decorated with berries or fruits, and also sprinkled with some syrup.

A few words at a time

The product in question can be used not only for preparing various desserts, but also for meat dishes. For example, it often makes a cold or a holiday jelly. Also this component is very often added to homemade sausages or sausages.