Agar: Difference between revisions

Agar-agar is a natural vegetable [[gelatin]] counterpart.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Wings of Success |title=The Advantages of Being a Vegetarian: Selected Tips |pages=9-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Livlaid |first=Nele |title=Plant-Based Made Easy: The Complete Practical Guide to Transitioning to Healthy Whole Food Diet |publisher=Nutriplanet (Swing & Step OU) |year=2018 |isbn=9789949882465}}</ref> It is white and semi-[[translucent]] when sold in packages as washed and dried strips or in powdered form.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Stobart |first=Tom |title=Cook's Encyclopaedia |publisher=Grub Street Publishing |year=2016 |isbn=9781910690833}}</ref> It can be used to make jellies<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zhang |first=Louisa |title=Home Economics S2 Tb (nt) |last2=Seng |first2=Teo Kiok |last3=Hixson |first3=Sue |last4=Kwone |first4=Eileen |publisher=Longman |year=2022 |isbn=9789814079471 |location=Singapore |pages=145}}</ref>, [[puddings]], and [[custard]]s.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ash |first=Michael |title=Handbook fo Fillers, Extenders, and Diluents |publisher=Synapse Information Resources |year=2007 |isbn=9781890595968 |pages=233}}</ref> When making jelly, it is boiled in water until the solids dissolve. Sweetener, flavoring, coloring, fruits and or vegetables are then added, and the liquid is poured into [[molding (process)|molds]] to be served as desserts and vegetable [[aspic]]s or incorporated with other desserts such as a layer of jelly in a [[cake]].{{cn|date=March 2023}}<ref name=":1" />

Agar-agar is approximately 80% [[dietary fiber]], so it can serve as an intestinal regulator.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Marden |first=Orison Swett |date=1921 |title=Constipation is a Crime |journal=The New Success: Marden's Magazine |publisher=Lowrey-Marden |volume=5 |pages=113}}</ref> Its bulking quality has been behind [[fad diet]]s in Asia, for example the ''kanten'' (the Japanese word for agar-agar<ref name="oxford" />) diet. Once ingested, ''kanten'' triples in size and absorbs water. This results in the consumers feeling fuller.