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 isa mixture of agaropectin and agarose polysaccharides. It turns out by extraction from the 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 below, 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.

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

For all its chemical and physical propertiesthe 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 negatively affect a person's figure.

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

Also mentioned product reduces the levelcholesterol 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 human health 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,of 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.

If this thickener is used excessively,its easy or light; mild laxative action can be replaced with a diarrhea with the subsequent dysbacteriosis. In this regard, it is extremely not recommended to abuse the subject ingredient in people with increased sensitivity of the intestine.

Agar-agar: recipes for sweet dishes

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

• 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 - for sprinkling 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 poured into water and left 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.

Also in a separate bowl, whiskegg white. Gradually, all the previously prepared mass is spread to it. 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 powdered sugar and combined in pairs.

Quick preparation of jelly

Now you know what constitutes aproduct as agar-agar. 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;
• powdered agar - 10 g;
• powdered sugar - about 2/3 cup (at the discretion).

Method of making jelly

Milk, agar-agar and powdered sugar are the maincomponents 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 milk and spread out the diluted thickener with water.

Repeatedly whipping the milk mass, it is poured overbeautiful 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 of 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 not be usedonly for the preparation of various desserts, but also meat dishes. For example, it often makes a cold or a festive jellied. Also this component is very often added to homemade sausages or sausages.