China Grass / Agar Agar Pudding with Pineapple and almonds

Here is a simple and easy to make to dessert to kick start your New Year.  The one thing I like the most about this dessert is that you can make it ahead of time and refrigerate. Kids will love to have their portions in individual moulds. China grass is a vegetarian friendly version of gelatin. It is obtained from see weeds, available in the form of strands or as powder. I used the strands in both the recipes. More about china grass here

 I make this dessert two ways one using condensed milk and the other one using Almond meal(powder). Both have different flavour although the method is the same.

I am sharing both the recipes here. This is a very versatile recipe and easily adaptable to your taste.You can add Pistachios and cardomom instead of almond or Mangoes instead of pineapple. 

Agar Agar pudding with Almonds.

Ingredients:

3 cups of whole milk

1/4 cup ground almond

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 tsp of cardomom

1 tsp almond essence/vanilla essencce

2tsp agar agar powder / 10gms of strands

some slivered almonds for garnishing.

Method:

Add the china grass in a seperate bowl and cover it with hot water. Let it rest for 15 mins or until it is completly dissolved.

Boil 3 cups of milk in a sauce pan.

Now add the dissolved china grass, sugar  and the almond meal to the boiling milk. Lower the heat and boil for 10mins.
Add the essence and simmer for another 2 mins.

Strain the contents to another bowl and  pour the mixture to preferred moulds(individual or large).

Sprinkle slivered almonds on top.

Let it sit in the counter for about 20 mins or until it comes to room temperature and then refrigerate the bowls for a minimum of 3 hours or overnight.

China Grass/ Agar Agar Pudding with Pineapple

Ingredients:

3 cups milk

1 can (14oz condensed milk)

4 - 5 tblsp Sugar

2tsp Agar Agar powder/ 10gms of Agar Agar strands

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

1/4 tsp cardamom powder

1 tin chopped pineapple

sliced almonds for garnishing

Method

Soak the strands /powder in 1/2 cup of hot water for about 15 mins or until it dissolves completely.

Bring the milk to a roaring boil. Reduce the heat and add the sugar, china grass stands along with soaked water and keep stiring and simmer for another 10-15 mins.

Now add the condensed milk and the essence, stir for another 5 mins on low heat.

Switch off the stove and strain the milk mixture to another large bowl.

Drain the liquid out from the pineapple tin. Add the chopped pineapple pieces to the base of the moulds and then pour the liquid mixture over the pineapple. 

Garnish with sliced up almonds. Let it rest till it comes to room temperature and then refrigerate for a minimum of 3 hours or overnight.

Notes:

• If using China grass powder go ahead and add it directly to the boiling milk, but it is a must to soak the strands if using those.
• Some brands do not dissolve completely in the hot water. So always strain the mixture before pouring into the moulds.
• Adjust the sugar content as per your taste.

Wish you all a very Happy New Year :)