Linda's Cravings

PT serves her SIL coconut agar agar at last week cell meet, it was so good that we all had extra helping.


If you reside in Asia, chances are at some point during our younger days (and now), we all had a dessert made from agar- agar.
Agar agar is made from seaweed and a vegetarian substitute for gelatine.

It sets at room temperature quickly so you can eat it in the next half hour if you can't wait. Having said that, agar agar tastes much better when serves chilled.

It will not have the bouncy texture of Konnyaku powder or gelatine which require proper and longer refrigeration for it to set.

I made 2 batches, using fresh coconut water for the first batch (I get approximately 350ml coconut water from 1 coconut) and UHT coconut water for the other batch.
I have added sugar in this recipe, you may opt out the sugar if you preferred natural sweetness. Do taste it and adjust to your preferred sweetness level.

While the UHT pack used here indicates no added sugar and is convenient, fresh coconut has the refreshing taste of the tropics.

Instead of cutting the coconut meat into strips, I sliced it diagonally for the floating clouds effect in the agar agar.
To avoid the "clouds" floating at the surface (which they will), stir and push the coconut meat in the agar agar with a satay stick or toothpick when the agar agar is about to set.

This "old school" dessert is light and refreshing, delightful on a warm summer night with Harry Belafonte singing out loud about his Coconut Woman in the background.

Coconut woman is calling out
And every day you can hear her shout
Coconut woman is calling out
And every day you can hear her shout

Get your coconut water
Man, it is good for your daughter
Coco got a lotta iron
Make you strong like a lion ah......



You will need:

1 packet of agar agar powder
1000 ml of coconut water
4 tablespoon sugar (optional)
Fresh coconut meat, cut into strips or slices
pinch of salt



Methods:

1. Combine agar agar, coconut water and salt; and bring it to a boil over moderate heat. Stir well.



2. Add in the sugar and stir until dissolved, toss in the sliced coconut meat.

3. Remove from heat and pour into moulds or cake tins




4. Set aside at room temperature, stir and push the coconut meat when agar agar about to set.
   Chill it in the fridge when cool.

I have known my BFF since kindergarten, and apart from finishing each other sentences, we are quite different in personality, likes and dislikes.

She hates sashimi while I love it
She can't drink while I drink like a fish
I cook, she does not
She is the smart one, I the lazy one
She is easy going with a lot of friends, I like my couch.

So, when BFF called to say she needed a dish to go with her mom's chicken curry, fried mee hoon for her CNY open house, I knew exactly what she needed - painless cooking.

This salad is a crowd pleaser, commonly seen at the Nasi Padang stalls and so easy to do in a home kitchen. Just need equal part of sugar and vinegar.

It is my favourite salad as it sweet and sour notes are so refreshing and a perfect accompaniment to spicy and curry dishes.

I have been using distilled vinegar for this recipe all these while as I find the local brand white vinegar too sharp for my taste bud and stomach.

You want to prepare this salad few hours (4 hours) before serving to allow the vegetable to steep in the vinegar and always serve cold.

Let's just say that we won't be expecting bruschetta from BFF for a while.


You will need:

2 Cucumbers
1 very ripe pineapple
1 red onion
1 fresh red chillies, sliced

1 cup of white distilled vinegar
1 cup white sugar
pinch of salt

Methods:

1. Washed, peeled cucumbers removed the seeds(optional) and sliced
2. Cut and remove core of pineapple, sliced into cubes
3. Peeled and cut onion into cubes
4. Combined vinegar, sugar and salt and stir until sugar fully dissolved in the mixture.
5. Mixed pineapple, onion, cucumbers and chillies in the vinegar sugar mixture, set aside in the fridge for at least 4 hours to allow the flavour to develop.

Cook's Notes:

• You may boil the vinegar briefly in a pot and add sugar, stir till dissolved. Let cool before you add in the rest of the ingredients.
• Do get good quality vinegar