China Grass Halwa | Agar Agar Recipe with step by step photos and video. Soft and creamy milk pudding flavored with cardamom , saffron and garnished with nuts to make a tasty dessert.
China Grass Halwa or pudding also known as ghass ka halwa is a very easy to make and simple dessert to satisfy your sweet cravings.
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Why you need to try this recipe?
Though its a very easy recipe , I thought to share this post because of it simplicity and can be easily adapted to any recipe with ones own creativity. So all you need to know is how to use Agar Agar in your recipe.
In this recipe I have used china grass / agar flakes . This is a basic recipe to show how to use china grass / agar in any of your recipes.
As festive season is ON ; most of the times we end eating lots of desserts and sweets during the occasion. Though occasional indulgence with sweets/ desserts is absolutely fine , it shouldn't be done back to back with series of festivals. Hence this recipe is a kind of simple milk dessert that can be served during such occasions , just to keep it as simple as possible without loading on calories.
What is Agar Agar or China Grass ?
Agar Agar or China Grass is a gelatin-like product made primarily from the red algae Gelidium and Gracilaria . Best known as a solidifying component ; it is a thickening agent in ice creams , desserts, pastries and also salad dressings. Agar is a translucent product sold as powder and flakes .
Agar Agar is a insoluble in cold water but dissolves readily in boiling water. Dilute solution will be in liquid state at 42 °C (108 °F) but solidifies at 37 °C (99 °F) into a firm gel. Agar can absorb as much as 20 times its own weight hence used as a thickening agent.
Where can you use Agar Agar ?
Agar Agar is a vegetarian substitute for gelatin . Hence it can be used as a substitute for gelatin to make desserts , pastries and cakes .
How to use Agar ?
Just make sure to dissolve agar in hot boiling water, then filter the agar diluted solution and use in any of your recipe. Its necessary to pass the solution through a mesh strainer as it may contain tiny bits of undissolved agar agar . In most of the recipes its used in desserts and you should not get those starchy tiny bits to your mouth. Hence its important to filter the diluted solution.
With this Agar Agar powder / Agar Agar flakes you can make fruit pudding , Mousse , Cheese Cake , Jellies , jelly fruit candies and many more. You can find Agar agar on amazon or any local stores. I have used Meron brand Agar agar in this recipe.
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Step by Step Directions to make China Grass Halwa | Agar Agar Recipe
Soak china grass in water for 20 -30 minutes .
Whilst boil milk and add ¼ cup sugar and set aside.
Keep milk on a simmer.
By now , soaked china grass would be softened. Remove from water.
In a pan heat ½ cup of water and add soaked china grass to it.
When water comes to boil , stir well such that china grass is completely dissolved.
Now using a mesh strainer, filter the agar dissolved water so that traces of agar agar can be removed. Add this diluted solution (china grass cooked water ) into boiled milk.
Keep milk on simmer , stir and cook for about 3-4 minutes . Turn off the stove .
Add cardamom powder and milk masala, stir well .
Pour into a greased tray or you into dessert bowls ( if you wish to serve it as pudding in bowls)
Give standing time of 5- 10 minutes ,
when it is mildly set then sprinkle slivered nuts and saffron on top.
Allow it to set in refrigerator for 30 minutes or just leave it in room temperature for about 45 to 60 minutes.
Cut into desire shape , China Grass Halwa is ready to serve .
Recipe
China Grass Halwa
Ingredients
- 5 grams China Grass / Agar Agar
- 500 ml Whole Milk
- ¼ cup Sugar or more , as required
- ¼ teaspoon Cardamom Powder
- ½ teaspoon Milk Masala Powder
- 2 tablespoon Chopped nuts
- 2-3 Saffron strands, crushed , optional
Instructions
- Soak china grass in water for 20 -30 minutes .
- Whilst boil milk and add ¼ cup sugar and set aside.
- By now , soaked china grass would be softened. Remove from water. In a pan heat ½ cup of water and add soaked china grass to it.
- When water comes to boil , stir well such that china grass is completely dissolved.
- Now using a mesh strainer, filter the agar dissolved water so that traces of agar agar can be removed.
- Add this diluted solution (china grass cooked water ) into boiled milk.
- Keep milk on simmer , stir and cook for about 3-4 minutes . Turn off the stove .
- Add cardamom powder and milk masala, stir well .
- Pour into a greased tray or you into dessert bowls ( if you wish to serve it as pudding in bowls).
- Give standing time of 5 minutes , when it is mildly set then sprinkle slivered nuts and saffron on top.
- Allow it to set in refrigerator for 30 minutes or just leave it in room temperature for about 45 to 60 minutes.
- Cut into desire shape , China Grass Halwa is ready to serve .
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