During the muggy rainy season, it’s easy for your mood to get a little gloomy, isn’t it?Lately, it’s become trendy to find ways to enjoy time at home, whether it’s watching TV dramas or making hydrangea jelly. Why not treat yourself a little while listening to the sound of the rain during this time of year? Here are some “happy snacks” that won’t break the bank but look absolutely adorable—perfect for adding a splash of color to your busy days.
Today’s Creative Recipe
“Lemon-Scented, Sparkling Hydrangea Agar” to Brighten Up a Rainy Day
Even on a muggy, rainy day, this jewel-like dessert made with agar-agar gives you a visual sense of coolness. With the refreshing tartness of lemon and a hydrangea-like color gradient created by shaved ice syrup, it’s such a cute dish that you’ll almost feel bad eating it.
Ingredients
| Material Name | Quantity | Notes/Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Agar powder | 4g | About 14 kcal |
| Water | 500 ml | – |
| Sugar | 50g | Approximately 195 kcal |
| Lemon juice | 2 tablespoons | About 6 kcal |
| Shaved Ice Syrup (Blue) | 1 tablespoon | About 30 kcal |
| Shaved Ice Syrup (Strawberry) | 1 teaspoon | About 10 kcal |
*Estimated total calories: approx. 255 kcal (approx. 64 kcal per serving)
How to Make It
[Step 1]: Add water and agar powder to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat while stirring. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low and continue stirring for another 1 to 2 minutes until it is completely dissolved.
[Step 2]: Add the sugar and let it dissolve, then turn off the heat and add the lemon juice. This completes the base lemon agar solution.
[Step 3]: Divide the agar solution into three bowls. Add blue syrup to one bowl, mix a small amount of strawberry syrup into another to create a light pink color, and leave the third bowl as is (clear).
[Step 4]: Pour each mixture into a Tupperware container, and once they’ve cooled slightly, chill them in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to set.
[Step 5]: Use a knife to cut the set agar into small cubes, then arrange them on a plate—and you’re done! If you mix clear, blue, and pink, it looks just like hydrangeas wet with rain.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
[Mistake 1: The agar doesn’t set] The cause is insufficient boiling. Agar will not set properly unless it is brought to a boil and then heated for at least one minute. Solution: After confirming that it has come to a boil, use a stopwatch to heat it for one minute while stirring thoroughly.
[Mistake 2: Separation and Cloudiness] This happens when the syrup is mixed into the agar solution while it is too cold. Solution: Be sure to mix the syrup into the agar solution while it is still warm, and pour it into the mold quickly.
A Quick Tip for Making It Taste Great
Since agar sets even at room temperature, work quickly after pouring it into the mold. Placing it in ice water will help it set faster.
In Closing
Enjoy a refreshing snack time that lets you feel a little indulgent. I also recommend adding any leftover agar to sparkling water to make “Hydrangea Soda.” May the sound of the rain serve as your background music for a wonderful moment of self-indulgence.
Recommended Ingredients and Tools Used in This Recipe
I’ve put together a list of the ingredients you’ll need for this snack-making project, as well as some handy tools. Please check it out and see what you already have at home.
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Order the “agar powder” used in the recipe
Order the “water” used in the recipe
Order the “sugar” used in the recipe
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