Known for more than 3 centuries by the Japanese, agar-agar is a mixture of red algae. This colorless and tasteless plant was used in cooking to replace animal gelatin. It was cooked equally well for savory and sweet recipes such as flans, terrines, jam ...

Today, it is a world famous slimming ingredient  . It comes in the form of powder in sachet made from Japanese seaweed.

But what are its benefits and how to use it  ?

• The 12 benefits of these marine algae

1. Is beneficial thanks to its almost zero calorie intake. Per 100 g  : only 17 kcal. It is a low calorie food.

2. Is low in carbohydrate with 0.5 grams per 100 grams 

3. Is also low in fat at 0.5 grams per 100 grams

4. Promotes digestion

5. Is made up of 80% fiber. Once this herb is consumed, it swells in the stomach  : it triples in volume and therefore moderates the appetite. When you consume agar-agar you consume less during the meal.

6. Has a gelling property which binds some of the sugars and fats in the meal.

7.  Has a detoxifying and draining effect.

8. Is good for bodybuilding  : thanks to its high protein rate and low lipid percentage

9. Is rich in minerals  : calcium, phosphorus and iron

10. Studies have been done to show that we can lose more weight with agar agar  . Researchers compared the results on obese people. The 1st group followed the usual dietary advice and the 2nd group followed the same recommendations and consumed the agar-agar in addition.

After 12 weeks, the results proved that the 1st group (diet alone) lost -1.1 kilos and the 2nd group (with agar-agar) lost -2.8 kilos. The cholesterol level was also more favorable in the 2nd group  . Agar-agar therefore brings more than a classic diet.

11. Is easy to use, this plant is odorless, tasteless and adapts to all foods (or almost)

12. Is inexpensive and 100% natural.

•   My 6 tips  :

1. 10 minutes before a meal, dilute 1 gram of agar-agar in a cup of boiling tea.  Drink this drink which will decrease your appetite during the meal.

2. To obtain a light jelly  : use 2 grams pure 50 cl of preparation  .  To make your desserts based on fruit, milk, cream soups, flans based on vegetable puree or compote  , use this dose.

3. If you want a firmer amount that is easier to cut into cubes, you need 4 grams of agar.

4. To detoxify your gut  : drain it with agar-agar powder  (alternate with prune juice  ; plants such as black currant or mallow)

5. Do not abuse this algae which has a laxative effect 

6. My recipe ideas  :

. Small lemon flans

Ingredients for 4 persons) :

• 600 ml of  soy milk  or other natural vegetable drink enriched with calcium

• 3 teaspoons of special cooking sweetener

• 1 pinch of vanilla or cinnamon

• 3 drops of orange blossom water

• 1/2 lemon

• 1 teaspoon of agar-agar

Preparation  :

• Pre-dilute the agar-agar powder in a little soy milk or vegetable drink.

• Squeeze the lemon and collect the zest. Finely slice the zest.

• In a saucepan, pour the milk, vanilla or cinnamon, sweetener, lemon zest and diluted agar-agar. Add the  lemon juice, orange blossom water and mix well with a whisk.

• Bring to a boil for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

• Pour the preparation into 4 individual ramekins, wait for it to cool and refrigerate at least 4 hours before tasting.

• Serve well chilled, possibly sprinkled with cinnamon, vanilla, lemon zest ... etc.

• Easy and light recipe .. and Bon Appétit  !  :-)  

• Zucchini and gazpacho terrine

​ Ingredients for 6 person (s):

• 500 g zucchini

• 1 large tomato

• 200 ml brick gazpacho

• 30 g of fresh goat cheese

• 1 plain petit-suisse 0% fat

• 2 g of agar-agar

• A few fresh basil leaves

• Salt pepper

Preperation  :  

• Wash and peel the zucchini. Cut them in half lengthwise, remove the seeds using a  teaspoon  and cut them into small cubes. Steaming.

• Wash the tomato and cut it into large cubes.

• Mix the cooked zucchini with the petit-suisse, the diced tomatoes and the  goat cheese. Season.

• Pour into a saucepan, add the agar-agar and cook for a few minutes over high heat, stirring constantly.

• Outside the heat, add the gazpacho and the chopped basil.

• Pour into a small terrine and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

• Serve chilled, possibly with a little gazpacho.

• Easy and light recipe .. and Bon Appétit  !  :-)  

• Chocolate and orange zest dessert

Ingredients for 1 person:

• 60 g silken tofu

• 150 ml almond milk

• 1/2 tsp of agar-agar

• A few drops of orange blossom water

• A few orange zest

• 1 tablespoon of powdered sweetener

Preparation  :  

• Pour the agar-agar powder into the almond milk. Add the orange blossom water and bring to a boil for 5 to 10 minutes.

• Let cool then stir in the silky tofu and sweetener.

• Reserve at least 30 minutes in the fridge. The gel will form as it cools.

• Garnish with some orange zest before serving.

• Easy and light recipe .. and Bon Appétit  ! :-)  

Here are some good excuses to consume agar-agar in our recipes  ! You can take it everywhere (this plant is in the form of a small sachet of powder) and make your drink for example in all circumstances. Agar-agar accelerates your satiety while lowering the number of calories ingested  !

A dream food to lose weight or keep your figure  .