Japanese Anmitsu Dessert...

Anmitsu (あんみつ) is a cool summer dessert made of small cubes of agar agar jelly, sweet adzuki bean paste, mochi, a variety of fruits, ice cream, and boiled peas.  It’s usually served with black sugar syrup called kuromitu often made with Okinawan black sugar that you pour onto the jelly before eating. Having had refreshing anmitsu during my trips to Japan several times sans kids, it's both delicious and nostalgic of my free-spirited eating romps with my husband and brother who lives there. What I love most about this dessert, is the agar agar cubes, so light in the mouth feel, slightly sweet and chilled- totally perfect with the adjacent accompaniments as a refreshing snack or after dinner sweet any time of the year! 

I skipped all the compliments except for fruit and made it super simple to make and eat! But jazz it up with some or all the fixin's as you wish!

A plastic desserts display at one of the many dessert houses during my visit to Tokyo, Japan in 2005.

Agar or agar agar is a white translucent jelly made of seaweed, which is suitable for vegetarian/vegan diet instead of animal/chemical-based gelatin. The jelly texture eats cleanly and not jell-O-ish. Prepare by following the instructions on the package- regardless of brand it usually involves cooking in water, adding sugar and some flavouring.

Agar comes in many forms. Follow instructions.

This brand involves soaking in water to soften.

I used lemon oil to flavour the jelly- you can leave plain or add Vanilla extract.

Boil in water to dissolve then add sugar to cook and flavour at the end.

Pour into shallow pan and let cool and solidify in fridge.

Some fruit I chopped up that I had on hand to serve with.

When agar agar is completely set, remove from fridge and score sides to loosen; carefully flip onto a chopping board. Score 3/4" width lines vertically and horizontally to form cubes. Arrange the cubes in the serving bowls along with the fruits to make it pretty.

A dessert lifter makes picking up the cubes easier.

So amazing eating this al fresco on a nice day served along cooled strong green tea.

 

Enjoying the most of the outdoors, what seems to be the last of our summer days...

A fun and refreshing treat for everyone!