Neon Agar-Agar Noodle Clouds (Printer View)

Vibrant agar-agar noodles with a bouncy texture served chilled with a savory soy dipping sauce.

# Components:

→ Neon Agar-Agar Noodles

01 - 2 1/8 cups water
02 - 0.25 oz agar-agar powder
03 - 1 tablespoon sugar
04 - Food-safe gel or liquid neon food coloring, assorted

→ Dipping Sauce

05 - 2.7 fluid ounces soy sauce or tamari (for gluten-free)
06 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
07 - 1 tablespoon mirin
08 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
09 - 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
10 - 1 teaspoon sugar
11 - 1 scallion, finely sliced
12 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)

→ Garnish

13 - Microgreens or edible flowers (optional)

# Method:

01 - Combine water, agar-agar powder, and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until the agar-agar is fully dissolved, about 2 to 3 minutes.
02 - Remove from heat and divide the hot liquid into separate bowls for each desired color. Add a drop or two of neon food coloring to each bowl and stir well.
03 - Using a syringe or squeeze bottle, pipe the colored agar mixtures into a bowl of ice water to form noodle-like strands. Allow to set for 1 to 2 minutes until firm. Alternatively, pour the mixtures into flat trays, let set, then cut into thin noodles with a sharp knife.
04 - Gather the noodles, rinse briefly with cold water, then drain well. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
05 - Whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, mirin, sesame oil, grated ginger, and sugar in a small bowl until sugar has dissolved. Stir in the sliced scallion and toasted sesame seeds if using.
06 - Arrange chilled neon noodles in small bundles and garnish with microgreens or edible flowers if desired. Serve with the dipping sauce on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Those jiggly, bouncy noodles are textural magic, nothing like anything else you'll eat.
  • It looks absolutely wild on a plate, and somehow feels like a fun dessert meets elegant appetizer.
  • Totally vegan and gluten-free without any compromise on flavor or drama.
02 -
  • Agar-agar sets quickly and firmly at room temperature, so once you pipe or pour it, you have maybe a minute before it firms up, which means working fast is part of the fun.
  • The quality of your ice water matters, it should be very cold and fresh so the noodles set cleanly without becoming mushy.
  • Natural coloring alternatives like spirulina, butterfly pea flower, or beet juice create beautiful colors, but they can be more subtle than gel food coloring, so you might need to use a bit more.
03 -
  • Gel food coloring is your friend here because it won't dilute the mixture like liquid coloring does, keeping your noodles firm and your colors vibrant.
  • If you don't have a syringe or squeeze bottle, a small measuring spoon and quick wrist flicks into ice water work just fine, creating thicker, more rustic noodles that are honestly just as charming.
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