Ingredients:
250 mung bean
1 cup or 250 ml. coconut milk
1/2 cup white sugar
For Coating:
2 tablespoons agar-agar powder (gelatin)
2 + 3/4 cups (600 ml) jasmine water
2 tablespoons white sugar
Food coloring, red, green, yellow, orange, and pink
Utensils:
Food processor or a blender
Mixing bowl
Wide flat pan
Wooden spoon
Dipping bowls
Wooden skewers
Styrofoam drilled piece of wood
Small paint brushes
Directions:
- Rinse and soak the mung bean in water for at least 3 hours or overnight. Steam the soaked mung bean in a cheesecloth lined steamer until cooked well or about 30-45 minuets.
- In food processor, purée the bean with coconut milk and sugar until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into a brass wok or a non-stick pan and gently cook over medium-low heat until it thickens and paste is dry to a touch and shapeable.
- Then mold into fruits or vegetables shapes. By pull off small amount of paste and mold them into various shapes of fruits, such as cherry, chili, apple, papaya, orange, peach, watermelon or anything else that you could think of… You can use skewers to help shape up the fruits while dipping and painting.
- Use the food coloring to color the miniatures. Place the bottom of the fruit on bamboo skewer and paint appreciate colors. While the fruits are drying, make the agar-agar dip.
- Dissolve the agar-agar powder in water and bring to a boil then add sugar and reduce the heat to simmer for 5 minuets. Remove from the heat and let it cool down about 5 minuets, so the agar-agar water is warm. Dip the paint fruits shapes in the liquid then leave it dry for a few minutes. Repeat twice or more to get the shiny or glossy coating. Poke the other end of the skewer in a sheet of Styrofoam to let the agar-agar set.
- When the agar-agar coating is dry, can remove from the skewers and decorate the fruits with leaves to give it realistic look. Then arrange the fruits on a tray and serve.
Note:
This imitated fruits sweet can be kept in the refrigerator up to 3-4 days!
Dipping the fruits shapes in liquid while the agar-agar water is warm by using the bamboo skewer as a handle.
Enjoys….
