Agar agar?

tracydr

I've heard that agar agar is a popular diet in Asia. I have some in my pantry because I wanted to try adding it to frozen yogurt and sorbets to improve the texture and prevent the frozen solid brick that I normally get. I haven't gotten around to trying it,yet.
I'd be interested in trying it as a supplement if I knew it may work and how to use it.

dbmata

If someone ate that as a diet, they'd die slowly from malnutrition.

YDMMV
Your death mileage may vary.

williams969

Agar agar is just vegan "gelatin". Use it where gelatin would be used in recipes. That's why it can be used to make sorbets and frozen yogurt, as you stated, the texture improvement in those recipes. But it's not a supplement, so to speak. The "Agar agar diet" is the equivalent of a "Jello Diet."

tracydr

What I read is that Asians eat a thin,broth soup or other low-cal method of taking in the agar-agar, like maybe an aspic or jelled broth. They then have appetite suppression so that they eat less at the meal. They are getting some fiber and mild laxative effect.

Kalikel

Isn't that stuff you use to grow things in Petri dishes? Never looked appetizing to me!

Let us know how it goes.

Edit / adding... I just googled it and it IS the stuff in Petri dishes. Yuk. No, thanks! But still want to hear your experience!

harribeau2012

Isn't that stuff you use to grow things in Petri dishes? Never looked appetizing to me!

Let us know how it goes.

think so-sure I used that making up petri dishes

Kalikel

Isn't that stuff you use to grow things in Petri dishes? Never looked appetizing to me!

Let us know how it goes.

think so-sure I used that making up petri dishes

I know! My memories of it are in a class/lab, with disgusting crud growing all over it. I know the stuff itself was just feeding the crud and wasn't bad, but it's permanently linked with Ultimate Grossness in my head.

I'm kind of eager to know how it tastes, though!

dbmata

It's just gelatin, using it as a sup is kinda funny.

GreatDepression

I'm Asian and agar agar is used as a gelling agent for dessert items. It has little taste on its own and produces a jello-like texture when cooked. I don't think it is an appetite suppressant nor is it considered one in Asian cuisine. It's derived from a kind of sea algae and isn't anything special. I enjoy desserts made with it (usually includes added sugar so it's not really healthful).