Fruit pearls (gelling)

Servings: 1 portion

Here you get the recipe for fruit pearls, which are made through a gelling process typically using agar agar. It is a vegetable-based gelatin made from seaweed. Regular gelatin can also be used. Typically, it is made from a juice/fruit liquid, hence the name fruit pearls.

Author: Per Asmussen

Course: Sides

Cuisine: Molecular gastronomy

Keyword: Beets, Molecular Gastronomy, New Year, Party

Prep Time: 30

Cook Time: 30

Metric - US Customary

Equipment

Slotted Spoon
Drip Bottle
Pipette
Mini Scale

Ingredients

1 l Oil tasteless
150 gram Beetroot Juice
1 pinch Salt can be omitted
2 gram Agar agar gelling product, alternative gelatin

Instructions

Make sure the oil is ice-cold from the freezer when it’s going to be used.
Start by either juicing a beetroot or using beetroot powder mixed with water. If it is too sweet, add a bit of salt.
Pour it into a small bowl.
Carefully add agar agar so it sits on top. Then take a small pot and heat it up while stirring regularly.
It needs to be heated to 90 degrees Celsius (194 degrees Fahrenheit).
Once the temperature is reached, strain the liquid preferably into a dripper bottle. If you don’t have a dripper bottle, pour it into a bowl and use a pipette to make your pearls.
Let the liquid cool for about 10 minutes.
Now it’s time to make the pearls. It is important that your dripper bottle/pipette is 6-7 cm above the oil. If starting from too high up, it will splatter on the surface of the oil; if too close, it won’t penetrate the oil’s surface.
Drip the liquid into the cold oil and let them sit in the oil for a few minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove them and check if the pearls are firm.
Place them in a small sieve and rinse them in warm water (use cold water if you used gelatin).
They are now ready to serve.

Notes

If you do not use all the liquid with agar agar in it, it is important to dilute it before pouring it down the sink, as it will solidify strongly and cause problems in the sink.
The oil can be strained, frozen, and reused another time for the same purpose. It can be used several times.