Hello, Lykkers!

When the summer heat hits hard, nothing beats a cool, refreshing dessert that's both light and satisfying.

This citrusy and fresh agar-agar dessert using lemongrass is delicious as is, or when paired with ginger and palm sugar syrup, and it's vegan friendly and gluten-free. This jelly has such a beautiful citrus aroma from the lemongrass, and the texture is just right, not too firm and not too soft. The optional ginger syrup adds a warming sweetness that balances the bright lemongrass flavor perfectly.

For the jelly, gather 4 stalks of lemongrass, 1077.5 ml of water, 7 g of agar-agar powder, 125 g of sugar, 50 g of palm sugar, and freshly squeezed lime juice from 1 lime. The lemongrass gives the jelly its distinctive flavor, while the agar-agar sets it beautifully. For the ginger syrup, you'll need 4 inches of ginger, peeled and bruised.

All these ingredients can be found at Asian grocery stores, and the agar-agar powder is a plant-based alternative to gelatin, making this dessert suitable for vegans.

Start by preparing the lemongrass. Trim the stalks and bruise them with the back of a blade to release their oils and fragrance. Bring water to a boil with the lemongrass, sugar, and palm sugar, then reduce the heat and let it simmer to infuse the flavors together.

After removing the lemongrass from the saucepan, add agar-agar powder into the saucepan, turn the heat to medium-high and continue stirring until the liquid boils and the agar-agar powder has completely melted, then turn off heat and pour into pudding or jelly molds before letting the agar-agar firm up in the fridge.

For the ginger syrup, boil together all ginger syrup ingredients, then once it boils, reduce heat to a simmer, cover the saucepan, and cook for another 10 minutes before straining.

Serving Suggestions

To serve, pour some ginger syrup over the jelly, and you can add a small squeeze of lime juice, though this is optional for those who don't like sour dessert. The jelly is also delicious on its own without the syrup if you prefer a lighter, more refreshing taste.

This dessert is best served chilled, making it an ideal make-ahead treat for gatherings or simply for cooling down after a long day. The preparation takes about 30 minutes, and you'll get about 8 servings from this recipe.

Storage and Tips

Store the jelly covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The ginger syrup can be stored separately in a sealed container for the same duration. If you can't find palm sugar, you can substitute it with brown sugar or more regular sugar, though the flavor will be slightly different.

For the best lemongrass flavor, choose fresh stalks that are firm and fragrant. Don't skip the step of bruising them, as this really helps release the aromatic oils that give the jelly its signature taste.

This lemongrass jelly is proof that simple ingredients can create something truly special. Whether you're looking for a light dessert after a heavy meal or a refreshing treat on a hot day, this recipe delivers every time. Give it a try and enjoy the cooling sensation of homemade lemongrass jelly!