Neon Agar-Agar Noodles (Printable)

Colorful agar-agar noodles chilled and paired with a savory soy dipping sauce for a fresh, vibrant dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Neon Agar-Agar Noodles

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

→ Dipping Sauce

05 - 1/3 cup 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)

# How-To:

01 - Combine water, agar-agar powder, and sugar in a saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring constantly, and bring to a boil. Continue stirring until agar-agar completely dissolves, about 2 to 3 minutes.
02 - Remove from heat. Portion the hot agar liquid into separate bowls based on the number of desired colors. Add a few drops of food coloring to each and mix thoroughly.
03 - Using a syringe or squeeze bottle, pipe the colored agar mixtures into a bowl filled with ice water to create noodle-like strands. Let set for 1 to 2 minutes until firm. Alternatively, pour into a flat tray, allow to set, then slice into thin noodles.
04 - Gather the formed noodles, rinse briefly under cold water, drain thoroughly, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, mirin, sesame oil, grated ginger, and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Stir in scallion slices and toasted sesame seeds, if using.
06 - Arrange the chilled neon agar-agar noodles in small bundles on serving dishes. Garnish with microgreens or edible flowers, and accompany with the dipping sauce.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a show-stopper that tastes far less complicated than it looks, which is always the best kind of impressive.
  • The bouncy, gel-like texture is unlike anything most people have eaten, making every bite feel like a tiny adventure.
  • Completely customizable with colors and flavors, so you can make it match your mood or your dinner party theme.
02 -
  • Don't skip stirring the agar constantly as it heats, or you'll end up with a gritty, unpleasant texture that no amount of coloring can fix.
  • The ice water bath is non-negotiable; it's what makes the noodles set instantly and hold their shape, so have it ready before you start piping.
  • Food coloring intensity varies wildly between brands and types, so start conservative and add more if needed—you can't take it out.
03 -
  • If your agar mixture starts to set while you're coloring it, reheat it gently over low heat for a few seconds—it will loosen right up without losing its setting power.
  • The syringe method gives you the most dramatic, noodle-like shapes, but if you don't have one, a squeeze bottle or even a small spoon works in a pinch.
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