Anmitsu Recipe – Chopstick Chronicles

Scorching climate requires anmitsu! This conventional Japanese chilly dessert combines candy agar/kanten jelly, contemporary fruits, and a wide range of different toppings, all drizzled with a candy black syrup referred to as kuromitsu. It’s a refreshing, gentle, and chilled candy deal with that makes it good for hotter climate!

What’s Anmitsu?

Anmitsu is a standard Japanese dessert that has a scrumptious steadiness of sweetness and texture. It’s sometimes made with small cubes of agar jelly served in a bowl with a wide range of toppings. The toppings embrace contemporary fruits like peaches, cherries, kiwis, and mikan (Japanese mandarin oranges), candy purple bean previous (anko), and mochi/dango (rice truffles). The dessert is then drizzled with a candy black syrup referred to as kuromitsu, which provides it its identify – “an” (from anko) and “mitsu” (from kuromitsu). It has a refreshing style with a fruity sweetness that makes it particularly common for consuming throughout summer season when the times are scorching and sunny. The colourful elements make it scrumptious and in addition visually interesting dish which additionally makes it a preferred alternative in Japanese cafes and eating places.

What do you Must Make Anmitsu

To make a scrumptious anmitsu at house, you’ll want the next elements.

Kanten Jelly

This translucent jelly, also called agar agar jelly, is a flavorless jelly that kinds the bottom of Anmitsu. Kanten is constituted of purple algae resembling “tengusa” and “okonori”. This jelly has no flavour or saltiness so it’s broadly used to make Japanese sweets. It’s additionally very talked-about as a food plan meals in Japan as a result of it’s fully vegan, has little or no energy, and is excessive in dietary fiber.

Kuromitsu (Black Sugar Syrup)

This can be a candy black syrup constituted of brown sugar or black sugar. You should purchase this from Japanese grocery shops or on-line retailers or make your individual from scratch following this recipe.

Anko (Candy Crimson Bean Paste)

This can be a candy paste constituted of azuki beans and is usually utilized in Japanese desserts. It may be bought as a ready-made paste from Japanese grocery shops or on-line or you can also make your individual utilizing my recipe right here.

Contemporary Fruits

You should utilize no matter you want. Some recommendations are strawberries, peaches, raspberries, pineapple, cherries, kiwis, mikan (Japanese mandarin oranges) or banana.

Shiratama Dango

These are small, chewy mochi balls constituted of glutinous rice flour. You can also make it simply from scratch with the recipe right here.

Ice Cream

Ddding ice cream would truly create a variation of anmitsu referred to as cream anmitsu (see variations beneath). So it isn’t important nevertheless it does add a refreshing creaminess. You should utilize matcha ice cream(inexperienced tea ice cream) or vanilla ice cream. In case you are making the ice cream from scratch, it’s worthwhile to make it the day earlier than. See this recipe.

Crimson Peas (Aka Endōmame)

This can be a number of area peas which might be just like inexperienced peas however with a definite reddish-brown colour. You should purchase these on-line however they’re not important to the dessert so that you don’t want so as to add them if you happen to can’t get them anyplace.

Kinako

That is roasted soybean flour for dusting (non-compulsory). You can also make this from scratch too following this recipe.

A small quantity of inexperienced tea powder (matcha) for garnish (non-compulsory).

Substances Substitutions

When you can’t get entry to any of the elements, then there are substitutions to assist create an identical dessert, however the taste and texture will differ from conventional Anmitsu. Listed here are some potential substitutions:

• Kanten (agar) jelly : Substitute with gelatin for the same texture, although it gained’t be vegetarian.
• Kuromitsu (black syrup) : Make a easy syrup with brown sugar or molasses. Use maple syrup or honey for a unique however complementary taste.
• Anko (candy purple bean paste) : Substitute with sweetened chestnut puree for a unique nutty taste.
• Contemporary fruits : Use any seasonal fruits accessible to you. Canned fruit cocktail can work as a fast and straightforward possibility.
• Shiratama dango (mochi balls) : Substitute with small marshmallows or gummy candies for a chewy texture.

The best way to Make Anmitsu

Put together the Kanten Jelly

1. Dissolve kanten powder in water in response to package deal directions.
2. Pour the combination right into a shallow container and refrigerate till set.
3. As soon as set, reduce the jelly into small cubes.

Make Shiratama Dango

1. Combine shiratamako (glutinous rice flour) with water to kind a dough.
2. Roll the dough into small balls.
3. Boil the dango in water till they float, then cool in ice water. See detailed recipe and directions in this put up.

Make Kuromitsu

In case you are making your individual, following this recipe. In any other case you need to use retailer purchased if you will get it from Japanese grocery shops close to you or on-line.

Make the Anko Crimson Bean Paste

The day earlier than if you’re making from scratch and retailer it within the fridge.

Put together Crimson Peas

In case you are utilizing purple peas, they must be soaked over night time so begin to soak the night time earlier than.

Put together the Fruits

Wash and reduce your chosen fruits into bite-sized items.

Assemble the Anmitsu

1. In a bowl, place a portion of the kanten jelly cubes.
2. Add a scoop of candy purple bean paste.
3. Prepare the shiratama dango and reduce fruits within the bowl.
4. If utilizing, add a small scoop of matcha ice cream (to make cream anmitsu).

Serve

Drizzle black sugar syrup (kuromitsu) over the dessert simply earlier than serving.

The best way to Serve Anmitsu 

Serve Anmitsu with a facet of chilly inexperienced tea, hojicha, or mugicha (barley tea) in summer season. In cooler months, pair it with scorching inexperienced tea, genmaicha, matcha latte and hojicha latte for a comforting distinction.

Variations of Anmitsu

• Cream Anmitsu : that is anmitsu with ice cream. It provides a tasty creaminess to the dessert and goes effectively with the opposite elements.Sometimes matcha or vanilla ice cream can be used.
• Anmitsu Yokan : this can be a mixture of two conventional Japanese desserts – anmitsu and yokan. Yokan is constituted of mixing agar agar or kanten and purple bean paste (anko) poured right into a mould. So the 2 desserts are fairly related and mixing the 2 works effectively.
• Mitsumame :  this technically isn’t a variation of anmitsu however it’s a related dessert. The distinction between Anmitsu and Mitsumame is the topping; both An (candy Azuki bean paste) or mame (beans). I don’t like the actual mame utilized in Mitsumame as a result of it’s sort of a tough cooked peas and never candy however slightly tasteless. I at all times picked all of them out, so I normally make Anmitsu.