Neon Agar-Agar Noodle Clouds (Printable Version)

Chilled neon agar-agar noodles with savory soy dipping sauce offer a playful and vibrant appetizer alternative.

# Ingredient List:

→ Neon Agar-Agar Noodles

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

→ 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 grated fresh ginger
10 - 1 teaspoon sugar
11 - 1 scallion, finely sliced
12 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)

→ Garnish

13 - Microgreens or edible flowers (optional)

# Steps:

01 - In a saucepan, combine water, agar-agar powder, and sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until agar-agar fully dissolves, about 2 to 3 minutes.
02 - Remove from heat and divide the liquid into separate bowls. Add one or two drops of food coloring to each bowl and mix thoroughly.
03 - Using a syringe or squeeze bottle, pipe colored agar mixture into a bowl of ice water to create noodle-like strands. Allow to set for 1 to 2 minutes until firm. Alternatively, pour into a shallow tray, let set, then cut into thin noodles with a sharp knife.
04 - Collect the noodles, rinse briefly with cold water, then drain and refrigerate until ready to serve.
05 - Whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, mirin, sesame oil, grated ginger, and sugar in a small bowl until sugar dissolves. Stir in sliced scallion and optional toasted sesame seeds.
06 - Arrange the chilled neon noodles in small bundles, garnish with microgreens or edible flowers if desired, and serve alongside the dipping sauce.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The bounce and shimmer of these noodles is genuinely addictive, and people react with delight the moment they see them on the plate.
  • It's surprisingly simple to make once you understand the agar-agar trick, and it tastes as sophisticated as it looks.
  • You can play with colors endlessly—this is the recipe that finally made me feel like an artist in the kitchen.
02 -
  • The temperature of your ice water is crucial—too warm and your noodles will dissolve back into liquid, too cold and they set too fast to form proper strands, so aim for a comfortable bath temperature.
  • Gel food coloring gives you that neon vibrancy that liquid coloring can't quite match, and a little goes a very long way.
  • Agar-agar needs to reach a true boil to set properly; if you're gentle with it, it won't firm up right, and you'll end up with a disappointingly soft texture.
03 -
  • If your noodles seem fragile, chill the ice bath in the freezer for 10 minutes before piping—the extra cold makes them set faster and hold their shape better.
  • Keep a small squeeze bottle dedicated to this; the more control you have over the flow, the more consistent your noodle strands will be.
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