A modern take on the traditional dessert of Yokan

Yokan, a delicious vegetarian dessert, is loved by all diners for its unique taste and gorgeous colors. The following is a detailed introduction to the history of yokan, the main ingredients, production steps and some useful tips to help you easily make delicious yokan at home.

I. History of Sheep Soup

Jelly originated in China during the Tang Dynasty and was initially served as a high-grade dessert in the court. As history evolved, the dessert was gradually spread among the general public and further developed and innovated in Japan, resulting in a wide variety of flavors. Nowadays, yokan has become a popular delicacy in both the Jiangnan water towns of China and the traditional tea rooms of Japan.

II. Introduction of Main Ingredients

1. **Red bean paste**: As the soul of yokan, red bean paste not only provides the finished product with a vibrant color, but also gives it a rich and sweet taste.

2. *Agargar* (a.k.a. Agar): As a natural plant gelatin, agar is the coagulant of the yokan and makes it an authentic vegan dessert.

3. **Granulated Sugar**: Used to adjust the sweetness and give the yokan a more savory flavor.

4. **Water**: used to make the solution and ensure the texture of the jaggery is creamy and smooth.

III. Production steps in detail

1. **Soak agar**: Soak the required agar in cold water in advance to soften it, which usually takes more than 30 minutes.

2. **boil red bean paste**: add the prepared red beans to the appropriate amount of water and boil until it becomes a delicate red bean paste, during which you can add sugar to taste.

3. **Dissolve agar**: In a separate pot, add appropriate amount of water, add softened agar and heat over low heat until the agar is completely dissolved.

4. **Mix the ingredients**: Mix the red bean paste with the dissolved agar water and adjust the sweetness according to personal taste.

5. **Molding**: Pour the mixed liquid into the mold, put it into the refrigerator for 2-3 hours, let it solidify and then take off the mold.

IV. Tips

- **Choice of red beans**: Prefer fresh red beans with bright color and full texture to ensure the best taste.

- **Proportion of sugar**: The amount of sugar can be increased or decreased according to personal preference, but should not be too much, so as not to cover the natural flavor of red beans.

- **Treatment of agar**: The time for soaking the agar should not be too short, so as not to affect the texture of the finished product; in addition, be sure to ensure that the agar is completely dissolved when cooking, so as to avoid the appearance of granularity.

- **Removing tips**: If it is difficult to remove the mold, you can soak the bottom of the mold with warm water for a few seconds first, which will make it easier to remove the mold and keep the shape of the shepherd's pie beautiful.

With the above steps and tips, you can make a delicious yokan at home and enjoy its unique flavor. Experiment with different recipes and flavors to find your own style of yokan!

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)